You said tell you a big house story .Well about 4 years ago me and my bandmate/mandolin player where headed to Sarasota from New England. I've been wanting to see it for years as the brothers are my all time faves. We new it cost money to see it but me and my friend had enough money collectively to get us to Sarasota. We where just gonna check it out from the outside but once we where there a voice told me"go ask, you deserve to see this so when we walked in, Rex was working the front desk taking car of some customers, when he got to us I BASICALLY SAID" we have no money, we're traveling musicians on te way to florida" I started to tear up when telling Rex how much they meant to me. Right then he said really low" go ahead fill this out, start looking around and I'll be back to show you around in a minuite".5 hours later the tour ended and we left. Not only the biig house but Rex took us to rose hill, all over Macon, H and H restaurant AND Capricorn records, the whole thing, they where opening Capricorn as a museum in 2 days so me and my friend where the first to tour it! What a classy guy Rex is. I'll always cherish that day.
Sometimes it pays to throw yourself on the mercy of the court. At least the court of broke traveling minstrels anyway. Glad it worked out as well as it did. Maybe he just felt bad because you were soon to become "florida men" lol? I kid you really I do.
With Dickey's passing, I did a deep dive into some concert footage of the band. There was a period of the group I was unfamiliar with, and that was when Jack Pearson played with them. Absolutely stunned and blown away by his playing. My descent into the rabbit hole continued, but now it also included me discovering this amazing guitarist. ( And feeling very much like a rank amateur for not having heard of him before this. ) Appreciate you taking the time to take us along virtually to celebrate Dickey and the Allman Brothers. Dickey was very much a part of my formative years when learning guitar. He could solo in the happiest of major keys, and make it sound rough and ready. "Legend" is a descriptor that gets bandied about way too often, but that's what Mr. Betts is.
Wow Otis-thanks so much for taking us on that walkthrough. It meant alot to see all of the incredible old guitars and gear, amazing. For so many of us the Allman Bros were a real touchstone influence, so it's a bit hard to see the Big House and all of the historic pictures and not get emotional. Quite the vibe just seeing it onscreen I must say. Looks like I better ad Macon to the bucket list and get it done! Appreciate all you do Otis, all of these great interviews and stories are so interesting!
Thank you so much for the tour Otis! I LOVE the Allman Brothers Band and have always wanted to know what the inside of the Big House looked like but thought my chances of seeing it were nonexistent. It's even more beautiful than I imagined and am so grateful that it is there for the fans to experience.
My Wife and I were in Macon last July for my nephews wedding. We had some time and since it was on my bucket list we went and spent some good time there. I will say it was quite an experience as The Allman Brothers were a big part of my growing up and many of my friends up here in North Carolina in the early to mid '70s. Of course ,I was taken aback looking at all the old gear. Well worth the price of admission to visit.
Thanks so much for this little tour. I didn't know the house was a museum. I'm a Georgia native and my mother was born in Macon in 1913. I was an Allman Brothers fan from the time I first heard them at the Atlanta Pop Festival (which wasn't really in Atlanta). Hard to believe there's only Jaimo now. I be old.
I've been there several times. I've been a fan since 1970. Such a cool place. I was there on the day of Gregg's funeral. We went to Rose Hill Cemetary after hanging at the Big House in the morning for the grave side services & burial. It was so sweet & thoughtful of the family to open the cemetary up and allow the public to attend from the gentle hills overlooking the burial plot and take part in the celebration of his life. Everyone, and I believe it was probably at least a couple of thousand people or more, was so respectful. It was back to the Big House in the evening for a street party. The police blocked off a couple of blocks of Vineville Ave in front of the house, and everyone enjoyed the live music emanating from the stage in the backyard with lots of well known musicians. It was great time. I'll always cherish the memory. They were the greatest band of all time to me.
Talking 'bout timing...I was in Macon for a 2 day teacher workshop beginning on the Monday after Gregg's funeral and made the point to go to see Gregg, Duane and Berry at Rose Hill that Monday afternoon. Since then the family reworked the entire plot and Butch's family had him moved there. Sad, but understandable that Dickey will be laid to rest in Florida.
Was there in 2017 and it was awesome. They let me bring my Goldtop les Paul inside and sit on the steps and play along with the abb music playing on the speakers throughout the museum. They were all so gracious to me and my wife and I got to stand beside Gregg's grave at Rose Hill cemetery, that was before they finished it with the bars to keep people out. It was so surreal and was very cold that day. Planning a trip again now that Dickey is gone.
Never forget the night Allman Brothers played on Don Kirshners Rock Show. Dickey sang Ramblin Man. The audience mouths were open like what is this great sounding music.
I was living in Perry GA in 2010 and went there for the first time on a Sunday afternoon. I met a guy named EJ who was working there. I spent 2 or 3 hours checking everything out and talking with EJ. He got me a volunteer gig there on weekends. Being a big fan of the Brothers I was excited and it was quite the experience. Met some great people and have some great photos. Unfortunately none of the brothers ever showed up the weekends I was there. But I got to take my time and really see everything and take it all in. It was very surreal and I had a lot of WOW moments. Last time I was there was in 2017. Getting about time to go back again. Thanks for the cool video.
those bassman and bandmaster heads were also my go to heads in the 70 and 80's they are such work hoarse's and it so nice to see the legendary alembic bass...
Thanks for doing this stuff, Otis! I’m getting to that point in life where I’ve lost most of the guys I used jam with, most of the people I used to go to the shows with and of course, the musicians that I admired and learned so much from- like Dickey Betts. It’s such a strange phenomenon how you can go through life and have certain artists that have been an integral part of your life-whether it’s through actually playing their music, or their music was the soundtrack for your first date, a great party, your wedding, songs that marked the great times and songs that got you through the worst times. You’ve seen enough videos and interviews and podcasts that at times you feel like you know more about them than some of your friends . So it’s a strange thing when someone like that passes. You may have never actually met the person but a part of them was a big part of your life. So when I heard Dickie had passed, it was a sad moment. We had some great times together. Whether he knew it or not! 😂
Thanks for tour Otis, that's now on my bucket list. I saw the original band about a year after the live album came out, then saw them with just Dickey on guitar. I shook Lamar's hand at that show before a roadie knocked me off the stage ( deserved it but i did nail him in the back afterwards with a bud can). You mentioned Gregg's solo tour from '74, now that was nearly as good as the ABB shows. Mini orchestra with a fantastic guitar player all in a 1500 seat venue. The ABB was over for me when they kicked Dickey out but they gave me great joy ( still do) for most of my life. Rest easy: Duane Berry Lamar Butch Gregg Dickey
This is just so nice. Can’t help but get a little teary eyed at so many memories and so much of what could have been and should have been a better way of life if we had all managed to keep the Brothers and Sisters dream alive.
My band Smokestack played there last year in June. Got to play Duanes 59 Jr and his Gold top. We are booked again in July of this year and later in August. The museum is amazing and the people running it to a great job. I love your channel Otis! Always look forward to your videos
I went some years back (2011) and Stillwater was playing out back on the stage. I bought Greg's at the time brand new double album "Low Country Blues" from the store. We toured the museum. Stillwater was allowed to play the gold Les Paul that night and it sounded sweet. Jimmy Hall was there and played sax and harmonica. It was a great night. My wife paid for the trip for my 60th birthday gift and I took a great friend with me. We went to the diner, went to the cemetery, went to the mansion where the band posed for that photo on their first album (we posed too and had someone take our photo!) A wonderful time.
I appreciate you taking me here, I loved the Allman Brothers band and I didn't know anything about this place existing until 5 minutes ago! Thanks so much Otis and I don't know if there is a better channel for me!!
Local (Juliette) here. Thanks for stopping by Macon, I visited some of the local spots recently. So much music history here. Love the channel- I listen on my way to work in the morning (with my cup of coffee). Hope to be in Nashville soon, for some guitar shopping.
Hey Otis, thanks for doing this. I saw your announcement of his passing and know you just got done with an 11 hour drive. Pretty solid of you to do this for us all to see. Much love to you brother. ✌️❤️
For me, it was all about live at Fillmore East, Eat a Peach and Brothers & Sisters and then they just went into decline imo but I’ll never forget being on vacation in Banff Alberta Canada with my buddy and as beautiful as that was, I just couldn’t wait to get back home because brothers and sisters had just been released, and man it did not disappoint ! And Dickie Betts really carried that album without Duane there & Chuck Leavell was a great addition to the band Omg RIP DB 🎸
Dickey was one of my all time heroes. So sad to lose him. A true warrior and a huge influence on my guitar playing. I always wanted to thank him. We'll never forget you!
Thank you Otis! I enjoyed the tour, regardless of how short! I understand the time frame issue. Never have been but would love to. Appreciate the stories.. Much love from north Mississippi ❤️
RIP Richard Betts. We've been to Macon few times, it's a place of rich music history. And we been to the Big House a couple of times. The last time was 9 days before Richard passed.
Dickie favorite Guitar was Les Paul 1957 - 1959 years; Special tone ! Forest Betts was one of the greatest. In Memory of Elizabth Reed - (written by Dickie ) One of the Top 20 Rock songs - Incredible Live recording ! Loved the Allman Brothers . ❤🙋♂️🎷🏆🙏
Awesome. The Allman Brothers is one of my fave bands. The first 5 albums are incredible and today I was listening At Filmore East. What an amazing album. Thanks so much for the tour at band’s house. Cheers from Brazil. R.I.P Dickey.😢
Took a road trip to Macon, well, more like a pilgrimage, lol...with a childhood friend and spent an afternoon at The Big House and then over at Rose Hill. I think every Allmans fan should visit. Take your time, take it in, it's worth it. We were on our way to a reunion in Florida and decided to take a detour to Macon for this. There's Graceland, and there's the Big House, if you're an Allman Brothers Band fan the Big House is your Graceland.
A visit to this house is now on my bucket list! The first time I heard Statesboro Blues off the At Fillmore East album, as an aspiring 15 year old guitarist, down in Cape Town South Africa, my home town, back in '72, once the album made it down here, I was absolutely enthralled by the sound. Not having heard much slide guitar before, I played that album night and day for months to try and figure out what this guy called Duane was doin. It took a lifetime to figure it, which I eventually did, by watching RUclips videos of Warren Haynes performing it with the reformed Allman band in the 90's. Information was scare down here during the 1970's, a lot of it was banned and censored, and albums with non-white members were banned outright. But there was a clandestine pipeiline of US albums making their way down to South Africa, and we shared these albums. What a band, with a rich and tragic history that played out in the racially divided south, not unlike the racially divided country I grew up in.
Flew from Honolulu foran Atlanta wedding. The side trip to Macon was so, so meaningful. The handwritten lyrics and chords the coolest for me. Also visited Rose Hill Cemetery, where Duane, Berry, and Greg rest. Will be back!
I was at the Big House a few yrs ago with my buddy Jim Hurst. I couldn’t believe how small the rehearsal room was!!!! Well worth the trip and would definitely go back.
Great video! So glad you’re last couple of videos have talked about Dickie Betts legacy and life His guitar work and songwriting are so underrated it’s a shame!!!
I was there in the early 90's a few times during a few GABBAFESTS they hold every year celebrating the band and its music. It was still owned by Kirk West the tour Mystic himself. Who quite frankly is the reason we have this museum without him no House and he was a major collector of there stuff a lot of that stuff he donated. We just knocked up an he was graceful enough to show us around. Thanks for the video. For any Allman diehard Macon is the holy grail. Make the pilgrimage down you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for this great tour--I've got to come down to GA w my own brothers and make the tour. Thank you Dickey, and all the passed on Brothers for the great music. Rock on Jaimoe, the first brother Duane hired to be in his band! Wow, great museum!!! Thank you!
What a great video and conversation Otis. It is an immaculately preserved home, and so many great artifacts from their career. I didn't know they had supported Carter's election campaign.
Love that place and the cemetery where Duane, Berry and Gregg are buried. Though I live in CA, I had a job with the Air Force that took me to the Macon area a week a month from 2013-2020.
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I worked with Gerald (Buffalo) Evans (the Allman Brothers’ Band road manager back then), at Martha’s Vineyard High School in the late 80s. What a character! He still had his touring briefcase full of backstage passes.
Dickey filled some VERY large shoes! He doesn't really get the acolades he desreved. I've listened to the Allman Bros since '73 when I was 13. I fell in love with Southbound off Brothers and Sisters. The rest is history but I love EVERY incarnation of this band. Thanks for the Video and this is on my bucket list. RIP Dickey
HA! I saw myself and my brother in the video….what a great day with a bunch of my high school buddies. You’re right,Otis. Any fan of music and great people will need to get to the Big House.
Great video! Yes , last week we went there, Capricorn Studios,H&H restaurant, and Rose Hill Cemetery to see their graves! Wonderful day,, and must say, we have to return again to really see more of what we didn't see. So much, also to pickup more music and shirts too!
The boys had a house out on siesta key down in Sarasota, Florida back in the seventies. They tore the house down back in the early 90's. My dad salvaged some of the cypress and some 2×8 boards that l used to build a swing set/fort for my kids. The pool was painted black.
So glad I stumbled upon this video, I had no idea this place and all the artefacts have been preserved so beautifully. I have the Brothers & Sisters gatefold vinyl and always loved that big extended family photo on the inside and the kids on the front & back. Great that they have Britney Oakley‘s yellow dress, that‘s a lovely detail. It‘s a long way from here near Helsinki, Finland but if I ever get back to Georgia I will definitely visit the Big House.
We stopped in there in 2018, wonderful place, we live about 20 miles from the Watkins Glen race track and family lives very close. I was 13 at the time of the Summer Jam show, we drove by a few days after and what a mess, people were cleaning up!! Found abandoned campsite on my uncles land nearby, still have some the the old camping gear I found. Memories!
Around '65 ('66'?) I was in the 8th grade. Our Mother of Good Counsel School, Griffith Park area of LA. Allman Brothers played a concert in the schools' auditorium, No one knew who they were. That year my band started playing USO shows downtown LA. I was 13 years old. The Allman Brothers were a polished, professional band. They must have been hurting for funds to be playing at a Catholic school, but they played like they were at the Fillmore. And I was inspired. On the dashboard of their white van was a hand-written sign, "Church Gigs Are A drag". Funny. Who knew what was to become of them. By the way, They were playing through SS VOX Super Beatles !
I passed through Macon in early April. I was there on a Monday, so the Big House was closed (open Thursdays through Sundays), but I saw most of the other sites associate with the Brothers. It was a thrill for me to be there; it's something that I've wanted to do for years. Next time I'll make it into The Big House.
I was there two Saturdays ago. My grandfather owned a union 76 station and rented U-Haul, right down from the Big House, to them when they first started out. My dad would have to go to Capricorn and collect the money…
Thank you for sharing this. I've been an ABB fan since the mid 1970's. Only saw them live in 1979 on the Enlightened Rogues Tour. Amateur guitarist.... trying to learn some of Dickey and Duane's leads. Great stuff. RIP, Dickey.
I worked at Capricorn studio in the 70s. It was shortly after Duane had passed. When I heard their first album I was blown away and he is the reason I wanted to move to Macon. I never seen him while he was alive. I almost did when they were playing in Marshall Minnesota but Gregg got sick and the show was called off. I was in high school and the next day was a school day but I hitchhiked just to see Duane. Then he was gone and I was upset that I would never get to see him play. You just don't have the whole picture until you personally see them play. I resigned myself to the fact that I would never see him play and know that part of him that mear photos cannot communicate and then one day I ran into RUclips. There was as close to the real deal as I could ever get. Videos of him. There was my missing link and my goodness there was the man who played with such passion. It was written all over his face. And when the show ended I got to see his smile, and it was a huge smile that lit up his face. I will never forget it. The Big House museum is on my bucket list. The last time I was in Macon I think was in 1990. I didn't know anything about it. If it was an existence then I didn't know. But now I'm old, and I just have to see it even if I have to steal a car to get there...lol! I stayed friends with Johnny Sandlin and all of them in the studio over the years. It's sad that they're all gone now even Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton, Rick Hall. Which makes this entry on my bucket list even more important. And thank you for reminding me again of that. I joined them in the earliest chapters of their long excellent careers and now as one of the last ones standing, l must witness their epilogue. May I get to the Big House Museum and I'll be so happy that old Bucket List won't really matter anymore. 😊❤❤❤❤❤❤
I've been there 3 times and would shed a tear every time. Awesome place. That shower is cool ! I think Dickey had a house about 1 block away which is still there.
Thanks for this. Macon is so full of music history. There's a cool little Richard Museum (shame there isn't a bigger one for the real King of R&R). He was from Macon. And the incomparable Otis Reading is from Macon.
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You said tell you a big house story .Well about 4 years ago me and my bandmate/mandolin player where headed to Sarasota from New England. I've been wanting to see it for years as the brothers are my all time faves. We new it cost money to see it but me and my friend had enough money collectively to get us to Sarasota. We where just gonna check it out from the outside but once we where there a voice told me"go ask, you deserve to see this so when we walked in, Rex was working the front desk taking car of some customers, when he got to us I BASICALLY SAID" we have no money, we're traveling musicians on te way to florida" I started to tear up when telling Rex how much they meant to me. Right then he said really low" go ahead fill this out, start looking around and I'll be back to show you around in a minuite".5 hours later the tour ended and we left. Not only the biig house but Rex took us to rose hill, all over Macon, H and H restaurant AND Capricorn records, the whole thing, they where opening Capricorn as a museum in 2 days so me and my friend where the first to tour it! What a classy guy Rex is. I'll always cherish that day.
Sometimes it pays to throw yourself on the mercy of the court. At least the court of broke traveling minstrels anyway. Glad it worked out as well as it did. Maybe he just felt bad because you were soon to become "florida men" lol? I kid you really I do.
L no no
With Dickey's passing, I did a deep dive into some concert footage of the band. There was a period of the group I was unfamiliar with, and that was when Jack Pearson played with them. Absolutely stunned and blown away by his playing. My descent into the rabbit hole continued, but now it also included me discovering this amazing guitarist. ( And feeling very much like a rank amateur for not having heard of him before this. )
Appreciate you taking the time to take us along virtually to celebrate Dickey and the Allman Brothers. Dickey was very much a part of my formative years when learning guitar. He could solo in the happiest of major keys, and make it sound rough and ready. "Legend" is a descriptor that gets bandied about way too often, but that's what Mr. Betts is.
Check Les Bros /Les Brers .Butch's Bands. Jack in the Captain seat. Some of the best versions of their music ever.
I knew Jack Pearson as the squire guy. Didn’t know he played with the Allmans.
Thank You Otis for showing Dickey respect ❤️🕯️🌹
Wow Otis-thanks so much for taking us on that walkthrough. It meant alot to see all of the incredible old guitars and gear, amazing. For so many of us the Allman Bros were a real touchstone influence, so it's a bit hard to see the Big House and all of the historic pictures and not get emotional. Quite the vibe just seeing it onscreen I must say. Looks like I better ad Macon to the bucket list and get it done! Appreciate all you do Otis, all of these great interviews and stories are so interesting!
Thank you so much for the tour Otis! I LOVE the Allman Brothers Band and have always wanted to know what the inside of the Big House looked like but thought my chances of seeing it were nonexistent. It's even more beautiful than I imagined and am so grateful that it is there for the fans to experience.
My friends Torrie and crew did the restoration on the Big House a few years back. Deep ABB roots, here...
That's cool 🌞what kind of restoration's.. I've done that kind of work on some very special house's and historical places. 🍊
My Wife and I were in Macon last July for my nephews wedding. We had some time and since it was on my bucket list we went and spent some good time there. I will say it was quite an experience as The Allman Brothers were a big part of my growing up and many of my friends up here in North Carolina in the early to mid '70s. Of course ,I was taken aback looking at all the old gear. Well worth the price of admission to visit.
Thank you very much. The Allman Brothers music will live forever.
Thanks so much for this little tour. I didn't know the house was a museum.
I'm a Georgia native and my mother was born in Macon in 1913. I was an Allman Brothers fan from the time I first heard them at the Atlanta Pop Festival (which wasn't really in Atlanta).
Hard to believe there's only Jaimo now. I be old.
Thanks for taking us along Otis.
I've been there several times. I've been a fan since 1970. Such a cool place. I was there on the day of Gregg's funeral. We went to Rose Hill Cemetary after hanging at the Big House in the morning for the grave side services & burial. It was so sweet & thoughtful of the family to open the cemetary up and allow the public to attend from the gentle hills overlooking the burial plot and take part in the celebration of his life. Everyone, and I believe it was probably at least a couple of thousand people or more, was so respectful. It was back to the Big House in the evening for a street party. The police blocked off a couple of blocks of Vineville Ave in front of the house, and everyone enjoyed the live music emanating from the stage in the backyard with lots of well known musicians. It was great time. I'll always cherish the memory. They were the greatest band of all time to me.
Rose Hill Cemetery is a historic public cemetery so it is always open. Just go visit! My first time there was in the summer of 1974.
I couldn't agree more.They were and still are the best!
Was there in August 2023, picked up a few souvenirs, the museum is a living history of ABB! Thanks Otis, RIP Mr. Betts
Beautiful. They say timing is everything, Otis...you're in the groove of life
Talking 'bout timing...I was in Macon for a 2 day teacher workshop beginning on the Monday after Gregg's funeral and made the point to go to see Gregg, Duane and Berry at Rose Hill that Monday afternoon.
Since then the family reworked the entire plot and Butch's family had him moved there. Sad, but understandable that Dickey will be laid to rest in Florida.
Was there in 2017 and it was awesome. They let me bring my Goldtop les Paul inside and sit on the steps and play along with the abb music playing on the speakers throughout the museum. They were all so gracious to me and my wife and I got to stand beside Gregg's grave at Rose Hill cemetery, that was before they finished it with the bars to keep people out. It was so surreal and was very cold that day. Planning a trip again now that Dickey is gone.
Thank you Otis --I have parkinsons and this is as close as I will ever get--Thanks again for posting
----- Otis Tour Dates -------
04/16/24 -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/17/24. -Key West, Florida -The Studios Of Key West
04/27/24 -Seymour, Indiana -Crossroads Acoustic Festival
05/29/24 -London, England. -Leytonstone Social Club
05/31/24. -Smethwick, England. -The Thimblemill Library
06/01/24. -Broseley, England. -The Birchmeadow
06/02/24. -Nottingham, England -The Chapel at the Angel
06/04/24 -Newport, Wales -Le Pub
06/05/24. -Sheffield, England. -The Greystones
06/07/24 -Newcastle, England. -The Cluny 2
06/09/24. -Glasgow, Scotland. -The Glad Café
------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------
Thanks Otis-
Long live Dickey and The ABB. They're almost all together now...
I. Love this place
Never forget the night Allman Brothers played on Don Kirshners Rock Show.
Dickey sang Ramblin Man.
The audience mouths were open like what is this great sounding music.
This is great! RIP Dickey an American Legend of the highest status.
I was living in Perry GA in 2010 and went there for the first time on a Sunday afternoon. I met a guy named EJ who was working there. I spent 2 or 3 hours checking everything out and talking with EJ. He got me a volunteer gig there on weekends. Being a big fan of the Brothers I was excited and it was quite the experience. Met some great people and have some great photos. Unfortunately none of the brothers ever showed up the weekends I was there. But I got to take my time and really see everything and take it all in. It was very surreal and I had a lot of WOW moments. Last time I was there was in 2017. Getting about time to go back again. Thanks for the cool video.
The allmans set the bar for blues, jam rock, southern rock and much more.
those bassman and bandmaster heads were also my go to heads in the 70 and 80's they are such work hoarse's and it so nice to see the legendary alembic bass...
Dickey lives on in his music and our hearts .
Thanks for doing this stuff, Otis!
I’m getting to that point in life where I’ve lost
most of the guys
I used jam with,
most of the people
I used to go to
the shows with
and of course,
the musicians that I admired and learned
so much from-
like Dickey Betts.
It’s such a strange phenomenon
how you can go through life and have certain artists that have been an integral part of your life-whether it’s through actually playing their music, or their music was the soundtrack for your first date, a great party, your wedding,
songs that marked the great times and songs that got you through the worst times.
You’ve seen enough videos and interviews and podcasts that at times you feel like you know more about them than some of your friends .
So it’s a strange thing
when someone like that passes.
You may have never
actually met the person
but a part of them
was a big part of your life.
So when I heard
Dickie had passed,
it was a sad moment.
We had some great times
together.
Whether he knew it
or not! 😂
Beautifully said.
And that,is the power of music. ✌️
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for doing this Otis
Thanks for tour Otis, that's now on my bucket list.
I saw the original band about a year after the live album came out, then saw them with just Dickey on guitar. I shook Lamar's hand at that show before a roadie knocked me off the stage ( deserved it but i did nail him in the back afterwards with a bud can). You mentioned Gregg's solo tour from '74, now that was nearly as good as the ABB shows. Mini orchestra with a fantastic guitar player all in a 1500 seat venue. The ABB was over for me when they kicked Dickey out but they gave me great joy ( still do) for most of my life.
Rest easy:
Duane
Berry
Lamar
Butch
Gregg
Dickey
Playing first base for the Allman Brothers Band, that's a memory you won't soon forget
Thanks Otis. Dynamite stuff.
Dickey Betts - Champion and Legend
This is just so nice. Can’t help but get a little teary eyed at so many memories and so much of what could have been and should have been a better way of life if we had all managed to keep the Brothers and Sisters dream alive.
God I would love to visit and see it all! I loved dickey Betts he was in my mind the best part of the allman Brothers
My band Smokestack played there last year in June. Got to play Duanes 59 Jr and his Gold top. We are booked again in July of this year and later in August. The museum is amazing and the people running it to a great job. I love your channel Otis! Always look forward to your videos
I went some years back (2011) and Stillwater was playing out back on the stage. I bought Greg's at the time brand new double album "Low Country Blues" from the store. We toured the museum. Stillwater was allowed to play the gold Les Paul that night and it sounded sweet. Jimmy Hall was there and played sax and harmonica. It was a great night. My wife paid for the trip for my 60th birthday gift and I took a great friend with me. We went to the diner, went to the cemetery, went to the mansion where the band posed for that photo on their first album (we posed too and had someone take our photo!) A wonderful time.
Oh, and we posed for each other in the cemetery like the bros did at the Bond Tomb facing the river.
I appreciate you taking me here, I loved the Allman Brothers band and I didn't know anything about this place existing until 5 minutes ago! Thanks so much Otis and I don't know if there is a better channel for me!!
Local (Juliette) here. Thanks for stopping by Macon, I visited some of the local spots recently. So much music history here. Love the channel- I listen on my way to work in the morning (with my cup of coffee).
Hope to be in Nashville soon, for some guitar shopping.
Nice way to see him off! Dickey Betts RIP ❤
Thank you Otis 👏
High Falls - written in 1975 by Dickie was a fabulous song .
Berry Oakley - was a fantastic bass player !
God bless ❤🙏
Hey Otis, thanks for doing this. I saw your announcement of his passing and know you just got done with an 11 hour drive. Pretty solid of you to do this for us all to see. Much love to you brother. ✌️❤️
Rex Dooley: The greatest ambassador for a museum Ive ever heard.
For me, it was all about live at Fillmore East, Eat a Peach and Brothers & Sisters and then they just went into decline imo but I’ll never forget being on vacation in Banff Alberta Canada with my buddy and as beautiful as that was, I just couldn’t wait to get back home because brothers and sisters had just been released, and man it did not disappoint ! And Dickie Betts really carried that album without Duane there & Chuck Leavell was a great addition to the band Omg RIP DB 🎸
Thank you so much for the fantastic video. I visit the Big House few years ago and this was fantastic. Love and Peace from Germany
Dickey was one of my all time heroes. So sad to lose him. A true warrior and a huge influence on my guitar playing. I always wanted to thank him. We'll never forget you!
Thank you Otis! I enjoyed the tour, regardless of how short! I understand the time frame issue. Never have been but would love to. Appreciate the stories.. Much love from north Mississippi ❤️
RIP Richard Betts. We've been to Macon few times, it's a place of rich music history. And we been to the Big House a couple of times. The last time was 9 days before Richard passed.
Dickie favorite Guitar was Les Paul
1957 - 1959 years;
Special tone !
Forest Betts was one of the greatest.
In Memory of Elizabth Reed - (written by Dickie ) One of the Top 20 Rock songs - Incredible Live recording !
Loved the Allman Brothers .
❤🙋♂️🎷🏆🙏
Awesome. The Allman Brothers is one of my fave bands. The first 5 albums are incredible and today I was listening At Filmore East. What an amazing album. Thanks so much for the tour at band’s house. Cheers from Brazil. R.I.P Dickey.😢
Allmans are the best! RIP to all the brothers 🥹
Took a road trip to Macon, well, more like a pilgrimage, lol...with a childhood friend and spent an afternoon at The Big House and then over at Rose Hill. I think every Allmans fan should visit. Take your time, take it in, it's worth it. We were on our way to a reunion in Florida and decided to take a detour to Macon for this. There's Graceland, and there's the Big House, if you're an Allman Brothers Band fan the Big House is your Graceland.
Smooth humble reliving of those memories..
Much love everyone, from McDermitt Oregon
A visit to this house is now on my bucket list! The first time I heard Statesboro Blues off the At Fillmore East album, as an aspiring 15 year old guitarist, down in Cape Town South Africa, my home town, back in '72, once the album made it down here, I was absolutely enthralled by the sound. Not having heard much slide guitar before, I played that album night and day for months to try and figure out what this guy called Duane was doin. It took a lifetime to figure it, which I eventually did, by watching RUclips videos of Warren Haynes performing it with the reformed Allman band in the 90's. Information was scare down here during the 1970's, a lot of it was banned and censored, and albums with non-white members were banned outright. But there was a clandestine pipeiline of US albums making their way down to South Africa, and we shared these albums. What a band, with a rich and tragic history that played out in the racially divided south, not unlike the racially divided country I grew up in.
Flew from Honolulu foran Atlanta wedding. The side trip to Macon was so, so meaningful. The handwritten lyrics and chords the coolest for me. Also visited Rose Hill Cemetery, where Duane, Berry, and Greg rest. Will be back!
absolute legend !your fan since 70 s and still going !
Much gratitude and respect from Australia…
Thanks for sharing this Otis.
Thanks for sharing your tour of the Big House Otis! Much appreciated!
This museum is nice. Very thorough collection of memorabila.
Thanks Otis.
ABB is my favorite band of all time.
I've lived in and around Macon my whole life, sadly, I've never been to the museum.
Regards,
Duck
I was at the Big House a few yrs ago with my buddy Jim Hurst. I couldn’t believe how small the rehearsal room was!!!! Well worth the trip and would definitely go back.
Such a great house and glimpse behind the scenes of the ABB. Thanks Otis!
So sad to hear of his death, I have heard them so many times live.
So neat to see and learn about the big house, thanks Otis!
Thanks so much for this 🙏 The road goes on forever
Thank you Otis. I’ve been there several times and several visits to Rose Hill. I saw ABB 6/16/71 in Birmingham. My first show ever!
Great video! So glad you’re last couple of videos have talked about Dickie Betts legacy and life His guitar work and songwriting are so underrated it’s a shame!!!
I was there in the early 90's a few times during a few GABBAFESTS they hold every year celebrating the band and its music. It was still owned by Kirk West the tour Mystic himself. Who quite frankly is the reason we have this museum without him no House and he was a major collector of there stuff a lot of that stuff he donated. We just knocked up an he was graceful enough to show us around. Thanks for the video. For any Allman diehard Macon is the holy grail. Make the pilgrimage down you won't be disappointed.
❤wow I need to see this thanks buddy for stopping bye
Thank you for this great tour--I've got to come down to GA w my own brothers and make the tour. Thank you Dickey, and all the passed on Brothers for the great music. Rock on Jaimoe, the first brother Duane hired to be in his band! Wow, great museum!!! Thank you!
What a great video and conversation Otis. It is an immaculately preserved home, and so many great artifacts from their career. I didn't know they had supported Carter's election campaign.
Yeah, thanks ABB for endorsing, who is now, the 2nd worst POTUS in US history.
Love that place and the cemetery where Duane, Berry and Gregg are buried. Though I live in CA, I had a job with the Air Force that took me to the Macon area a week a month from 2013-2020.
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Visiting the Big House is on my bucket list. After seeing this video it makes me want to go even more. Thanks so much for the tour!
I worked with Gerald (Buffalo) Evans (the Allman Brothers’ Band road manager back then), at Martha’s Vineyard High School in the late 80s. What a character! He still had his touring briefcase full of backstage passes.
Dickey filled some VERY large shoes! He doesn't really get the acolades he desreved. I've listened to the Allman Bros since '73 when I was 13. I fell in love with Southbound off Brothers and Sisters. The rest is history but I love EVERY incarnation of this band. Thanks for the Video and this is on my bucket list. RIP Dickey
This was great. Thanks. The vest shared by the whole band seems very Spinal Tap.
HA! I saw myself and my brother in the video….what a great day with a bunch of my high school buddies. You’re right,Otis. Any fan of music and great people will need to get to the Big House.
Thx Otis...yes I've been there several times. Amazing place and the Brothers live on in Macon. Can you imagine the jam session in heaven tonight ?
Thank you for the video
Great job as always
“When it comes to grieving I hope you’ll understand, I was born a Dickey Betts fan!”
Lol
Rip Dickey Betts
Fabulous Otis. This man far far away was secretly hoping you may introduce me to this Remembrance Home. Very grateful.
I live fairly close-by;been to the ABB Museum a few times. Through a lucky connection I was allowed to played Duane's gold-top!
Great video!
Yes , last week we went there, Capricorn Studios,H&H restaurant, and Rose Hill Cemetery to see their graves!
Wonderful day,, and must say, we have to return again to really see more of what we didn't see. So much, also to pickup more music and shirts too!
Allman Bros is number one for me.
Nice house! Beautiful restoration ans some killer memoriabilia. Thanks Otis!
The boys had a house out on siesta key down in Sarasota, Florida back in the seventies. They tore the house down back in the early 90's. My dad salvaged some of the cypress and some 2×8 boards that l used to build a swing set/fort for my kids. The pool was painted black.
So glad I stumbled upon this video, I had no idea this place and all the artefacts have been preserved so beautifully. I have the Brothers & Sisters gatefold vinyl and always loved that big extended family photo on the inside and the kids on the front & back. Great that they have Britney Oakley‘s yellow dress, that‘s a lovely detail. It‘s a long way from here near Helsinki, Finland but if I ever get back to Georgia I will definitely visit the Big House.
Thank you Otis from Sicily. R.I.P. Dickey
We stopped in there in 2018, wonderful place, we live about 20 miles from the Watkins Glen race track and family lives very close. I was 13 at the time of the Summer Jam show, we drove by a few days after and what a mess, people were cleaning up!! Found abandoned campsite on my uncles land nearby, still have some the the old camping gear I found. Memories!
Rest in Peace Dickey..!!
Around '65 ('66'?) I was in the 8th grade. Our Mother of Good Counsel School, Griffith Park area of LA. Allman Brothers played a concert in the schools' auditorium, No one knew who they were. That year my band started playing USO shows downtown LA. I was 13 years old. The Allman Brothers were a polished, professional band. They must have been hurting for funds to be playing at a Catholic school, but they played like they were at the Fillmore. And I was inspired. On the dashboard of their white van was a hand-written sign, "Church Gigs Are A drag". Funny. Who knew what was to become of them. By the way, They were playing through SS VOX Super Beatles !
I have been there. I dated a guy that lived there in the early 80s. It was eerie at night thinking about the history of the house.
Great tour!! Great commentary!! And great seeing my childhood friend, Rex Dooley!!😎
I passed through Macon in early April. I was there on a Monday, so the Big House was closed (open Thursdays through Sundays), but I saw most of the other sites associate with the Brothers. It was a thrill for me to be there; it's something that I've wanted to do for years. Next time I'll make it into The Big House.
A fasanating place to visit,been there several times.The road truly does go on forever.
I was there two Saturdays ago. My grandfather owned a union 76 station and rented U-Haul, right down from the Big House, to them when they first started out. My dad would have to go to Capricorn and collect the money…
Thank you for sharing this. I've been an ABB fan since the mid 1970's. Only saw them live in 1979 on the Enlightened Rogues Tour. Amateur guitarist.... trying to learn some of Dickey and Duane's leads. Great stuff. RIP, Dickey.
This might be one of the best videos you've done. Thank you for sharing this. What a step back in time. Great commentary.
I worked at Capricorn studio in the 70s. It was shortly after Duane had passed. When I heard their first album I was blown away and he is the reason I wanted to move to Macon. I never seen him while he was alive. I almost did when they were playing in Marshall Minnesota but Gregg got sick and the show was called off. I was in high school and the next day was a school day but I hitchhiked just to see Duane. Then he was gone and I was upset that I would never get to see him play. You just don't have the whole picture until you personally see them play. I resigned myself to the fact that I would never see him play and know that part of him that mear photos cannot communicate and then one day I ran into RUclips. There was as close to the real deal as I could ever get. Videos of him. There was my missing link and my goodness there was the man who played with such passion. It was written all over his face. And when the show ended I got to see his smile, and it was a huge smile that lit up his face. I will never forget it.
The Big House museum is on my bucket list. The last time I was in Macon I think was in 1990. I didn't know anything about it. If it was an existence then I didn't know. But now I'm old, and I just have to see it even if I have to steal a car to get there...lol! I stayed friends with Johnny Sandlin and all of them in the studio over the years. It's sad that they're all gone now even Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton, Rick Hall. Which makes this entry on my bucket list even more important. And thank you for reminding me again of that. I joined them in the earliest chapters of their long excellent careers and now as one of the last ones standing, l must witness their epilogue. May I get to the Big House Museum and I'll be so happy that old Bucket List won't really matter anymore. 😊❤❤❤❤❤❤
Oh Otis thank you so much for this! And I was sooo sad to hear of Dickeys passing!
I've been there 3 times and would shed a tear every time. Awesome place. That shower is cool ! I think Dickey had a house about 1 block away which is still there.
we visited last weekend and just a few days later we all heard the bad news that Dickey had passed. Sad day for sure.
Thank you Otis for sharing these precious memories
Thanks for this. Macon is so full of music history. There's a cool little Richard Museum (shame there isn't a bigger one for the real King of R&R). He was from Macon. And the incomparable Otis Reading is from Macon.
Thanks for the tour Otis.