I just received the sad news that drummer Butch Trucks, original member of the Allman Brothers' Band and uncle to blues guitar prodigy, Derek Trucks has passed.
Trucks was one of a pair of drummers chosen by the late Duane Allman to anchor the rhythm section of ABB when he began assembling players nearly fifty years ago. The twin drummer/twin guitar band, anchored in blues and southern rock, was the inspiration for any number of bands over parts of six decades, including Widespread Panic and the Dave Matthews Band.
Butch Trucks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994. The Allman Brothers Band was prolific and truly innovative in the blues genre and Trucks was there for all of it!!
As some of you know, I went to school with and played music with members of various blues and southern rock bands including the late Alan Woody, bassist for ABB and Govt. Mule, and Barry Barnes and Gary Allen, members of the original Charlie Daniels Band. Some of these guys have sat in with my own band and this hits real close to home for me.