Dickey Betts, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, dies at 80

[{"selector":"#anim-2a67f902-23a9-4af3-9cc8-13062a38a1c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-479628f0-5101-481b-aa73-c83412f8c78b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.12329%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dickey Betts, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away at his home in Osprey, Fla. at the age of 80

[{"selector":"#anim-64d2cb94-e94e-4970-88e1-00e617f49694","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8dd26b18-ae78-41cb-8e34-48f6af5cb191","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A legendary guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, Betts battled two types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

[{"selector":"#anim-deae2703-8660-467b-9d36-7bae8e018e71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3583ef8e-2efa-4267-bc8e-338d4af43fa6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.69231%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Described as "larger than life" by his family, Betts leaves behind an enduring legacy in the world of music.

[{"selector":"#anim-453a7bd2-5ba1-41a6-937c-46d0cd7e47c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1ca275b-85fe-4740-8674-b42512c617f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Betts' unique guitar style helped shape Southern rock in the '60s and '70s, blending blues, rock, and country influences

[{"selector":"#anim-9e352293-9c5c-4a76-8015-0f3d46d46837","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-977f77f2-821b-4287-a074-6da46b7e1ed1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.12329%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Longtime Allman Brothers member Chuck Leavell hailed Betts as one of the most distinctive guitarists in the world

[{"selector":"#anim-ea995210-904f-48d3-a19e-13f2432bfa45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e3e52d1-440a-47e6-a6ee-f7675faca592","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.84931%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite initial reservations, Betts' song "Ramblin' Man" became the band's only top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.