Butch Trucks, Drummer and Founding Member of The Allman Brothers Band, Dies at 69

Billboard reports:

The Allman Brothers Band co-founder Butch Trucks has passed away at the age of 69.

No cause of death has yet been revealed for Trucks, who played drums alongside Jai "Jaimoe" Johnny Johanson throughout the Allmans' 46-year on-and-off history. He died Tuesday evening (Jan. 24) in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Trucks told Billboard last year that he "was a good drummer and didn't know it" when the late Duane Allman approached him to be in the band, crediting Allman with bringing him out of his shell and into rock 'n' roll stardom.

"I was about to head back to school and get a degree in math and teach...when Duane knocked on my door with Jaimoe, and then the Allman Brothers happened," Trucks recalled. "Duane decided he wanted two drummers -- he told Jaimoe, 'If James Brown can have two drummers, so can I!' -- and Jaimoe kept telling me, 'Butch is your guy. Butch is the guy!'"

Butch Trucks: RIP.