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|alias =
|alias =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|12|8}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|12|8}}
|birth_place =[[Nashville, Tennessee]], [[United States|US]]
|birth_place =[[Nashville, Tennessee]], United States
|Spouse = Shelley Jefts <br> (1971-1972) <br> Janice Mulkey <br> (1973-1974) <br> [[Cher]] <br> (1975-1979) <br> Julie Bindas <br> (1979-1984) <br> Danielle J.P. Galiana <br> (1989-1994) <br> Stacey Fountain <br> (2001-2007)
|Spouse = Shelley Jefts <br> (1971-1972) <br> Janice Mulkey <br> (1973-1974) <br> [[Cher]] <br> (1975-1979) <br> Julie Bindas <br> (1979-1984) <br> Danielle J.P. Galiana <br> (1989-1994) <br> Stacey Fountain <br> (2001-2007)
|instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[guitar]]
|instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[guitar]]
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}}
}}


'''Gregory LeNoir "Gregg" Allman''' (born December 8, 1947, in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[rock music|rock]] and [[blues]] singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and a founding member of [[The Allman Brothers Band]]. He was inducted with the band into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1995 <ref>When Allman was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 16, 2006, he was introduced by Georgia Governor [[Sonny Perdue]] and performed "Oncoming Traffic", "Melissa", and "[[Georgia on My Mind]]" solo and then ended with "Midnight Rider", backed by fellow inductees [[Bill Berry]], [[Peter Buck]], and [[Mike Mills]] from [[R.E.M.]] at the [[Georgia World Congress Center]] in [[Atlanta]]</ref> and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Georgia Music Hall of Fame]] in 2006. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".<ref name="RS Singer">[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/103 Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time]{{dead link|date=September 2011}} {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5mq2V2OyQ|date =2010-01-16}}</ref>
'''Gregory LeNoir "Gregg" Allman''' (born December 8, 1947) is an American [[rock music|rock]] and [[blues]] singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and a founding member of [[The Allman Brothers Band]]. He was inducted with the band into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1995 <ref>When Allman was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 16, 2006, he was introduced by Georgia Governor [[Sonny Perdue]] and performed "Oncoming Traffic", "Melissa", and "[[Georgia on My Mind]]" solo and then ended with "Midnight Rider", backed by fellow inductees [[Bill Berry]], [[Peter Buck]], and [[Mike Mills]] from [[R.E.M.]] at the [[Georgia World Congress Center]] in [[Atlanta]]</ref> and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Georgia Music Hall of Fame]] in 2006. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".<ref name="RS Singer">[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/103 Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time]{{dead link|date=September 2011}} {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5mq2V2OyQ|date =2010-01-16}}</ref>


At the beginning of the 1970s, The Allman Brothers Band enjoyed huge success<ref>their album ‘Live at Filmore East’ is widely regarded as one of the best live albums ever made</ref> and a number of their most characteristic songs were written by Allman. Unusual for the time, the band was based in the [[Southeastern United States]] and their music, which has been called ‘Southern Rock’, a term derided by Allman,<ref>Allman, Gregg. "Have a Nice Decade". The History of Rock 'n' Roll. [DVD]. Time-Life Video</ref> incorporates an innovative fusion of rock, blues, and country.
At the beginning of the 1970s, The Allman Brothers Band enjoyed huge success<ref>their album ‘Live at Filmore East’ is widely regarded as one of the best live albums ever made</ref> and a number of their most characteristic songs were written by Allman. Unusual for the time, the band was based in the [[Southeastern United States]] and their music, which has been called ‘Southern Rock’, a term derided by Allman,<ref>Allman, Gregg. "Have a Nice Decade". The History of Rock 'n' Roll. [DVD]. Time-Life Video</ref> incorporates an innovative fusion of rock, blues, and country.
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==Early years==
==Early years==
Gregg is the younger son of Willis Turner Allman and Geraldine Alice (née Robbins).<ref>Freeman, Scott, Midnight Riders. The Story of the Allman Brothers Band, Little, Brown & Company, 1995, 4-5</ref> He was born in [[Nashville]] Tennessee in 1947, thirteen months after his brother Duane. His father was in the army and in 1949 the family relocated to [[Fort Story]], [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. Shortly after, his father was murdered by a casual acquaintance whom he had offered a ride home from a bar <ref>Freeman, 1995, 5</ref> and Geraldine 'Mama A' Allman was left to raise the boys. In order to retrain as an accountant, she sent her sons to [[Castle Heights Military Academy]] in [[Lebanon, Tennessee]], which they both loathed.<ref>Freeman, 1995, 5-6,</ref> Eventually, in 1957, when his mother had finished her degree, the family settled in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], and the boys attended [[Seabreeze High School]].
Gregg is the younger son of Willis Turner Allman and Geraldine Alice (née Robbins).<ref>Freeman, Scott, Midnight Riders. The Story of the Allman Brothers Band, Little, Brown & Company, 1995, 4-5</ref> He was born in [[Nashville, Tennessee in 1947, thirteen months after his brother Duane. His father was in the army and in 1949 the family relocated to [[Fort Story]], [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. Shortly after, his father was murdered by a casual acquaintance whom he had offered a ride home from a bar <ref>Freeman, 1995, 5</ref> and Geraldine 'Mama A' Allman was left to raise the boys. In order to retrain as an accountant, she sent her sons to [[Castle Heights Military Academy]] in [[Lebanon, Tennessee]], which they both loathed.<ref>Freeman, 1995, 5-6,</ref> Eventually, in 1957, when his mother had finished her degree, the family settled in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], and the boys attended [[Seabreeze High School]].
Both Gregg Allman and his brother Duane became captivated by music at a young age; Gregg Allman has revealed that he and Duane went to see [[Jackie Wilson]], [[Otis Redding]], [[Patti Labelle]] and [[B.B. King]] perform and that he was particularly struck by B.B.’s Hammond organ player.<ref>See http://savannahnow.com/accent/2011-04-28/gregg-allman-discusses-his-life-his-career-and-his-latest-album, posted 28.04.11, author: Linda Sickler</ref>
Both Gregg Allman and his brother Duane became captivated by music at a young age; Gregg Allman has revealed that he and Duane went to see [[Jackie Wilson]], [[Otis Redding]], [[Patti Labelle]] and [[B.B. King]] perform and that he was particularly struck by B.B.’s Hammond organ player.<ref>See http://savannahnow.com/accent/2011-04-28/gregg-allman-discusses-his-life-his-career-and-his-latest-album, posted 28.04.11, author: Linda Sickler</ref>

Revision as of 16:21, 31 May 2013

Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman with the Allman Brothers Band in 2005
Gregg Allman with the Allman Brothers Band in 2005
Background information
Birth nameGregory Lenoir Allman
Born (1947-12-08) December 8, 1947 (age 76)
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
GenresSouthern rock
Blues
Country
Gospel
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active1965 – present
LabelsLiberty, Atco, Capricorn, Epic
WebsiteGreggAllman.com

Gregory LeNoir "Gregg" Allman (born December 8, 1947) is an American rock and blues singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 [1] and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".[2]

At the beginning of the 1970s, The Allman Brothers Band enjoyed huge success[3] and a number of their most characteristic songs were written by Allman. Unusual for the time, the band was based in the Southeastern United States and their music, which has been called ‘Southern Rock’, a term derided by Allman,[4] incorporates an innovative fusion of rock, blues, and country.

Following the death of his older brother, guitarist Duane Allman in 1971, and a year later, bass guitarist Berry Oakley, both in motorcycle accidents, the band struggled on and continued to perform and record. In addition, Allman developed a solo career and a band under his own name. Allman’s solo music has perhaps a greater resonance of soul music than his work with ABB, possibly because of the influence of artists such as Bobby Bland and Little Milton, singers who he has long admired.

Despite recent health issues, Allman still tours.[5]

Allman's memoirs of his life in music, My Cross to Bear, was released on May 1, 2012.[6]

Early years

Gregg is the younger son of Willis Turner Allman and Geraldine Alice (née Robbins).[7] He was born in [[Nashville, Tennessee in 1947, thirteen months after his brother Duane. His father was in the army and in 1949 the family relocated to Fort Story, Norfolk, Virginia. Shortly after, his father was murdered by a casual acquaintance whom he had offered a ride home from a bar [8] and Geraldine 'Mama A' Allman was left to raise the boys. In order to retrain as an accountant, she sent her sons to Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, which they both loathed.[9] Eventually, in 1957, when his mother had finished her degree, the family settled in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the boys attended Seabreeze High School.

Both Gregg Allman and his brother Duane became captivated by music at a young age; Gregg Allman has revealed that he and Duane went to see Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, Patti Labelle and B.B. King perform and that he was particularly struck by B.B.’s Hammond organ player.[10] Gregg took an interest in the guitar before Duane did, learning the very basics from his grandmother’s neighbour in Nashville. However Duane would soon become the superior guitarist, giving up school in tenth grade to focus on it while Gregg practiced his vocals and keyboards, remained at school and finally graduated in 1965. Although he planned to become a dental surgeon, Gregg fell in with his brother’s plans that they should become musicians, intending to go to dental school after a short while; it didn’t happen.[11]

The Escorts, The Allman Joys, The Hour Glass and 31st February

In the mid-to-late-1960s, Gregg and Duane Allman played in a series of bands including The Escorts and The Allman Joys, mostly around the Southeastern United States.

Toward the end of the decade, The Allman Joys relocated to Los Angeles, California, and were signed to Liberty Records, which renamed them The Hour Glass. In addition to the Allmans, The Hour Glass consisted of three other players who would later become renowned studio musicians in Muscle Shoals, Alabama: Pete Carr, Johnny Sandlin and Paul Hornsby. Strongly controlled by the label management, the group produced a couple of psychedelic blues albums. All the players were deeply dissatisfied with the results; Duane Allman, in particular, spoke bitterly of the Hour Glass' output. The label executives were, however, impressed with Gregg Allman's abilities as a vocalist and keyboardist. The band left Los Angeles for the South and disbanded. In Florida, Gregg and Duane joined a band called 31st of February with a drummer named Butch Trucks but Gregg returned to California as Hourglass still owed money to Liberty Records which believed that Gregg had potential as a solo act.[12]

Formation of The Allman Brothers Band

Main article: The Allman Brothers Band

Duane became employed as a session musician at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and began to assemble the group that would become The Allman Brothers Band - Duane and Dickey Betts on guitars, Berry Oakley on bass guitar, and Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson on drums. In the meantime, Allman had grown unhappy with the Liberty Records arrangement so when Duane called from Jacksonville, Florida in March 1969 to say that he had assembled a band that needed a singer, Gregg jumped at the opportunity and returned to the South.

He had long wanted to play the Hammond Organ, and was given one immediately upon joining the band, which he had to learn to play in a hurry. Ever since, he has played the Hammond B-3 with a preference for a 1969 issue B3 hooked to a Leslie speaker 122RV and handled much of the lead vocals and song writing for the band, along with occasional piano and guitar contributions.

Solo career

After the death of Duane Allman in 1971, Gregg Allman started out on a solo career. His first album, Laid Back, was released in 1973 to a positive critical reception.

It included a couple of reworked Allman Brothers songs, such as a horn-infused version of "Midnight Rider" that made it to #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and originals like "Queen of Hearts", the other ABB members felt did not quite fit the Allman Brothers sound. Gregg also covered a traditional gospel song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" and former California roommate Jackson Browne's song "These Days."

Allman in 2006

His solo career has continued intermittently throughout the subsequent decades, sometimes touring when the Allman Brothers Band is off the road. Generally, these solo efforts - first with the Gregg Allman Band, and later with Gregg Allman & Friends - eschew lengthy guitar solos and cast Allman more in the mode of his favorite soul singers. The bands often include a horn section and are more groove-oriented, mixing original songs with reworked Allman Brothers songs and covers of blues, R&B, and soul songs.

Allman's second chart single came in 1987 with the #49 peaking "I'm No Angel", from the album of the same name. The album went on to be certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold and led to a renewed interest in Allman and to a reformation of the Allman Brothers Band less than three years later.

His solo album, Low Country Blues, was produced by T-Bone Burnett and issued in early 2011. It is a collection of eleven blues standards and one new song written by him.[13] The album was nominated as the Best Blues Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards.[14]

He has also made guest appearances on albums and concert videos by a wide variety of other artists, including a concert DVD celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Radiators, playing Midnight Rider with that band.

In addition to his musical career, Allman took acting roles in the films Rush Week (1989) and Rush (1991), and in episodes of the TV series Superboy. He also had a brief speaking cameo in the Family Guy episode "Let's Go to the Hop".

Personal life

Allman struggled with drugs in the 1970s, and throughout much of his musical career. These were both illegal and legal, primarily cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. He's been sober since the mid-1990s.

During the mid-1970s, there was a prominent court case involving Allman and John ‘Scooter’ Herring, Allman’s road manager.[15]

He was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in late 2007 which he attributes to infection from a dirty tattoo needle [16] and on June 23, 2010, he underwent surgery for a liver transplant.[17] The operation was successful and he has recovered well. Allman, along with Natalie Cole has become a spokesperson for Tune In to Hep C which includes a PSA TV commercial. Despite this blow to his health, Allman has resumed touring.

Marriages, relationships & children

Allman currently lives in Richmond Hill, Georgia.[18]

Gregg Allman's autobiography My Cross to Bear was published by HarperCollins under the William Morrow imprint in 2012. Craig Gillespie has been announced he will adapt into a film.

Allman has been married six times, and has five children.

Spouse/Relationship Children Details
Shelley Kay Winters (later Jefts) Devon Allman, born August 10, 1972, is a musician, leads the band Honeytribe, and has appeared with The Allman Brothers Band on a few occasions married[when?], divorced[when?]
Janice Blair, a singer and the sister of Ron Blair, the bassist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.[19] none They married in 1973 and divorced in 1975.
Cher Elijah Blue Allman, born July 10, 1976; formed his own band, Deadsy Married in 1975 and divorced in 1979. The couple tried a musical collaboration, releasing an album Two the Hard Way (billed as Allman and Woman) in 1977. It was universally panned, and has long been out of print. The Hard Way Tour did not achieve success either. In an interview on NPR's On Point in March 2011, Allman expressed that he and Cher split due largely to his desire to no longer live in Los Angeles, and his growing discomfort with his wife's celebrity lifestyle.
Julie Bindas Delilah Island Allman, born November 5, 1980, is married to a neurosurgeon, Khalid Kurtom. They reside in Maryland with an infant son. Julie and Gregg married in 1979 and divorced in 1981
Danielle J P Galiana none married in 1989, divorced in 1994
Stacey Fountain none married 2001 and later divorced.[20]
Mary Lynn Green Michael Sean Allman, born July 1966, is a vocalist[21] in The Michael Allman Band Green was later known as Mary Sutton and is now Mary Austin.
Shelby Blackburn, a radio journalist Layla Brooklyn Allman, born March 31, 1993, fronts the band Picture Me Broken and has appeared with The Allman Brothers Band on a few occasions.

Discography

Albums

See also: The Allman Brothers Band discography

See also

Quotations

"Rock 'n' roll was born in the South. So Southern rock is like saying rock rock."

— Gregg Allman [22]

References

  1. ^ When Allman was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 16, 2006, he was introduced by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and performed "Oncoming Traffic", "Melissa", and "Georgia on My Mind" solo and then ended with "Midnight Rider", backed by fellow inductees Bill Berry, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills from R.E.M. at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta
  2. ^ Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time[dead link] Template:WebCite
  3. ^ their album ‘Live at Filmore East’ is widely regarded as one of the best live albums ever made
  4. ^ Allman, Gregg. "Have a Nice Decade". The History of Rock 'n' Roll. [DVD]. Time-Life Video
  5. ^ His latest album ‘Low Country Blues’ is a return to the blues. It was released in 2011 and includes ‘Just Another Rider’ written by Allman.
  6. ^ Allman, Gregg with Light, Alan. (2012) My Cross to Bear, New York City: William Morrow & Company. ISBN 978-0-06-211203-3
  7. ^ Freeman, Scott, Midnight Riders. The Story of the Allman Brothers Band, Little, Brown & Company, 1995, 4-5
  8. ^ Freeman, 1995, 5
  9. ^ Freeman, 1995, 5-6,
  10. ^ See http://savannahnow.com/accent/2011-04-28/gregg-allman-discusses-his-life-his-career-and-his-latest-album, posted 28.04.11, author: Linda Sickler
  11. ^ Freeman, 1995, 18,
  12. ^ Freeman, 1995, 26-7
  13. ^ Frontier Psychiatrist. "Move Over Melissa". Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  14. ^ "Grammys: 54th Grammy Awards nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  15. ^ See Freeman, 1995, for further details and discussion
  16. ^ Hear the interview ‘Gregg Allman Liver Transplant Tattoo Needles Foster and Blade Interview 2010 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6OEQ9-9QtA&feature=related
  17. ^ Gregg Allman Has Liver Transplant | Billboard.com
  18. ^ "At Home With Gregg Allman". Southern Living. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  19. ^ author: Sandy Wabegijig (Blue Sk) (2006-06-07). "Janice B | Janice B". CD Baby. Retrieved 2012-06-14. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "Hittin' The Web with The Allman Brothers Band". Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  21. ^ Gregg Allman, My Cross to Bear (HarperCollins, 2012)
  22. ^ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
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