‘Catch of the Day’ – Gregg Allman – “My Only True Friend” [VIDEO]

Today we look at what may quite probably be the farewell from a rock legend, whose music always a country touch to it. An artist who changed music in the 70's and from the sound of today's featured tune, knew he was saying goodbye, not only to the rock world, but to the millions of fans he had across genres.

To say Gregg Allman led the hard living rock-and-roll live style would be an understatement. Influenced by blues and jazz as a child, Allman spent a good deal of his childhood in Nashville, so the country couldn't help but seep in along with it. An accomplished Hammond Organ player as well as a guitarist, Allman was always a highly under-rated vocalist, first teaming with brother Duane to lead the Allman Brothers Band (the group that would continue to use the name in honor of Duane after his death in a motorcycle crash in 1971) and also as a solo artist.

Allman led the life of a rock star to its fullest, including struggles with alcohol and drugs, which he chronicled in 2012 best selling memoir My Cross To Bare. Often referred to as a 'southern rock pioneer', Allman won seven Grammy's as a member of the Allman Brothers, and in 1995 his lone solo Grammy win for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for live performance of "Jessica". The band's Live At Fillmore East, rated by many to be the greatest love album of all time, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Allman's later years were spent in semi-retirement in his home in Richmond Hill, GA. When his failing health allowed it, Allman would tour as much as possible with a reformed Allman Bros Band, including a successful 40th anniversary tour in 2010, which culminated in a run of sold-out shows New York City's historic Beacon Theater. Allman took time off after a liver transplant in 2010, and by 2014, several of the band's original members had decided to leave the band once again, Allman retired the group.

In 2016, Allman received an honorary doctorate of music from Mercer University in Macon, GA, and later in the year, performed what would be his final concert, in October at his Laid Back Festival in Atlanta. Allman's health would quickly fade, forcing him to cancel several scheduled show, on on May 27th he passed away at his home in Richmond Hill from complications of liver cancer.

Allman will forever be remembered as a musician's musician, a professional in every sense of the word, and as an artist whose music crossed not only genre's, but

generations. Allman's last album Southern Blood is due out September 8th, and we have the lead single in our spotlight. Brought to you by All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, a song that sounds every bit of the farewell that it ended up becoming, "My Only True Friend" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

Text today’s key word to 580 353-1013, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $25  gift card from All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, presenting the Catch of the Day on Oklahoma’s Best Country KLAW101.

Today’s Key Word: “FRIEND”