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Below is a music related tribute I originally wrote for President Jimmy Carter over a year ago when he first entered hospice care in February 2023. I expected it would only be a short time until he passed. When he didn't, I decided to save it until October 1, 2024 to celebrate his 100th birthday should he make it to that milestone.  However, with today's unhappy news about the passing of Dickey Betts (1943 - 2024) I decided it is time to finally post the article because the great second guitarist of The Allman Brothers Band is quoted in it. Betts' most famous songs with the outstanding sextet are "Revival," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," "Blue Sky," and of course,  "J essica," and  "Ramblin' Man." Because most blogs and websites will likely post more traditional news stories and ...

Hittin' The Note  is the only album by  The Allman Brothers Band without the services of original member Forrest Richard (Dickey) Betts.  Think back. The band was going to die along with Duane Allman in 1971, right? Fortunately, it didn't, and Betts was a major reason why. Then, after he was unceremoniously fired in 2000 fans once again questioned the future of the great band from Macon, Georgia. Well, not only did Greg Allman revitalize his group after Betts' departure he made sure they were very much alive and kicking butt. On this album the septet sounds like Duane is still alive because the dual lead guitars were brought back courtesy of Warren Haynes - the leader of Gov't Mule - and the addition of Derek Trucks who also leads his own band with wife Susan Tedeschi. They, and the three remaining original members who recorded this gem - Greg Allman and drummers Jaimoe and Butch Trucks (Derek's Uncle) - almost qualify the band as a supergroup. Mark Quinones...

After Duane Allman died, it could be said that Forrest Richard (Dickey) Betts saved The Allman Brothers Band. He was responsible for four of the seven songs on Brothers and Sisters , their first album without brother Duane who passed away in a motorcycle accident before their previous album, Eat A Peach , was completed. Betts was the man who brought the country music influences to his famous outfit. He wrote and sang lead on "Ramblin' Man," the only Allman's single to ever crack the top 10. The smash hit soared to #2 and was only kept out of the top spot by Cher's "Half Breed." What is probably the band's second most famous song is also on Brothers and Sisters . It's the rollicking, seven-and-a-half-minute instrumental, "Jessica," also written by Betts who was listed at #58 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. With Betts performing at the top of his game he decided it wa...

Former Rolling Stone writer Tom Nawrocki, who is also a voting member of The Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, once posted on his blog, Debris Slide , that it is possible to play your way out of the hall . He was referencing Chicago the band and he used their hit, "Look Away," as evidence. Let it be said that the horn band is not the only artist to release music that is unworthy of their status. While Chicago are included in the list below some other great Hall of Fame members turned out "art" that is just as galling. I was recently told that it is too easy for somebody with access to a keyboard to trash others without regard to their feelings and that is probably true. However, if you don't want to be harshly criticized don't make records as bad as these renowned musicians did. It should be noted that all of the hall inductees mentioned here are artists I have greatly admired for a long time. The Beach Boys - L. A. (Light Album) (1979) After the...