Allman Brothers guitarist, Dickey Betts, dead at 80

Dickey Betts, the legendary guitarist renowned for his work in the Allman Brothers Band, died at the age of 80.

Betts bid farewell to the world, passing away on Thursday, April 18, in Osprey, Fla., as reported by Variety.

The news of his passing was made public by his family, who took to social media to share their heartfelt announcement on Instagram.

"With profound sadness, the Betts family announces the peaceful passing of Forest Richard 'Dickey' Betts (December 1943 — April 18, 2024) at the age of 80," they penned.

"Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt worldwide," they added and went on to urge the fans to give the mourning family some space and privacy.

Betts co-founded the Allman Brothers Band, marking the beginning of a musical journey that would shape an entire era from '60s and '70s.

Following Duane's tragic passing in 1971 at the age of 24, Betts poised to play a more prominent role within the group, contributing as a songwriter, instrumentalist, and occasional lead vocalist.

Despite briefly exiting from the music scene in 2014, Betts couldn't resist and returned to the music making realm in 2017, citing boredom as his motivation.