Jeremy Clarkson has paid tribute to the man behind the Top Gear soundtrack.
Musician Dickey Betts died on Thursday (April 18) after living with cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for more than a year.
Jeremy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday to share the sad news about the guitarist’s death. He wrote:: ‘Dicky Betts has died. You probably haven’t heard of him. But he wrote a song called Jessica. And you will DEFINITELY have heard that.”
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Following Jeremy’s announcement, one fan penned: “Rip Dicky Betts, you really was a great one.” Another added: “‘I’ve Googled Jessica and as you said we all DEFINITELY have heard it. It is TopGear intro music.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Dickey co-founded the Allman Brothers, who were known for their hit single Ramblin’ Man, as well as Jessica, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The riff from their song Jessica was used over the opening credits of Top Gear from when it was first on screens in 1977, and then again from the launch of the reboot in 2002.
However the hit was originally written for Dickey’s daughter, who the song is named after. The surviving past members of The Allman Brothers Band also paid tribute to Dickey. All but one of the original members of the band have now passed away, with the exception of Jai Johanny ‘Jaimoe’ Johanson, and they shared a heartfelt statement to People saying: “‘With deep sadness the Allman Brothers Band learned today that founding member Dickey Betts has passed away peacefully in his home in Sarasota, Florida, following a period of declining health,’ the Grammy winners shared in a press release to the publication.
(Image: Getty Images North America)
“Dickey wrote quintessential Brothers songs including Blue Sky, Rambling Man, Jessica, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and many others. His extraordinary guitar playing alongside guitarist Duane Allman created a unique dual guitar signature sound that became the signature sound of the genre known as Southern Rock.
“He was passionate in life, be it music, songwriting, fishing, hunting, boating, golf, karate or boxing. Dickey was all in on and excelled at anything that caught his attention,’ the surviving past members shared of the West Palm Beach, Florida native ‘Betts joins his brothers, Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman, as well as ABB crew, members Twiggs Lyndon, Joe Dan Petty, Red Dog, Kim Payne and Mike Callahan in that old Winnebago in the sky touring the world taking their music to all who will listen.
(Image: Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
“Our condolences to his immediate family Donna, Duane & Lisa, Christy & Frank, Jessica and Kim. Play on Brother Dickey, you will be forever remembered and deeply missed.” As a founding member, Dickey played with the band from 1969 to his exit in 2000, although there were a couple of breakups and reunions over the years.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
