My Dickey Betts Story

[@MDavidG1]

Great story! The keyboard player was Johnny Neel. It sounds like the encounter with Dickey took place in 1988 or very early 1989. The Allman Brothers reunited in mid-1989, and Dickey's solo band dissolved then. But Dickey did bring Warren Haynes and Johnny Neel from his solo band into the Allman Brothers.

[@Frostheimer]

I was waiting for him to say Warren jammed, too.

[@hexagontaginal]

Johnny Neel is the correct answer. He is an amazing player.

[@MDavidG1]

@@hexagontaginal Yes. Sadly, he had a serious stroke in July of 2019 and is no longer performing.

[@marcelo_giangrande]

Johnny Neel amazing musician ! Saw him with the Bro’s in ‘89 in L.A at Greek Theater. Such a great show

[@barryramey5182]

And what a great decision that was to bring along Johnny And Warren. The brothers come back real strong in 1989. Seven turns is amazing.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Here are 2 of my favorite moments of my life. When I was 14 in 1996 my dad took me to my first ABB show and that was when Warren and Dickey were in the band. We were front row and center and I was having the absolute time of my life. So Warren notices me because I was by FAR the youngest person there and between songs he walked over to Dickey and they got a roadie to bring them a shirt and Warren and Dickey BOTH signed it and walked right to the edge of the stage and pointed me out directly to security and threw me that shirt! It was an Eat A Peach shirt and I still have it to this day! Then a couple of years later they were back here in Knoxville and Jack Pearson was in the band and me and my buddy went down there and were front row for that show as well and man Jack TORE IT UP! He literally just stood there in overalls and a train conductor hat and smoked a pipe I think but just blistered it. So after the show my buddy's mom was gonna pick us up at the Holiday Inn up the hill from the World's Fair Park and we were in the lobby waiting on her and right out of the bar walks Dickey! So us as young guitar fanboys absolutely FLIP OUT! LOL! We just went on and on and on about how much we loved him and he was literally carrying a white trash bag FULL of bottles of whiskey. It was seriously insane how much whiskey he had with him but he set it down and talked with us for a second and was SUPER nice to us young guitar obsessed kids. We were literally the only people in there that even knew who he was and we were just teenage kids! I'll never forget those moments. I don't care what people say about Dickey. He's a straight up all time great legend.

[@ericcollins1824]

Never met Mr Betts , but I did have the amazing opportunity to play at a local blues jam with bb king . I got a heads up that he was in the house at a club that hosted the monthly blues associations open mike and rushed down there with my tele . Got my chance to go up and I threw my guitar into a tuning I learned from studying John Lee hooker that’s called ‘Mississippi Spanish ‘ . Not sure how Mr king was tuned but I noticed everyone before me struggling to get in behind him and figured it might help . Played three songs with him and it went shockingly great . I tried to lay back as much as possible but he egged me on into taking a solo and trading several choruses on the third . At that point the MC ( a longtime rival guitarist and frenemy ) pulled me off stage and mr king got on the mike and said “don’t tell me the only boy in here that knows how to tune is getting the hook “ ?! He got thru a few more songs with some struggling squares and came off stage . Came straight to my table and said ‘boy let me buy you a drink ‘. Sat with his entourage , he asked me how I learned to tune like that and I said from John Lee . Mr king said , ‘oh man ,I love that old gorilla ‘. He asked me how I felt the blues and I said , well , I just found out my dad has terminal cancer and had been given six months to live ., so I was probably feeling that tonight . He asked me what dad did for a living and when I said he’s an old preacher he said ‘ ah , he’s a sanctified man , he’ll be a’right’ . That was almost 30 years ago and dad is still kicking , thanks to experimental stem cell therapy and I’d like to think also thanks to the power of mr bb king as well . During 45 years of guitar playing I’ve had a bunch of highlights but I doubt I’ll ever top that night ! God bless us all and god thank you for Mr Blues Boy King . Thank you Otis , you are a consistent bright spot for me . Rock on sir .

[@elaztec.aztecca]

Thank you for sharing that’s wonderful. Say what’s that guitar tuning actually?

[@davidotness6199]

Thanks, Eric. A fine story about life right there. I hope you and yours are well-enough in these trying times. Again, thankee.

[@steveparish9210]

BB was a kind man in spite of the incredible racism he had to deal with. Don Felder told a story when he was a kid BB was playing in a club/barn in Florida and he wanted to go in and watch he was so mesmerized by the music. Anyway it was pretty much segregated at the time but he went in and listened and talked to BB and said BB was just the kindest man, took the time to talk to a 10 or 11 yr old white kid

[@ericcollins1824]

Thanks for the notes everyone . That event still gives me so much joy all these years later . As I told Mr Aztec earlier it was sort of like meeting the Buddha . He was indeed kind and just some kind of awesome , deep rooted force . I was a 23 year old dumb white kid at the time and he indeed went out of his way to make me feel good tho he certainly didn’t need to . The cream always rises to the top . All hail the king . If anyone else is interested Mississippi Spanish is ; e a e a c# e , low to high . Great for early drone style hooker and all kinds of delta stuff . Rhythm , slide and caveman leads seem to just fall out of the guitar .

[@FasterFaster196]

​@@ericcollins1824thank you for those chords.

[@frankrussell4664]

I met Dickey a couple of times in work situations. I have to say he was always a gentleman and very appreciative…invited me on his bus after a show to say thank you for the hospitality after playing the venue I run. It gets better, two days later, he and the tour mgr called from the road to just say thanks again. It blew us away!

[@robbygaume600]

Johnny Neel on keys. He's on the ABB Seven Turns album too. I've read and heard all of the stories about Dickey being a bully, but I've also read a story from a fan that got backstage at a Brothers show, and he said Dickey stood up to shake his hand. We're all just people, and I'm glad DB was nice to you too, Otis.

[@Mandoslicer]

What a wild cat.

[@billhoyt4778]

One thing Dickey isnt, and thats a bully.

[@larrywilliams7969]

Cool story!!! I had almost the same thing happen in the late 80's. Playing at a club and Betts came in. I got to play music with him for over an hour on stage. He had been my guitar idol and hero for almost 20 prior to that. My only regret is that is not recorded in any way. But it is one of the coolest memories in my musical career.

[@stevebean1543]

Very cool story! My mother met Dickey Betts at a supermarket on the south side of Indianapolis many years ago. I believe he was on the road with Great Southern. He got in the checkout line behind her. He seemed like he was in a hurry, so she offered to let him go ahead of her. He thanked her and said something about being a musician just trying to earn a living, and that the band was waiting for him on the bus. She said, "You play in a band? Is it one I would know?" Dickey said, "Ever hear of the Allman Brothers Band?" My mother said, "Oh yes, my son listens to them all the time." She said Dickey was a perfect gentleman. Later that evening she told me about meeting him. I described Dickey's appearance to try to determine if the guy she met really was Dickey Betts, and she said, "That sounds like the man I met." When I showed her a photo of him from an ABB album cover, she said, "Yes, that looks like him." I just wish I could have been there too!

[@ThomasQuigley-b1b]

My friends wife was a sheriff and has a signed dollar bill from a gig with Black Crows opened in appleton Wisconsin. No clue how I got home.

[@unclepeanut5596]

One of my Betts/ABB stories: Had back stage access at an ABB show in Raleigh, NC. Arrived just in time to witness Dickey and Gregg get into a knock down, game on, let's dance, fist fight with each other minutes before they were to go on. Roadies had to separate them. ABB went on to open w/o Dickey, doing about a 30 minute acoustic set with just Warren Haynes on guitar. Dickey didn't come out until a couple of songs into the electric set, the crowd didn't seem to really notice that he wasn't on stage and he slinked on to Very Mild applause. He and Gregg never once looked at each other throughout the rest of the night. Talk about tension . . .

[@juliegoff1731]

😲😲😲

[@cobble40]

RIP Dickey.. saw Great Southern at the Bottle and Cork in Dewey Beach DE back in 02.

[@maxbialystock254]

I was at the Shakespeare Pub in Houston on Jam night and a guy asked to borrow my hard tail strat to play. He only had his small artist model accordion with him. Esteban (Steve) Jordan. Unbelievable player. Great guy to hang with. A highlight for my humble guitar for sure. And yes I still have it.

[@phasmoid666]

Around ‘91 or so we booked studio time in Tallahassee for rehearsals; thought we were the bees knees. Walked in and in studio A some dude in a cowboy hat playing a LP into Marshall melted our faces. Dickey was just warming up, and at that moment I realized I didn’t know jack crap. I don’t even think he knew we were there but that has stayed w me all these years

[@catheryndenton1766]

Indeed - Dickey is rightfully labeled “ irascible😣 “ but his contribution to ABB is unquestionable. He was extremely close to Duane.

[@juliegoff1731]

Well ya ,it’s no coincidence he named his son Duane

[@dagotom6588]

I saw the Allman Brothers before Duane died one of the best concerts I ever saw. I was in the fifth row with Dickey Betts right in front of me, and I don't think he got enough credits for his guitar playing. He was was so good, he was a driving force !!

[@bjorntannberg1581]

Something similar happened to me when I was 16 years old. I got to jam with Mike Bloomfield.

[@otisgibbs]

I recently read this interesting Allman Brothers biography and I might do a video about it in the future. amzn.to/49wy4Mi

[@tomcoy3565]

I Was Fortunate To See The Allman Brothers Band Live in February, 1971 with My Older Twin Sister’s Bonnie & Connie at Gray’s Chapel in Delaware, Ohio, five miles from the 87 Acre Farm I Grew Up On at Ohio Wesleyan University. This Was One Month Prior To Playing and Recording The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East, Bill Graham’s March 12th & 13th, 1971 with Berry Oakley, Bassist & Duane Allman Lead Guitarist on a 1956 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul. Before The Show Started That Saturday Night at This Famous Methodist College I Remember Going To The Basement Men’s Room and Coming Out Across The Way Was An Ante Meeting Room with The Clergy and I Was Hearing Them All Warming Up With The Song, “Pony Boy” with Duane Allman Playing Dobro and Dickey Betts Playing an Acoustic Guitar accompanying him! The Crazy Part is That They Did Not Play That Song On Stage That Night! I was Able to be right in front of Duane Allman on the 4 Foot High Stage as He Played Slide Guitar on “Statesboro Blues” On A Side Note Saw The Flying Buritto Brothers there with my Sister Bonnie for $4.00 and 600 Kids Stormed The Rear Doors of Grays Chapel when Terry Kath and Chicago Played There for Free That Night. Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes, Jefferson Airplane, and The Spring Concerts Where held at The Football Stadium I Saw Jethro Tulls 1st U.S. Tour With The Group Mountain with Lesley West & Felix Papilardi on Bass! Then Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention along with The J. Veils Band and Big Brother & The Holding Company but after The Girl Singer had died. Senior Moment There!

[@jamesmack3314]

Wow… totally impressed and entertained by your recollections. Very very cool. I never saw the original brothers but I did go to a concert in November 1975 at Madison Square Garden and I was merely 14 I do remember that Butch trucks right in the middle of a song got up and left his drum kit probably to go to the bathroom and five minutes later came back and got right back into the song too funny !some great music back then no doubt-you saw Jethro Tull‘s first tour love that early stuff I saw Tull at Shea Stadium in 76 with Robin Trower good Times for sure… I was just looking at my ticket stubs. It was 10 bucks the following year I saw Led Zeppelin for 10 bucks.

[@travissmith9451]

Don't sell yourself short Otis, your wise decision to lay back when jamming with Dickey says plenty about your musicianship.

[@elaztec.aztecca]

Absolutely. Well said. I’m sure Otis did more than a rivet!

[@Floridalady331]

What a great story, I’m from Indianapolis and enjoyed the Patio and the Vogue. I’m now in Osprey, Florida where Dickey lives. His son Duane plays down here occasionally with Berry Oakley, Jr. Dickey shows up from time to time and is definitely proud of his son.

[@fistfull1]

Thought Betts lived in sarasota?

[@Floridalady331]

Osprey is the next town south of Sarasota. His home is on Sarasota Bay.

[@jamesmack3314]

Always have loved DBetts,first saw him with great southern at the Palladium NYC in the 70’s and later a few times here in SF.He always put on a professional show and primarily did ABB songs which was fine by me.I know he’s basically retired living in Florida,had some health issues but hopefully enjoying his later years,he certainly brought a lot of pleasure and enjoyment to millions over the years and I’m grateful for the great music that has sustained me for roughly 50 years..rock on

[@zendixie]

A great book about the Allmans history is one written by the daughter of Duane called Please Be With Me. She went around and got stories from band members , friends and family so I think it’s pretty accurate . It’s a great read.

[@michaelbennett376]

I never met Dickie Betts but his guitar tone as haunted me since the first time I heard it, and it is still my favorite.

[@EatAPeach72]

Yeah he is 👍

[@SeeCSeesCC]

❤Otis you are a wonderful story sharer.

[@tombstoneslim7070]

Broad Ripple was the place to be in the day. I played the old Patio a few times back in the day in a couple different blues bands. Always fun!! My Dad used to tell me stories about Dickey hanging in the Marion, IN area back in the day. Was a few fellas up in that area that were in the mix. There’s some really good guitars players in Indiana that just fly under the radar. Cool story!! Thanks for sharing!

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous Otis. This man was my first guitar teacher, from far away, back about 1980 I think... picked up a book with CD and Song sheets, with Dickie speaking and instructing. 71/72 was my Allman Brothers intro, Peach. Thankyou.

[@brucehelppie6119]

i like your humble reporter on the ground style stories.

[@Earlvis]

Otis-You lucky dog! I did meet Dickey around 2011 and got to chat with him for a while and he was very gracious. It would be awesome if someone were taping the jam and put it on KZbin.

[@patrickniedermeyer2112]

My good buddy, Andy, and I were on tour following some band. While driving down some road to the next show, Andy said, "WTF?! TURN AROUND!" We swung back around, and Dickey was on the sidewalk so we pulled over and chatted with him. He was nice and my friend is a serious musical historian of sorts, so they chatted forever about the old blues dudes. Seemed like a nice enough guy.

[@cosmossunshine9120]

I first met Dickey in the green room of the Conan O’Brien show when the Brothers were making the rounds celebrating their Rock Hall induction. Warren Haynes’s wife, Stefani, managed my band at the time, so I had a lot of access in the ‘90s. Great times and whenever I saw Dickey face to face, he was very kind and always asked about the band. Of course, I was aware of another side of the man, but I never saw it firsthand

[@LTTunage]

Hey Otis, Thanks as always for your content. Johnny Neal may have been the keyboard player, he was in Dickies band during the ABB comeback. I met him during ABB'S recording of Shades of Two Worlds, the follow up to their 7 Turns hit comeback album (Through my friend their bassist Alan Woody, RIP). Even tho Gregg visited much longer and I was told Dickie was "Very Temperamental" Dickie was great, he stopped their session to say Hi, came into the control room and said "Who We Got Here"??? Funny Stuff, Great Memory....

[@michaelhager4270]

I was going to comment on the Kenny Vaughn clip, but I was born in Sarasota FL . Lots of Allman brothers related stories from Berry Oakley's mom being my first grade teacher, went to high school with Christy, The Toler brothers jamming at the Five O'clock Club, to seeing Great Southern at a BBQ in the local rodeo barn. I moved to Australia in 93 but get back when I can. Keep up the great content, it's much appreciated. Cheers from down under

[@daveclark8788]

Hey there, Otis, that's a great story. I was fortunate to catch Dickey and Great Southern late seventies at the Roxy-shortly after finding his excellent 1974 solo album Highway Call-it's spinning now-in the bin at Rhino in West LA. Got some good photos that night. Honorable mention: John Hughey's pedal steel on "Long Time Gone", wow! Oh, and that Vassar guy does pretty well, too ;-)

[@jerrymullin2058]

Im on my back porch drinking coffee before heading out to a gig at a local Art Walk. I'm also providing sound. This is a great way to start the day.

[@PabloGarcia-sf7bn]

Good morning Otis! On stage with Mr Betts? Hell yeah! If you’re ever out west again come on a bit further to Clovis and check out Norman Petty studios for a batch of tall tales from the birth of Rock n Roll. Then come down a block and have a jam at 2 Guyz. Love your stories as always. Greetings from New Mexico!

[@FuriousMess]

A fella I worked with had been a UPS driver previously and told me a story of Dickey Betts. He made a delivery down around Sarasota, FL and this skinny, grizzled guy came out to meet him and he sorta recognized him. When he inquired if he was a musician he got his confirmation he had been in The Allman Brothers Band. Dickey then invited him in gave him a cup of coffee and showed him around his place full of gold records and memorebilla and talked for a bit. Emmanuel said he was the nicest most courteous famous musician he'd ever met. Just a really cool dude.

[@tedgay8427]

I dropped a delivery in Muskogee about a year ago and I counted 6 marijuana dispensaries. Merle may have been mistaken. Can't wait for the Waylon and Lubbock content. Cheers!

[@mikefannon6994]

I think Merle's song was "tongue-in-cheek" as he did some drugs himself. Lots of people took it too seriously.

[@tedgay8427]

@@mikefannon6994 Yes, we all know that. My comment was sarcasm as well. Cheers!

[@SteveSchuffert]

I was the last guy to play the Grapevine on Elliston. No word from anyone. Doors were closed the next day. Worked and wrote with Johnny Neel some also. The best.

[@kristofer603]

In fact I do have a Dickey Betts story...I attended The Berklee School of Music in Boston in the early 80's and One afternoon I went to a Big Auditorium where Dickey was a guest speaker...At one point one of the Administrators asked if Any of us had a Les Paul guttar with us...Well shucks,I did...A Gold Top 1972 with the creme P-90's...I stood up and walked it up to the Big stage...Dickey stepped up and took it...sat back down...adjusted the Mic and Suddenly played "Ramblin' Man"...alone.Sang it too.When he finished he put it back in its case and sat back down where he continued to answer questions and talked about the Music biz...When it was all over,I went up and got my guitar and went out to the front street and saw Dickey standing by a Nice Big bus...I watched and waited...then went up to Him and asked for his autograph.He scribbled his name on a piece of paper i believe.Attending Berklee and living in Boston was quite an Experience for this Texas Kid.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

I have met him quite a few times and he's always been pretty cool to me, His son Duane is a wonderful young man, and his daughters are all very cool too

[@mt3311]

I was in Nashville in 1985, I was going to TV school. I went to a radio station WKDF music festival on Percy Priest Lake. Dicket Betts jammed with Charley Daniels, and John Kay from Steppenwolf. He was great, as were the others.

[@funkfan1751]

In 2010 I attended the Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp held in Oct. in Philadelphia. This Fantasy Camp was Thursday evening thru Sunday and on Saturday's final practice before the Sunday Fantasy Band Concert Dickie Betts was escorted into our practice room and played 2 songs with the Fantasy Camp Band I was assigned to. I did the same as you Otis, I was/am a mediocre player and didn't even know the songs that he played so I just turned down and strummed G to C of something similar. Our singer liked it as he got to sing an Allman Brothers song with Dickie. Everybody was in Awe of Dickie Betts and he seemed to be an OK person. On the Sunday Camp Concert Dickie Betts and his son Duane opened up for us. All the Camp Bands got to do at least 3-4 songs on the stage at the Trocodero Club in Philly. I used to have a VHS tape they gave us but it got left behind when we moved. Cool Story.

[@jessesguitars6316]

Man! Very cool! The Troc was still open in 2010? I saw a show there in 95, and thought it was falling down then.

[@funkfan1751]

As far as I know. I don't know much about that venue but that was the name of the place that we played our Fantasy Camp concert. I'm not from Philly, live in So. Central PA.

[@jessesguitars6316]

@@funkfan1751 Penn State '91 here! I don't doubt you were at the Troc. Sorry if it sounded like that. I just remember walking in to that joint in '95, looking up at the antique fans in the high ceiling, seeing all of the dust mixed with the cobwebs hanging from the blades and thinking, "wow, that looks like pictures of the Titanic after it sank!" I knew a guy who went to the art school there in the late 70's, who said that they used to go to the Troc for lunch and old burlesque dancers were still up there doing their old acts with names like, "Viva la Boom Boom!"

[@funkfan1751]

LOL! Yea it did look like it needed an over haul.@@jessesguitars6316

[@PonziZombieKiller]

Broad Ripple H.S. class of 82.... them were some good times.

[@michaelosborne1922]

I just finished the book...fantastic stories...great job Otis.

[@Donna0728]

That was a great story, Otis! Can't say I was ever on stage with the Legend LOL but I was hugged by him! His 80th birthday is coming up soon.

[@juliegoff1731]

Oh that’s right it is ,dec 12,43 .And I believe he and his brother Joel who has passed on ,have the same birthday

[@TheHuester44]

Other people have probably mentioned this but the piano player I’m guessing was Johnny Neal . I saw the Allman Brothers in maybe 89 at the Aloine Music Theater in Wisconsin. Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes were the guitar players and Johnny Neal played piano with them. It was a great concert. I had seen the original lineup with Duane in 70 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. That was a memorable concert for many reasons.

[@juliegoff1731]

Ya ,sad given that Duane only lived one more year

[@juliegoff1731]

You were lucky you caught them before Duane went

[@TheJTish]

I did meet him once after a show in Pittsburgh--he signed my cousin's goldtop lespaul (an early 'historic collection' model)-- My cousin wanted him to sign the pickguard, but Dickey insisted on signing the body.. behind the tailpiece... using a bright blue sharpie LOL... My cousin spent the next some years trying to rub it off... it's mostly gone now, but in the right light you can still see it.

[@jeffl1879]

I commented on Kenny's video of my experience with Dickey, please read, you might enjoy. . They accomplished what may be the most extraordinary demonstration of musicianship and character after the death of Duane and Berry. The strength to get back onstage, Dickey having to learn electric slide guitar , and play as a five piece is amazing. They then realigned with Chuck and Lamar, wrote, produced and toured behind Brothers and Sisters album to become the biggest band in the country is simply astonishing. The book you may be referring to is Brothers and Sisters, I enjoyed the book. There is also Play all night which is about the years leading up to the Fillmore.

[@juliegoff1731]

You ought to read Greg’s book called My Cross to bear

[@trippyerinsd]

You’re the coolest, Otis. 🎶 Gosh, I miss Broad Ripple and esp this time of year, so hearing any mention of the Patio and Vogue makes my heart flip. 🍂

[@otisgibbs]

Ways to support this channel. www.patreon.com/otisgibbs kzbin.info/door/YX2MTovE0vYjD8touqRH7Qjoin Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

[@toddflowers8052]

What a great story Otis !! Thanks for sharing this with us !!

[@toddbeebemusic-guitartalk]

Great story Otis! Thanks for sharing. That was definitely Johnny Neel on Keys. He's incredible!! Saw him play with Lonnie Mack many times too. And Dickey's great! You're right- you hear so many stories about Dickey being a bit hard, but I've spent time around him a bunch through the years and he's always been a super guy and I saw him treat everyone around him great too. Love Dickey!

[@juliegoff1731]

I love Dickey but the stories are true ,I have a friend who used to be a roadie in the 80s and 90s.And he’s worked for nirvana for one and the Judds from country music .He was w some band in the 90s in Florida .And the band he was w was playing the same venue as the ABB.And he saw Dickey fighting w and hitting his wife .Next thing . he got a speeding ticket or something and had to go to court .And who’s in there ? Dickeys in there being led in handcuffed .Apparently he missed the gig that night because of it .

[@jr642]

Judging by Alan Paul's book it seems pretty obvious Dickey is a classic Jekyll/Hyde kind of guy. I believe Alan went out of his way to acknowledge how kind Dickey had been to him and his family. The book did not lack examples of Dickey being difficult though. He is definitely the most interesting character from the whole ABB world, at least to me.

[@terryozburn4417]

WOW!!! Great Story, especially for an ole Georgia boy that lives 50 miles north of Macon, Georgia. Thanks for sharing. Peace

[@peacetrain3320]

Love your stuff, O! Please keep it alive. Saw Dickie with Greg and the boys in the late 70s and saw Dickie in Greenville,NC when he toured with his first solo album. Great sound in a small auditorium!

[@juliegoff1731]

Highway call

[@dougwilliams4019]

I will forever associate you with the Patio. Some of my favorite memories.

[@tomp.6239]

Great story, Otis. Similar happened to me, twice; R.L Burnside 1st time, Tab Benoit few yrs. later. Humbling!

[@tomp.6239]

By way, did see him close up with the original ABB & Duane in Columbia, Mo. just about time of "Live @ Fillmore" release. Couldn't believe fat tones he got, great playing too. Never another like those guys.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

A very good friend of mine was Dickie's guitar tech for the last few years he was playing live shows. It's a guy I've known since middle school in the 80s and I stay in touch with still. So I trust him. And he says that Dickie has the perfect name. He wasn't easy to be around. Dickie once sent my friend to the Gibson facility for repairs on a guitar and he handcuffed the guitar case to my friend's wrist. Now my buddy is the guitar tech for Halestorm. He's on tour right now and loves it.

[@hazor777]

Yea - just got done listening to Gregg Allmans autobiography- hardly any positive things were said about Betts, so this sounds congruent to his rep

[@jrm2fla]

Lots of great artists are not the nicest people… acknowledge his contribution but why slag him for being human? I am glad Otis reminded us about DB’s greatness… I understand a lot of y’all have negative DB stories… I get acknowledging his imperfection, fine… tell the story… sure… none of us are perfect… but I am grateful for Otis AND DB!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@hazor777 I should also mention that I grew up in Sarasota FL and the Allman Brothers and Dickie were locals for a long time. Lots of people who knew Betts say he's kinda...Dickie. I don't remember ever hearing anyone say he was nice, including the guys I knew that introduced my friend to Dickie. We both drove cabs and we had guys who worked in the studio with Betts, and it might have been his studio. I drove them there too, but never met anyone famous there. I did meet Brian Johnson from AC/DC a couple times, he lives in Sarasota. Nice guy, different stories.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@jrm2fla I have nothing negative to say about his guitar playing or song writing.

[@hazor777]

@@comfortablynumb9342 oh hell yes : now , I could sit n chat with Brian Johnson all day long- always been a big fan of his

[@MrFrogman54]

Very cool! I hadn’t heard Jerry Blue’s name in years,,,, I would see him on Wednesday nights at the noodle back in the days,, never saw Betts play.

[@greghenderson4582]

I have met Dickey and couple of times ...and he was always nice to Eric, my son and I! One time at a show in Macon for the GABBA crowd I was asked to sing Ramblin Man and Blue Sky with Breau Jam and Tim Brooks and I was about to walk out and sing with them when the two side doors opened and in walks Dickey Betts and he walks out on stage with those two players and one of them handed Dickey his guitar and ...needless to say I did not get to sing that night !! But I did get to talk to Dickey Afterwards ...and he was great !!! If you talked to him about guitars and he could tell you really knew he seemed to love that !! I also helped restore one of his Les Pauls that was a mess ...but we wont go there !!!

[@michaelgregory2231]

Fun story! I met him backstage when we were both playing at a Charlie Daniels charity golf event in Florida. I mentioned to him that I gave guitar lessons to his son-in-law, Tesla guitarist, Frank Hannon when he was a boy and he warmed up a little.

[@martinriepma5009]

Keyboard player was Johnny Neel.

[@darrellkinkade9205]

Aaaaah come on Otis, have U NOT seen the Dickey Betts video where he says, "I got to jam w/ Otis Gibbs"!?! Luv your stuff brother...

[@kimberlydepew5199]

Otis, you are a terrific story teller, which is a real talent & very few folks can do it well…. I think I can speak for all & ask you to KEEP THESE STORIES COMING ! 😃❤️🎸🥁

[@richardcleveland1763]

I've learned not to trust my memory, but I'm sure I saw Willie Nelson, Emmlou Harris, and Dickey Betts in concert in St. Pete Florida in 1977. I can't find any reference to this concert on Google, but I'm pretty sure it was all three of them. This much I am sure of; while Dickey Betts was playing, Billy Joe Shaver ran out and danced around the stage waving his cowboy hat.

[@SynapticArcWelders]

Dickey Betts held me shortly after I was born and rocked me to sleep, according to my mom. My parents were musicians who knew him in the late 60s. As an infant, I of course don't remember it, but I do feel it was quite an honor. And to this day I rock habitually like a human metronome.

[@jonlaurin3489]

Good stuff as always Otis. Would love to hear some Ronnie Hawkins stories someday.

[@chrishoffman6537]

I dig this channel every week or so Thanks Otis

[@edwardgordon4309]

Wonderful story as usual. I met Dickey at the Coach House in Orange County Ca in about 2007. He played 2 sets. The first he just rocked it. I got to say hello to him between sets and thank him for coming to town. He signed my ticket stub and was very nice. Dan Toler played 2nd guitar and Pedro Arrevalo rocked the bass. It was a great show.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Dan Toler was a great guitarist in his own right. Cheers

[@johndeschenes8369]

Being a huge Allman Brothers fan I had the privilege of meeting Dickey twice after his departure from the ABB. Once in Manchester NH and once at BB Kings in NYC. He was very gracious to me and my girlfriend. I thank the late great Dan Toler (an Indiana native) for getting us backstage in NYC.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Otis! Good Morning! A jam with Dickey Betts. That’s a story

[@barryramey5182]

That keyboard player was the one and only the great Johnny Neel. One of the most talented people you'll ever meet or hear.

[@juliegoff1731]

Like Ray charles

[@marknemetz5020]

It's so great for us that you take these trips and tell us what you saw and who you talked too. Love this stuff and watch em all. Always lookin forward. Thank you!

[@JohnNathanCO]

My Dickey Betts story is simply the time I saw his solo band at Winterland in San Francisco, must have been 1974 or so. I never see that show or tour or particular lineup mentioned in music history anecdotes but I was sure blown away. I was a huge ABB fan but Dickey turned me on to country that night. Vassar Clements on fiddle, some super old pro on steel guitar (Buddy Emmons?) mando, banjo, acoustic guitars; if you can dig "Elizabeth Reed" as a bluegrass tune, lots of others... Dicky was on fire! They played so late I missed my bus but it was worth spending the night with my head on a table at the Doggie Diner waiting for the next one.

[@jamesmack3314]

Ha! The Doggie Diner on Sloat? that’s my old hood, Sunset District near the beach I saw Dickey Betts at Slims(Boz Skaggs club)) and a place on Divisadero called the independent.

[@JohnNathanCO]

The one on Lombard. We took the Golden Gate Transit from Sonoma County, it stopped on Lombard and we'd walk all the way up Steiner to Winterland and back. The last one of the night ran at 1:20 or 1:30 or so and if we missed it we'd have to wait until 6-something AM. Good times!@@jamesmack3314

[@jamesmack3314]

@@JohnNathanCO well, as far as I know, there was only one doggy diner, and that was on Sloat Are you sure you’re not thinking of Mel’s diner? Well, maybe back then there was a doggy diner on Lombard, but I have no recollection of it. And with all those cheap motels on Lombard I would think you would’ve wanted to stay there instead of trying to get back to Sonoma late at night.

[@JohnNathanCO]

@@jamesmack3314 Are you kidding? We were high school kids, not about to spend good weed and beer money on a motel! And yes, Doggie Diner #22, Steiner and Lombard.

[@jamesmack3314]

@@JohnNathanCO I can relate to the precious beer and weed money,all my summer job money went to that during high school! When hashish was much more readily available!! That smell……🎸

[@jerseydave1965dl]

Very cool story

[@artemisXsidecross]

You are a good story teller Otis ☮

[@LindaC-ze5ob]

What a great story Otis. Good times. Forever memories for you. RIP Dickey Betts 4/18/24 🙏🛐🕊️🕊️🎶🎵🎼

[@Zepster77]

I’d love to hear more about “Dangerous” Dan Toler, guitar player in the Gregg Allman Band (among others) in the late 70s and 80s…

[@PatriotSteve]

I saw Dan with Gregg in 1984 and then again a year later at The Channel in Boston. Great guitar player and was always a pro who knew his place in the band. Dangerous Dan…

[@EatAPeach72]

I saw Dan play with Dickey in Dearborn Michigan at a bar in 2004 , drove over from Canada,started Dating a girl the next day that went with us who eventually became my wife ( met her originally At an Allman Brothers concert in Detroit ) cause you asked 😂

[@irasparer6111]

So sad. Only Jaimoe is left. His guitar work always moved me. Even his stuff with Great Southern like Atlanta's Burning Down & Bougainvillea. A part of my youth has died along with him today.

[@neoman1858]

I met Dickey Betts waiting to go into Eddy Shaver’s funeral in January 2001. There was quite a wait. I didn’t bring up the Allman Brothers but we talked about his relationship with Eddy as a young guy and guitarist. Was friendly and thoughtful, none of that Betts temperament that was legend.

[@fentonlawless7875]

I met Dickie Betts in basement in 1976 at JP's, a rock cafe, in NYC. I was a bartender there but made visits to the basement now and then. It was the 70's. I had hooked up with an incredibly good looking lady a week or so before this and we wrote a song together and she bragged she was a friend of Dicky Betts and she could play him "our" song "Our Love Comes". So when I saw Betts I nonchalantly mentioned all this and as you said he indeed could get prickly. Very prickly. He claims loudly that HE and Her just wrote that song and how the hell did I know about this tune and he got progressively loud about it and we were aggressively separated and I was asked to leave before it got crazier. I don't know if he ever recorded the song. What I haven't forgotten is don't ever write a song with or for a beautiful woman if you want to get credit for it.

[@jamesmack3314]

Wow! That’s a good one… I mean Dickie was somewhat of a redneck

[@elaztec.aztecca]

I love it lol my Dickey Betts story is one where he was more than a ‘little bit prickly’ haha but I’ll keep things tasteful and refrain still….. I do have a Yonrico Scott story though (Derek Trucks late drummer) that’s similar where I was invited to perform with the local musicians from a handful of bands at the Yonrico Scott night at an Asheville club called MoDaddys that used to be nextdoor to the Orange Peel. RIP Yonrico thank you for your gracefulness and kindness sir. What a marvelous gift that night was.

[@DannyBrooks1]

Dickey did this frequently from what I understand. Great story!

[@mikeglasgow9618]

Hey Friend Otis. Good story. I've gotten to meet plenty of Professional musicians in my lifetime as a drummer and as part of a sound crew out of Ft.Worth , TX. Some were good and some went belly up. My band played 104 weeks at a club in Missouri. We played Wed,Fri, and Sat nights. The club had SHOWCASE THURSDAY. Usually people traveling through on there way to a larger venue in St.Louis or Little Rock. When we would attend these Showcases they would always ask us if we would like to sit in for a song. So needless to say I've Sat in just like you did with Dickey. Although never with Dickey. I was onstage monitor mix for solo Greg Allman and when I asked him about his wedge volume at his keyboard, he told me to not give him one. He didnt want it. A Showcase Thursday to remember was the saxophone player Ace Cannon. I was sorta familiar with his work through my father's record collection and when asked to sit in on drums to one of his songs, he was so drunk he fell of his barstool he was playing on and off the bandstand and on to the dance floor. So. Some very memorable and some not so great. The most gracious was BARBERA MANDREL. She was so very nice and so talented. Love your stories and maybe one day our paths will cross and we can have a cup and tell a few more. Take care friend.

[@andrewmcreynolds4677]

I.saw dickey Betts and the great southern 3 times and the allman bros alot!

[@leelane9929]

When i was a kid me and my best friend Bubba, was riding our bikes one night and sit outside this bar in West Nashville and listened to this band called the Allman Joys. We were way to young to go in a bar and wouldn’t have known who they were if someone didn’t tell us their name.

[@stratmomma]

I love this!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤please more more more!!!!

[@chipurBillWhite]

Great stuff, Otis. Thank you…

[@melodymakermark]

I saw an interview with Gregg where he said that when Duane died, the atmosphere was “oh man, our leader’s gone. What are we gonna do?”, and Gregg’s attitude was “don’t look at me. I just happen to have the same last name.”

[@jamesmack3314]

Dickey Betts took that band under his wing and brought about their greatest success 72-74 with the great album, brothers and sisters and of course ramblin man if you listen to the live album wipe the windows check the oil it’s fantastic and it’s mostly Dickey.

[@livefree9852]

Love the stories, Otis. Thanks again!

[@sevenmileridgeband]

I passed through The Vouge Theater once as a backline tech working for Peter Murphy in 1995? thereabouts, and did a walk about after sound check, cool neighborhood. You jammed with Dickey Betts!!!! How cool is that?

[@18winsagin]

How often does something like this ever happen to someone. It leaves a memory that can't be taken away from you.

[@frankrussell4664]

Love your channel, Otis!

[@philovance1940]

DB was a big part of keeping the AB together after Duane died but it didn’t hurt that they also had their 1st Top 10 hit ‘Ramblin’ Man’. Good for them.

[@jamesmack3314]

For sure Betts in a sense saved the band and brought about their greatest success. If you haven’t listen to that live album wipe the windows check the oil it’s really really good. I like it better than Fillmore and Dickie is in top form.

[@RyanWilliamsMusic]

I would've absolutely come unglued if I got to play Stormy Monday with Dickey. I did meet him briefly around 2009 and watched the show from onstage. He was cool. Somewhat similar story... An older friend of mine was playing a sports bar gig here in Simi Valley, CA and his "fill in" bass player that night was his old friend Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck Bogert Appice). They were sounding great and next thing I know my friend is handing me his guitar to get up and lead the band on a few songs. Here I am asking Tim Bogert "Do you know Strange Brew?...Okay now how about Spooky?" It was awesome.

[@larrymervine998]

Many years ago I was playing in Alexandria, Va. and Bonnie Raitt’s guitarist would come by and occasionally join in. He said his friend Danny (Gaston) would be by in the morning to pick us up for a Sunday jam session at Roy’s (Buchanan) house. I was so intimidated that I chickened out. Been kicking myself ever since.

[@HamCubes]

Didn't it rain, children

[@Strumbum01]

We lost a legend today, sad. RIP, Dickey.

[@douglasswinford2598]

You’re way too modest Otis. You’re right up there with them. It can be sweet or sour when you meet someone you’ve heard about, but you’ve never met. Sounds like you did well. Enjoy your stories from the road.

[@landlinesandpercolators8822]

Was Dickey the Johnny Ramone of the Allman Brothers? Never met the guy but I would guess he had good days and some bad days over the years of playing joints and stadiums. And perhaps there were some outside influences that affected his moods.

[@PatriotSteve]

Dicky was the most charismatic player in the band. The hear and soul and the one who drew the most attention. It was a shame when he got booted. They were never as dynamic live without him in the band.

[@bobdennison207]

nice

[@MarshallAmpMan]

Great story... saw him at a small venue in a suburb of Chicago called the Pearl Room in 2006 and before the show he was chewing out his roadie from hooking up a wah wah that was squealing when he first tried it. I thought he was going to grab the guy by the scruff of his collar and throw him off the stage. I was like WOW didn't know he was like that. I was surprised that he seemed short too, like around 5'4 or 5'5". He played great though. Probably a perfectionist.