What was Gregg Allman's Net Worth?
Gregg Allman was an American rock and blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death. Best known as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg penned some of the group's iconic hits, including "Melissa" and "Whipping Post." His solo career was also notable, with albums like "Laid Back," "I'm No Angel," and "Low Country Blues."
Greg Allman passed away on May 27, 2017, at the age of 69. His bandmate and brother, Duane Allman, died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, in 1971.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee, to Geraldine and Willis, Gregg's youth was marked by tragedy when his father was killed in 1949. Raised by their single mother, who became a Certified Public Accountant, Gregg and his brother Duane found solace in music. Gregg attended Castle Heights Military Academy and later moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, where he worked as a paperboy to afford a Silvertone guitar.
The brothers' musical journey began with YMCA's Y Teens and continued with local bands like the Misfits and the Shufflers. By 1965, Gregg had graduated from Seabreeze High School. They met various musicians in Daytona Beach, most notably Floyd Miles, and formed the Houserockers, transitioning to the Allman Joys in 1965. Their career started in Nashville, recording songs and later relocating to Los Angeles to briefly sign with Liberty Records under the name Hour Glass.
The Allman Brothers Band, Part One
While in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Duane Allman invited Gregg to join his new band. Thus, the Allman Brothers Band was formed, including members like Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Jaimoe, and Butch Trucks. Based in Macon, Georgia, they developed a unique sound combining rock and blues, highlighted by tracks like "Whipping Post" and "Midnight Rider." Their self-titled debut came out in 1969, followed by "Idlewild South" in 1970, and a breakthrough live album recorded at the Fillmore East in 1971. Unfortunately, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in October 1971.
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The Allman Brothers Band, Part Two
Following a brief hiatus after Duane's death, the Allman Brothers Band released "Eat a Peach" in 1972. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard chart. Tragedy struck again when bassist Berry Oakley also died in a motorcycle crash. Despite these losses, the band persisted and released "Brothers and Sisters" in 1973, featuring the hit "Ramblin' Man." However, internal struggles with drug abuse and miscommunication led to their final album of the original lineup, "Win, Lose or Draw." The band's disbandment followed Gregg's testimony against Scooter Herring, leading to his temporary excommunication.
The band reunited in 1978, releasing "Enlightened Rogues" but broke up again in 1982. They reformed in 1989 and released albums like "Seven Turns," "Shades of Two Worlds," and "Where it All Begins." Their final album, "Hittin' the Note," came out in 2003, and they disbanded for good in 2014.
Solo Projects
Gregg Allman's solo career began with "Laid Back" in 1973. He formed the Gregg Allman Band and released "Playin' Up a Storm" in 1977. Under Epic Records, he achieved commercial success with "I'm No Angel" in 1987, followed by "Just Before the Bullets Fly" in 1988. Other solo albums included "Searching for Simplicity" and "Low Country Blues," which debuted at number five on the Billboard chart. His final album, "Southern Blood," was released posthumously in 2017.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Marriages and Health
Gregg Allman was married seven times. His first marriage to Shelley Kay Jefts in 1971 produced a son named Devon. After divorcing in 1972, he married Janice Blair, whom he divorced in 1974. His subsequent marriage to Cher from 1975 to 1978 resulted in a son named Elijah Blue Allman. He was married to Julie Bindas from 1979 to 1981, with whom he had a daughter named Delilah Island. His marriage to Danielle Galliano lasted from 1989 to 1994. His sixth marriage, to Stacey Fountain, lasted from 2001 to 2008. He married Shannon Williams shortly before his death in 2017. Beyond these children, he also had a son named Michael and a daughter named Layla from other relationships.
In his later years, Allman faced significant health challenges. Diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007, he subsequently battled liver cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2010. Despite these efforts, he suffered from atrial fibrillation and eventually succumbed to cancer in May 2017 at his Richmond Hill, Georgia home.
