Rock Legend Dickie Betts passed away peacefully at his home in Florida following a long battle with Cancer and COPD, aged 80, on 18th April 2024.
Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers with Duanne Allman will be fondly remembered for composing the legendary rock instrumental hit “Jessica” which became the theme tune to the BBC motoring programme ‘Top Gear’. Former Presenter Jeremy Clarkson paid tribute to the guitarist on X/Twitter by saying “Dicky Betts has died. You probably haven’t heard of him. But he wrote a song called ‘Jessica’. And you will DEFINITELY have heard that,”
Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre – Southern rock. Founded in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the traditional notion of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. The band was also notable as a biracial group from the Deep South. He was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame , with the band in 1995.
RIP Dickey Betts – Allman Brothers
