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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 29 July 2017
Allman’s final music ‘obvious farewell’ but full of life

By JEFF KAROUB said Allman was “fully pres- manager, said the musi-
Associated Press ent” and “at the peak of cian had a recurrence of
DETROIT (AP) — Only a tight his interpretive powers.” the cancer in 2012 that
circle of family and friends He co-wrote one song, the first had been diagnosed
knew Gregg Allman had aching lead-off track titled, before his 2010 liver trans-
been diagnosed with liver “My Only True Friend,” but plant. Allman was given 12
cancer a second time and spent years deciding what to 18 months to live at the
wouldn’t survive it. to record. time of the second diag-
With limited time, the be- The choices were no ac- nosis, and he declined ra-
loved musician and co- cident: There’s Bob Dylan’s diation treatment for fear
founder of the Allman “Going, Going, Gone,” Tim of what it might do to his
Brothers Band set a course: Buckley’s “Once I Was” vocal cords, Lehman said.
He would return to Muscle and Jackson Browne’s “He wanted to live his life
Shoals, Alabama, where “Song for Adam.” The lat- feeling good for as long
his band began, and ter features the songwriter as that was going to be,”
make a musical statement and Allman’s old friend on Lehman said.
that would, according to harmony vocal. Was said Even with extra time,
those intimately involved the song, about a friend of Lehman said Allman was
in his final studio album, Browne’s who died while well aware of his mortal-
reach back, resolve past mountain climbing, “struck In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, singer Gregg Allman arrives at ity. He was clear about his
with present and reveal a nerve with Gregg.” the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Allman’s last mission, which included
his essence. “It really cap- “I know it always reminded album, “Southern Blood,” will be released in September. making music that was by
tures who Gregg is,” said him of Duane,” said Was, Associated Press turns “life-affirming” and
Don Was, producer of the referring to Allman’s guitar- album — that’s his exit,” True Friend.” Sharrard “heavy.” ‘’My Only True
“Southern Blood” album playing brother, who died said Was, who first saw the said he was staying at All- Friend” evokes both: “I’ve
that is set for release on in a motorcycle crash in Allman Brothers in his na- man’s home and work- got so much left to give
Sept. 8. “I think there was 1971 as the Allmans were tive Detroit in 1971 and ing on songs a few years but I’m running out of time,
a tacit understanding that reaching stardom. wondered, “How does ago when he “had a vivid my friend.”
this album was an attempt When it came to record- this blond kid sound like a dream where Gregg was Allman’s niece, Galadrielle
to tie up the loose ends of ing the third verse, Allman 60-year-old blues guy?” talking to Duane.” The Allman, said she holds onto
his life.”B Allman, who died choked up at the lyric, “It The elder Allman loomed guitarist remembered the the music of her father,
May 27 at age 69, spent a seems he stopped singing large in other ways. Choos- words and started working Duane, “as way to reach
dozen days in March 2016 in the middle of the song.” ing to record at Fame Stu- on a song he envisioned him.” Her uncle’s music, in-
in the legendary Fame “You can hear his voice dios, where Duane Allman “as a conversation across cluding “Southern Blood,”
Studios recording the 10 crack ... he never got the first gained notice playing the universe between will be no different.
songs that would comprise last two lines out,” Was guitar for Wilson Pickett, Duane and Gregg.” “I think this album is ... a
“Southern Blood.” Allman said. There was talk of fixing “was a way of incorporat- “It’s an obvious farewell to way to keep him with us
and his solo band cut two it somehow, possibly hav- ing Duane’s spirit into the the world,” said Sharrard. “I and be able to tap into
songs daily, but because ing Browne deliver the line, record,” Was said. never told Gregg the story this pure, unvarnished look
of his health, sessions lasted but the song was among The high point for Scott ... but he realized in the at his life,” she said. “He
only a few hours, Was said. the mixes Allman approved Sharrard, Allman’s mu- back of his mind what the put his heart in it at a very
While the sessions were the night before he died. sic director and guitarist, song was about.” difficult moment, and it
quick — recorded live, of- “To me, it’s the linchpin was co-writing “My Only Michael Lehman, Allman’s shows.”q
ten in a take or two — Was emotional moment of the

Wicked good poems: Boston gets

its 1st anthology of poetry

By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Boston poet laureate Dani- city’s much-reviled public
Associated Press elle Legros Georges, who transit system.
BOSTON (AP) — Boston’s edited the collection, sees Pinsky’s poem, “The Day
about to bust a rhyme. it as “a meeting place, a Dreamers,” begins:
Dozens of prominent poets, poetic ‘city square’ for a “All day all over the city ev-
including a former U.S. poet wide variety of voices.” ery person Wanders a dif-
laureate, have assembled Among the nearly 60 con- ferent city, sealed intact
the city’s first anthology of tributors is Robert Pinsky, a And haunted as the aban-
poetry — and they’ll com- former U.S. poet laureate doned subway stations
mandeer the courtyard of who now teaches English Under the city. Where is my
the Boston Public Library on and creative writing at Bos- alley doorway?”
Thursday to read it aloud. ton University. Award-winning playwright In this May 6, 2010 file photo, former U.S. poet laureate Robert
Organizers have dubbed The poems in “City of No- and poet Nick Flynn con- Pinsky recites one of his poems on stage at Fairleigh Dickinson
the collection “City of No- tions” range from sonnets tributed “Marathon,” a University in Madison, N.J.
tions,” a reference to a to haiku and free verse. All poignant poem he wrote Associated Press
nickname that Boston touch on aspects of life in in response to the 2013 others. were lucky
earned in the early 19th Boston, including the Bos- marathon bombing that In part, it reads: It’s too soon to say any-
century for being a font of ton Marathon — a beloved killed three spectators and “It’s too soon to say we thing, q
innovation and ideas. rite of spring — and the wounded more than 260