The Allman Brothers Band

With their bluesy jams and Southern Rock anthems, The Allman Brothers Band took their brand of soaring Americana from smoky bar-room jukeboxes to heaving stadiums and chart-topping success in the 1970s. Built around Gregg Allman's songs and brother Duane's searing guitar, the siblings grew up playing together in Florida in the 1960s and worked as session musicians before teaming up with Dickey Betts (guitar) and Butch Trucks (drums) for debut album The Allman Brothers Band (1969). Inspired by British Invasion blues bands such as The Yardbirds and Cream, the brothers brought their own distinctive, sunbaked, free-spirited, good time take on the genre and, alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd, became architects of what became known as Southern Rock, with classic breakthrough album Eat A Peach (1972). Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, but the band went on to score the US Number 1 album Brothers And Sisters (1973) and had a hit single with "Ramblin' Man". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 by Willie Nelson. Despite problems with drugs, and a drop in record sales, they remained one of America's great touring acts and celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009 by playing with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Kid Rock and in 2012 won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

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