Howard Duane Allman was born on November 20, 1946, and tragically passed away on October 29, 1971, at the young age of 24, leaving behind a legacy as an American guitarist, session musician, and the founder and leader of the iconic Allman Brothers Band.
Formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969, the Allman Brothers Band achieved immense success during the early 1970s, with Allman's expressive slide guitar playing and inventive improvisational skills being particularly noteworthy. In 2003, he was ranked the second greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, and in 2011, he was ranked ninth.
Not only was Allman an integral part of the Allman Brothers Band, but he was also a highly sought-after session musician, collaborating with renowned artists such as King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Wilson Pickett, and Boz Scaggs. Additionally, he made significant contributions to the 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos.
Allman's distinctive guitar tone, achieved with a Gibson Les Paul and two 50-watt bass Marshall amplifiers, was widely acclaimed and has been recognized as one of the greatest of all time by Guitar Player. Despite his untimely death, Duane Allman's impact on the music world continues to be felt, and his legacy lives on through his incredible body of work.
