Recall that Dickey Betts died on April 18, 2024 after a battle with cancer and severe lung disease. He was 80 years old.
Thanks to his guitar solos, he created unforgettable songs that are known to entire generations in the United States. In doing so, he helped define the famous band's sound Allman Brothers Bandas well as southern rock.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announces that Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) passed away peacefully at the age of 80,” the statement read. “The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family man, passed away at his home in Osprey, Florida, surrounded by his loved ones. Dickey was larger than life and his loss will be felt around the world. The family asks for prayers and respects at this difficult time their privacy in the coming days. More information will be provided in due course,” Rolling Stone reported. David Speromusic manager.
Dickey Betts was often overshadowed by the main musicians, the brothers Gregg and Duane Allman. Despite this, he was still important to the development of the group's sound. It was Betts who wrote the group's most famous hit, “Ramblin' Man” from 1974, or an instrumental one “Jessica”.
This second song, “Jessica”, is well known to viewers of “Top Gear”. However, few of them have heard about its creator, which he himself pointed out Jeremy Clarkson. “Dicky Betts has passed away. You probably haven't heard of him, but he wrote a song called 'Jessica'. And you've DEFINITELY heard it,” the presenter wrote on social media.
The entry caused a wave of comments from fans of the program who did not realize that the main theme of the iconic “Top Gear” comes from the hit of the Allman Brothers Band. When it was used for the first installment of the program, it was 1977. In its original version, it was broadcast until 2001, and a year later Clarkson restarted the format with a slightly changed, modernized opening credits.
“An iconic theme. Just like 'The Chain' (Fleetwood Mac – note) in F1.”; “Rest in peace Dicky (honestly, I haven't heard of him)”; “Well you weren't wrong, it turns out I've heard that song. I wonder how he felt when his song became such an iconic part of 'Top Gear'?” – fans write.
When creating “Jessica”, Betts was inspired by his one-year-old daughter of that name. As he worked on new music, it crawled into his room. An instrumental composition is often described as one in which the guitar speaks enough that the words no longer need to add anything. “'Flor D'Luna' by Santana and 'Jessica' – these songs don't need words because the guitar sings. The melody is so strong that it exists on its own. The words don't make any sense in this case because the music speaks,” he said in an interview with Songfacts musician, son of Gregg – Devon Allman.