Allman Bros' Butch Trucks Dead at 69

The founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, passed away last night at his home in West Palm Beach, FL he was 69.  The drummer, along with Allman Brothers Gregg and Duane, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley and drummer Jai Johanny Johanson, formed the group in the late ’60s.

 

An Allman Brothers Band representative released the following announcement:

Butch Trucks, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, tragically died the night of January 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  His wife, four children, four grandchildren and all of the Allman Brothers Band, their families and Road Crew survive Butch.  The Trucks and Allman Brothers Band families request all of Butch's friends and fans to please respect our privacy at this time of sadness for our loss.  Butch will play on in our hearts forever.

Donations and remembrances in Butch's name can be made to The Big House Museum in Macon, GA. TheBigHousemuseum.com.

Florida Georgia LIne Next Up With "Dig your Roots" Album

Known for their record-breaking tracks, undeniable energy and all around good vibes, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE will release DIG YOUR ROOTS on August 26 on Big Machine Label Group.
The award-winning duo’s highly anticipated third studio album uncovers pieces of their lineage along with an evolved creativity.

Fans clamored to unearth the album’s throwback cover through a #DigYourRoots initiative across FGL’s social platforms to intimately reveal childhood snapshots of both BK and Tyler. 
“Our album cover says it all,” shares Brian Kelley. "Tyler and I are continuing to grow musically and personally. We really wanted this album to reflect who we are and our lives in this moment, but also where we came from.”

Tyler Hubbard adds, “we both started out playing guitar, singing in church and writing songs so we wanted to let fans see our foundation – a deeper side to us. We couldn’t have picked a more fitting title or image for DIG YOUR ROOTS.”

"Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon, GA" DVD/CD Set for August Release

Rounder Records has announced the release of Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon, GA on August 7, 2015. The stellar live DVD/CD captures Allman and his eight-piece solo band in a high-energy performance that was recorded on January 14, 2014 at the venerable Grand Opera House, a 1,000 seat jewel of a theatre that was built in 1884 in Macon, GA, the Middle Georgia town where it all began for the Allman Brothers Band over 40 years ago. The album features 16 tracks, made up of a varied selection of songs from the ABB catalog, tunes from Allman's solo albums and several dynamic cover songs. The DVD, the first Allman's ever released as a solo artist, will include two bonus tracks, as well as special interview segments.

"We played, lived, laughed and cried there," says Allman about Macon in the package's liner notes. "And I wrote many, many songs in that town. It's always good to play Macon, man."

Thet ABB historian and Hittin' the Note editor John Lynskey wrote the liners. They capture the emotion and historic power of the extraordinary event.  "Gregg took to the Grand Opera House stage with a group that, as he put it, 'is a real kick-ass band.' Featuring Scott Sharrard on guitar, bassist Ron Johnson, Ben Stivers on keyboards, drummer Steve Potts, Allman Brothers veteran Marc Quinones on percussion, saxophonists Jay Collins and Art Edmaiston and Dennis Marion on trumpet, these eight players plus special guest, Allman's son Devon, formed one of the best solo units Allman had fronted in years.