Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Museum

Howard Duane Allman

(November 20, 1946 - October 29, 1971)


You can't live in the South or be a lover of Southern Rock and not know the Allman Brothers Band. Over the years, we seem to lose touch or even forget some of the details of the bands we used to love. Sometimes it's good to reminisce and refresh our memories.


Duane Allman is credited as the greatest slide guitarist that ever lived.

 

In 1982 Duane was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame and The Allman Brothers Band was inducted in 1998.

1957 Goldtop Les Paul (Layla Guitar)

Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident only months after the summer release and great initial success of At Fillmore East. While in the west part of Macon on October 29, 1971 during a band break from touring and recording, he was riding his motorcycle toward an oncoming Sam Hall and Sons construction truck that was turning well in front of him. The truck suddenly stopped in the middle of the intersection. Duane lost control of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle while trying to swing left, possibly striking the back of the truck or its crane ball. He was thrown from his motorcycle, which landed on him and skidded with him under it, crushing his internal organs. Though he was rushed to the hospital and operated on, he died several hours later, just weeks before his 25th birthday.

Allman Brothers Band bass guitarist Berry Oakley died less than 13 months later in a similar motorcycle crash with a city bus, three blocks from the site of Duane Allman's fatal accident.

After Berry Oakley's crash,  he appeared, at first, not to be seriously injured, but later died. His remains were laid to rest beside Duane Allman's in Macon, at Georgia's Rose Hill Cemetery. Berry Oakley was also a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.

There are quite a few tribute websites but these are my favorites.

This is the best site. It tells the story in pictures.
Duane Allman Info

Duane Allman Tribute

Allman Brothers Band Museum

USA Today Allman Brothers Museum

Visit the museum website and make a donation if you'd like to help with the project.

The Big House Museum



Other related sites of interest:

Allman Brothers Band

Greg Allman

Capricorn Records

Capricorn Records is an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia. Capricorn became famous for its role in spearheading Southern rock, with The Allman Brothers Band at the forefront, but also including the Marshall Tucker Band, Elvin Bishop, Wet Willie, Jonathan Edwards, Captain Beyond, White Witch, Grinderswitch, Cowboy, and Hydra. At first the records were distributed by Atlantic Records, later changing to Warner Bros. Records, and later to PolyGram Records.

Phil Walden credited Capricorn's eventual success to Duane Allman, who recruited his brother, Gregg, to form the Allman Brothers Band. The brothers' first album, The Allman Brothers Band, was released in 1969 and sold just 33,000 copies. The band's second album, Idlewild South, did little better. In addition to the Allman Brothers Band, Capricorn released albums by Cowboy, Johnny Jenkins, Livingston Taylor, Wet Willie, and others, and finally became its own label, initially distributed by ATCO, in 1971. Capricorn went out of business in 1979. Although resurrected a time or two, the building now stands abandoned and in need of restoration. It is on The Georgia Trust 2010 PLACES IN PERIL: CAPRICORN RECORDING STUDIO. Places In Peril

Capricorn Records Discography