Greg Allman; His Life and Guitars

Greg Allman

Greg Allman passed away today due to complications from liver cancer. As a member of The Allman Brothers band, he was mainly know for playing the Hammond organ, but even when his brother Duane was alive.

Melissa on a Washburn guitar

Greg occasionally took up a guitar for a few songs. Perhaps the most notable of these was called Melissa. This song was originally performed on an acoustic guitar that belonged to Duane that was tuned to open E.

Duane and Greg Allman

Greg and his Duane started life in Nashville Tennessee, but grew up in Florida.

The Escorts

Their first real band was called The Escorts. The band was good enough to be the opening act for a Beach Boys concert.

The Allman Joys

The Escorts became The Allman Joys, which mainly played cover songs. During this time Greg purchased a Vox Continental organ.

Hour Glass

In order keep the band together and avoid being drafted into the armed services, Greg Allman shot himself in the foot. In 1967 they were renamed Hour Glass.

Allman Brother's Band

In 1969 the group was finally named The Allman Brother’s Band.

Allman's motorcycle after the crash

Tragically Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971. Following this, the bands bass player Berry Oakley also died in a motorcycle accident.

Brothers and Sisters

Greg and the remaining members carried on and in 1973 had a hit record called Brothers and Sisters. The Allman Brother's Band broke up in 1975.

Greg Allman and Cher

Greg Allman went on to form the Greg Allman Band. He also married Cher and remained with her for a decade.

I'm No Angel

Allman recorded several albums and had a hit single called I’m No Angel. The Allman Brother’s Band regrouped in the early 1980’s. In 1989 The Allman Brothers Band got back together and continued to perform through 2014.

Low Country Blues

Greg Allman released a solo album called Low Country Blues in 2011, and his final album, Southern Blood, will be released this year.

Greg Allman

Allman is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and is on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Greg Allman Autobiography

In 2012 Greg Allman published his autobiography called My Cross To Bear. Though Greg was mainly known as the singer and organist for the Allman Brothers Band, he did step up front and play guitar. Much is written about Duane’s guitars and equipment, but not so much is written concerning Greg’s guitars.

Greg Allman with Les Paul Custom

One of the earliest photo of Greg Allman playing a guitar is from 1975. In it he has a black Les Paul Custom.

Greg Allman with Gibson SG

The Allman Brother's Laid Back album came out around 1973 and it had a song called Queen of Hearts. From about that same time he is shown here with a Gibson SG, that may have belonged to Duane.

Greg Allman with an SG

Here is a 1974 picture of Greg playing a different Gibson SG. Butch Trucks was the drummer for the Allman Brothers Band. His son is Derek Trucks. I'm sure Duane and Greg's fondness for SG's must have influenced him.

Greg Allman with Veleno Guitar

Here is another picture of a young Greg Allman playing a Veleno guitar. Those guitars were made of metal and had a mirrored finish.

Allman with Veleno guitar

Here is another photo of him tuning the Veleno up. Note the unusual headstock and metal neck.

Greg Allman - Stratocaster

Allman is seen here with a black Fender Stratocaster. It is possibly a late 1960's model.

Allman and Cher - Ovation acoustic

Here he is seen singing with Cher and playing an Ovation acoustic. In the mid to late 1970's Ovation's were the go-to stage guitars, since the piezo pickups were the best. He also played an Adamas guitar that was made by Ovation.

Gibson SST 12 string guitar

Here Greg is seen singing Melissa and playing a Gibson SST 12 string.

Allman with a Martin D-35

He can be seen from this video playing a Martin D-35. Click on the link under the picture and you will see that Greg Allman was an excellent Blues guitar player.

Allman with a Guild

This clip from a TV show show Allman playing Come and Go Blues on a Guild D-40.

G. Allman Washburn signature models

Greg Allman had an endorsement deal with Washburn guitars. Here are the two models the company produced. The black guitar has "Melissa" inlaid in mother-of-pearl on the fretboard.

Allman with a Taylor guitar

At Farm Aid in 2007 Allman played a guitar made by Taylor.

Greg Allman with Gibson J-200

In recent years Greg Allman used a Gibson J-200 at his concerts.

Greg Allman struggled for years with addiction to alcohol, heroin and other drugs. He spent many years in rehab and became sober. In 2007 it was discovered he had hepatitus C. He underwent a liver transplant in 2010.

He died at his home in Savannah Georgia surrounded by his family and friends.

Please click on the links below the pictures for the sources. Click on the links in the text for further information.
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