Berry Oakley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berry Oakley
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raymond Berry Oakley III |
| Born | April 4, 1948 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 1972 (aged 24) Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern rock, blues, jam rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1964–1972 |
Raymond Berry Oakley III (born April 4, 1948 – died November 11, 1972) was an American musician. He was a talented bass player and one of the people who started the famous band, The Allman Brothers Band. People knew him for his unique bass playing style, which had long, flowing melodies. Bass Player magazine even listed him as one of the top 100 bass players of all time. After he passed away, he was honored by being included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, as part of the Allman Brothers Band.
About Berry Oakley
Berry Oakley was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a town called Park Forest, Illinois. Later, he moved to Florida. There, he met Dickey Betts and joined his band, which was first called the Blues Messengers and later Second Coming.
In 1969, Berry Oakley became a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. Other members included guitarists Dickey Betts and Duane Allman, singer and keyboard player Gregg Allman, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson.
His Musical Gear
Berry Oakley's bass guitar was very special. He nicknamed it "the Tractor Bass." It was a Fender Jazz Bass guitar. It had a special pickup from a company called Guild. This pickup was made by a Swedish company called Hagström.
His Passing and Tributes
On November 11, 1972, Berry Oakley was in a motorcycle accident. This happened in Macon, Georgia. Sadly, it was only three blocks from where Duane Allman, another band member, had a fatal motorcycle accident the year before.
Oakley was riding his motorcycle around a sharp turn on Napier Avenue. He crossed the center line and crashed into a city bus. He was thrown from his motorcycle and hit his head. After the accident, Oakley said he was okay and went home. However, a few hours later, he was rushed to the hospital. He was confused and in pain. He died from a serious head injury caused by a fractured skull. Doctors said that even if he had gone to the hospital right away, they could not have saved him. Berry Oakley was 24 years old when he died, the same age as Duane Allman.
In 1998, the state of Georgia honored Berry Oakley. They named a bridge on State Highway 19/U.S. Route 41 in Macon, Georgia, the "Raymond Berry Oakley III Bridge." At the same time, the road on the bridge was named Duane Allman Boulevard. This was done to remember these important founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.
Albums He Played On
Berry Oakley played bass on several important albums with The Allman Brothers Band. Here are some of them:
- The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
- Idlewild South (1970)
- At Fillmore East (1971)
- Eat a Peach (1972)
- Brothers and Sisters (1973)
See also
In Spanish: Berry Oakley para niños
