On this day (October 29) in 1971, Duane Allman died after a motorcycle accident in Macon. Georgia, at the age of 24. At the time, he was already an accomplished studio guitarist who appeared on several high-profile recordings. However, he is best known for his time as the guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band.

According to his website, Allman learned to play guitar from his brother and future bandmate, Gregg Allman, in the early 1960s. Before long, the brothers were touring the southeast with their band, the Allman Joys. In the late 1960s, they moved from Florida to California and joined a band called Hourglass. However, frustration over a lack of creative control led to Duane Allman returning to his hometown while Gregg stayed on the West Coast.

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After returning to Florida, Allman jammed with local musicians who would later become the original lineup of the Allman Brothers Band. At the same time, he was working as a studio musician, recording with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, and Wilson Pickett.

By the end of the decade, Gregg Allman had returned to Florida, and the band was formed. In 1969, they released their self-titled debut studio album.

Duane Allman Saw Success Before His Tragic Passing

The Allman Brothers only released three albums before Duane Allman’s death. Their 1969 debut release barely made the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 188. However, it received positive reviews, and the band toured nonstop to promote the LP.

The next year, they released Idlewild South, which peaked at No. 38. The album sparked another long tour. During that tour, they recorded their third album, At Fillmore East. The live LP hit record store shelves in July 1971. On September 4, it peaked at No. 13.

In late October that year, Allman was enjoying some rare downtime, riding his motorcycle in Macon, Georgia. A boom truck stopped suddenly in front of him, causing the fatal accident. He initially survived, but succumbed to his injuries hours later.

Duane Allman is regarded by those in the rock, Southern rock, and jam band worlds as a highly influential musician. His improvisational skills were nearly unmatched at the time. One can only imagine what heights he would have reached.

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