Blues guitarist Howard Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee on November 20th of 1946. Duane was a lead guitarist for and co-founder of the classic southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band. He was also a sought after session musician. He is mostly known for his soulful slide guitar work and great improvisations. In addition to playing with The Allman Brothers Band, Duane also performed with Herbie Mann, King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Pickett.
In 1959 Duane and his brother Gregg attended a rock concert where the legendary B.B. King performed. Gregg Allman remembers that Duane told him “we got to get into this”. In 1960 Duane was inspired to learn the guitar through the example of his younger brother Gregg. Gregg said that when Duane started playing he passed him up like he was standing still.
Duane’s fantastic guitar playing on the classic 1970 Derek and the Dominos record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is considered by many to be a milestone in Rock history.
Tragically Duane was killed at twenty-four years old in a motorcycle accident on October 29th of 1971. His influence on blues guitarists continues to be felt to this day.
Top five Duane Allman songs:
1) Statesboro Blues
2) You Don’t Love Me/ Soul Serenade
3) In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
4) Don’t Want You No More
5) Whipping Post
Top three Duane Allman albums:
1) Live at The Fillmore East
2) The Allman Brothers Band
3) Idlewild South
Discography
- The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
- Idlewild South (1970)
- At Fillmore East (1971)
- Eat a Peach (1972)
- Brothers and Sisters (1973)
- Win, Lose or Draw (1975)
- Enlightened Rogues (1979)
- Reach for the Sky (1980)
- Brothers of the Road (1981)
- Seven Turns (1990)
- Shades of Two Worlds (1991)
- Where It All Begins (1994)
- Hittin’ the Note (2003)
