In the autumn of 1972, The Allman Brothers Band was still grieving over the 1971 motorcycle death of band founder and co-lead guitarist Duane Allman. The band turned to co-founder Betts who offered up “Ramblin’ Man” and it was just the momentum needed. The upbeat country song resulted in the Allman’s sole Top 10 song. Dickey Betts was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list in 2003, and #61 on the 2011 list.

He also wrote Allman Brother Band classics such as “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Blue Sky” that became radio and concert staples and they were pioneers of the emerging jam band scene with their mix of roadhouse blues and free form rock guitar solos, which again brought them enormous critical acclaim.

As a member of the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and in 1996, won a Best Rock performance Grammy Award for his instrumental “Jessica”. After the Allman Brothers fell apart in 1976, Betts released more solo albums, with Dickey Betts & Great Southern being released in 1977, which included the song “Bougainvillea,” (co-written with future Hollywood star Don Johnson).