Randy Poe's Skydog: The Duane Allman Story

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Randy Poe's Skydog: The Duane Allman Story
By Reverend Keith A. Gordon
About.com


Randy Poe's biography of blues-rock guitarist Duane Allman provides a succinct, but deceptively detailed look behind the scenes of Allman's slow rise to stardom and tragic death. Compiled from dozens of personal interviews and material from old magazines, newspapers, and books, Skydog is the authoritative document of Allman's life and career.
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Pros

* Author Poe had access to dozens of Allman's friends, confidants, and family members.
* In-depth annotated discography includes both Allman's band and session work.
* Gearheads will love the illustrated "The Guitars of Duane Allman" section.

Cons

* Allman's tragic death at the age of 24 years robbed fans of a longer story and happy ending.

Description

* Trade paperback, 316 pages, B&W photos
* Dozens of rare photos provide a visual biography to go along with the text.
* Appendixes include an annotated Duane Allman discography and "The Guitars of Duane Allman."

Although he is seldom spoken of in the same terms as such blues-rock guitar gods as Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck, make no mistake...Duane Allman was as great a musician as they come. While Jimi Hendrix - arguably the greatest blues-rock guitarist of all time - has been mythologized into a larger-than-life legend, Allman is largely remembered by fans as the founder of the Allman Brothers Band.

As author Randy Poe outlines in his excellent biography, Skydog: The Duane Allman Story, the guitarist was the equal of any of his contemporaries. Allman worked hard to develop his technique, and took great joy in the simple task of playing. A self-taught musician that possessed an innate ability to grab a song and take it into entirely unexpected territory, Allman was a skilled bandleader, a fiery slide-guitarist, and an in-demand session player that lent his skills to dozens of rock and soul tracks.

With Skydog, Poe starts with Allman's childhood, his discovery of music, and early musical experiences that helped him find his voice. Poe takes us on Allman's travels with failed bands like Hourglass, and the formation of the influential Allman Brothers Band. We venture into the studio in Muscle Shoals as Allman brings his talents to bear on hit singles by folks like Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin. We also witness Allman's contributions to the classic Derek & the Dominos album Layla, his guitarwork serving as an important counterpoint to Eric Clapton's playing.

Poe does an incredible job in distilling the drive, ambition, and enormous creativity of the artist down to the easily-digestible chapters that document Allman's short life. Skydog is an easy read, even for those unfamiliar with the guitarist's work, while long-time fans should be ecstatic over the depth and insight Poe brings to his subject. (Backbeat Books, released August 1, 2008)