Thursday, November 1, 2012

Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman
Gregory LeNoir "Gregg" Allman (born December 8, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, 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 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".

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, incorporates an innovative fusion of rock, blues, and jazz.

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.

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

At the start of his enduring career, Gregg Allman and his brother Duane put together a number of different groups, including their very first professional ones, The Allman Joys and The Hour Glass. Whatever the configuration, Gregg’s powerful lead vocals, emerging songwriting and keyboard prowess perfectly complemented Duane’s now-legendary guitar virtuosity. In 1969, their brotherhood made history with the formation of the massively influential act that both kick-started the entire genre of Southern Rock and defined an era of ‘70s rock ‘n roll with its freewheeling yet musically masterful sound, The Allman Brothers Band.

His Site
www.greggallman.com


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