LISTEN: Musician Duane Betts tells GPB's Kristi York Wooten how he planned a Feb. 28 tribute in Macon, Ga., to his late father, Dickey Betts, legendary guitarist and songwriter for the Allman Brothers Band.
A special concert is happening this month at the historic city auditorium in Macon, Ga., where former members of the Allman Brothers Band and generations of musicians will pay tribute to the band's guitarist and songwriter Dicky Betts, who died last year.
Macon was known as the stomping ground for the Allman Brothers Band, whose members moved there in 1969 and furthered the city's reputation as the heart of Georgia and a hub for music icons such as Little Richard and Otis Redding. Across the decades, the band suffered tragedy and notoriety, even as it released hits like "Whipping Post" and "Midnight Rider" and grappled with drugs and fame. Georgia remained its backdrop and of six original members, including Gregg and Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johanson, Johanson is the only remaining living member of the original lineup.
Duane Betts, son of Dickey Betts, explains why Macon is the natural choice for this exclusive tribute called "In Memory of Dickey Betts."
"I love coming to Macon; it feels like home to me, even though it's so much different than anywhere I've ever lived," Betts said. "But the first time I remember being in town in Macon was maybe the first time I was there with the Allman Brothers, which was like '89 or '90. I was there on New Year's Eve, and that was one of the first times I remember being there and eating at the age ... and doing the whole thing. But I would go to Georgia, to Juliette. You know, my dad was a bow hunter and would go on deer hunting trips. So I remember doing that."
Duane Betts, who formed the Allman Betts Band with fellow second-generation sons Devon Allman and Berry Duane Oakley in 2018, says his earliest memories of his father taught him about decades of life on the road
"At a pretty young age, I mean, I started playing drums when I was about 5 or 6 years old, and he would come back off of doing a little tour or, you know, a weekend of shows," he said. "And, you know, he'd be, like, a little road-weary. And the guitar: I remember the smell of the guitar case when he'd bring the guitar case home and the stickers on the outside of the guitar case. And then you'd open up that guitar case and it just had this smell to it, you know? And I became really interested in playing music, and I knew he was in a band and, you know, and I started listening to that music at a pretty young age. So pretty early on, I guess."
"In Memory of Dickey Betts" will feature Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and, among others, Chuck Leavell — who played on several hits written by the elder Betts, including "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica."
Duane Betts said the lineup for this month's tribute came together like a family reunion. The event, which he organized along with his stepmom, focuses on Dickey Betts' key contributions to the Allman Brothers' catalog.
"Because this is for my dad, I really want to focus on his body of work," he said. "So that kind of gives you the opportunity to get into some of those things that it's like back where it all began — or back where it all begins, I think is the actual title — is kind of a clever twist of words. And I think, you know, Warren [Haynes] played on that song in that whole record. And so I thought that would be really nice for him to do that one.
"I mean, that's just an example. But every song is kind of like that special, like cool combinations of people on stage."
There won't be fancy speeches, Duane said, but he said he hopes this gig in Macon evokes the freewheeling vibe of his father Dickey's guitar playing and the joy the Allman Brothers Band music has brought to generations of rock fans.
"I think it's really about just coming together," he said, "Making it all about him, making it all about the music and just having a great time and the people getting up and dancing. And I think that that's what it's all about."
"In Memory of Dickey Betts" happens on Feb. 28, 2025 at the Macon City Auditorium. Doors at 6 p.m,. and show at 7 p.m.Ticket info here.
