When guitar legend Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971 just short of his 25th birthday, fellow Allman Brothers band mate and guitarist Dickey Betts promptly began auditioning for a replacement. He chose Les Dudek. Born in Rhode Island, Les moved to Florida and was gigging around the South when he and a friend heard about the auditions with Betts. Shortly thereafter he was in the studio with the Allman Brothers working on the Brothers and Sisters album. Though it lacked the bluesy rock feel of its predecessors, Brothers and Sisters produced the two songs which became staples in their live shows: Ramblin' Man and Jessica, Les doubling up on the guitar harmonies with Betts on the former; cowriting and playing the acoustic guitar intro on the latter. After the Allman's, Les went on to record with the Steve Miller Band on Fly Like an Eagle and Boz Scaggs on his Silk Degrees album.
Les Dudek plays the Bull Run in Shirley this Friday, June 19th. Local favorites Ashbrook Haynes get things started at 8. Should be a great show.
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