“Southern Blood” brother: Gregg Allman died one year ago this Sunday

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Credit: Ian RawnThis Sunday, May 27, marks the first anniversary of Gregg Allman‘s death. The Allman Brothers Band singer, keyboardist and songwriter passed away at the age of 69 from complications of liver cancer.

Allman co-founded The Allman Brothers Band in 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida. Combining blues, soul, jazz and gospel with rock ‘n’ roll, the group became one of the most popular and influential Southern rock acts of all time.

Gregg’s soulful vocals and Hammond organ were key ingredients in the band’s sound, while he also wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s signature tunes, including “Whipping Post,” “Midnight Rider,” “Melissa” and “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More.”

Allman also had a successful solo career that paralleled his work with his famous group, and became his main focus after the band’s 2014 breakup. At the time of his death, he’d just about completed work on a new solo album, Southern Blood, which was produced by Don Was and released posthumously in September 2017. The album garnered critical praise and scored two Grammy nominations.

Speaking with ABC Radio about working with Allman on Southern Blood, Was noted, “I think the fact that he’s probably one of the most soulful singers in the history of American music shines through on this record. I loved the performances he gave…He was truly one of the greats.”

Numerous tribute shows honoring Gregg were held after his death, and events he helped established, such as The Peach Music Festival and the Laid Back Festival, have continued on in his memory.

Meanwhile, longtime Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes recently reflected on Gregg’s death.

“[We’d] known each other since 1981…We were around the world together many, many times, and wrote a lot of music together,” Haynes told ABC Radio. “I miss him all the time.”

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