Biography
Gregory LeNoir Allman (December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017) was an American musician and singer-songwriter best known for his role in the Allman Brothers Band. Raised with a passion for rhythm and blues, Allman helped the band blend this genre with rock, jazz, and country influences. He penned some of their most iconic tracks, including "Whipping Post," "Melissa," and "Midnight Rider." In addition to his work with the band, Allman enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing seven studio albums. Born and raised primarily in Nashville, Tennessee, he later moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, and Richmond Hill, Georgia.
In 1969, he and his brother Duane Allman founded the Allman Brothers Band, which achieved widespread acclaim with their 1971 live album At Fillmore East. Tragically, Duane died in a motorcycle accident shortly after. The band persevered, releasing their most successful album, Brothers and Sisters, in 1973. That same year, Allman launched his solo career with the album Laid Back. During the 1970s, he was also known for his marriage to pop icon Cher. In 1987, he scored an unexpected hit with his cover of "I'm No Angel," and his seventh solo record, Low Country Blues (2011), marked the highest charting of his career. Throughout his life, Allman battled alcohol and drug addiction, a struggle he detailed in his 2012 memoir, My Cross to Bear. His final album, Southern Blood, was released posthumously on September 8, 2017.
Allman was known for playing the Hammond organ and guitar, as well as for his soulful vocal style. Celebrated as a pioneer of Southern rock, he earned numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His unique voice ranked 70th on Rolling Stone’s list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
