Had he not died tragically in October of 1971, Howard Duane Allman would have been 62 years old today. In addition to his amazing work with The Allman Brothers Band, Duane was also an accomplished session musician playing with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Wilson Pickett, Otis Rush, and Boz Scaggs. In fact, his work on Loan Me A Dime remains one of the most powerful guitar solos I've ever heard and makes it a favorite song of mine.
His contributions to the Derek and the Dominos masterpiece Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs are just staggering as well.
It's no secret how much of an Allman Brothers Band fan I am, and even though Duane's time with them was short his influence was huge and continues to be so to this day.
It is sad when such a bright spark is extinguished just when it is getting its chance to shine.
Photo via Ed Berman and Wikimedia - Fillmore East June 1971

Richard Wright, the keyboardist and Vocalist with Pink Floyd has 













