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Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2021 - The Allman Brothers

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart SA541769000

Melissa is a song written by Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. Gregg’s inspiration came from a trip to a grocery store where he encountered a woman with her granddaughter. The child was running all about the store with the older woman calling her name Melissa. Allman who was struggling to come up with a new song took the name Melissa to pen a new song. He went home and grabbed his brother Duane’s guitar and incorporated the name into a song he had been working on. The song didn’t get recorded until 1972.

When Duane died in 1971 in a motorcycle accident Gregg played the song at his funeral.  Saying it was “My brother’s favorite song that I ever wrote." Duane’s death put a cloud over the future of the band, but they stayed together and returned to performing. The Allman Brothers eventually recorded the song for the album Eat a Peach using music added by guitarist Dickey Betts. Released in February 1972 Eat a Peach peaked at number four on the Billboard charts and later went gold.

I was lucky to see Gregg Allman perform live in 2012 at The Showroom at The Talking Stick Resort here in Scottsdale, AZ, an intimate 650-seat lounge. It was like watching a private concert.

Gregg Allman died in 2017 from liver disease.

Here is a lovely song we all can enjoy. Melissa.

 

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© 2024HomeSmart Info Joseph Domino All Rights Reserved

Comments (5)

Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Joseph. Not a big music guy, mostly the 50's rock classics, but do remember Melissa. Nice to now know the story. Enjoy your day.

Jun 26, 2021 06:11 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Morning Joseph,  enjoy listening to them this morning, can not remember to much about them.

Jun 26, 2021 08:38 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Joseph,

I remember the Allman brothers,  and Cher marrying Greg Allman.  Thanks for the memories. A

Jun 26, 2021 09:38 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Joseph- I used to listen to the Allman Brothers all of the time. I may have to revisit some of their music. 

Jun 26, 2021 02:10 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Joseph - I do remember the Allman Brothers but as Alexandra Ron and Alexandra Seigel reminded me maybe a bit more for the Cher connection than for the music.  

Jul 02, 2021 04:27 AM