Dickey Betts founding member of the Allman Brothers Band dies at 80

Dickey Betts, a founding member of the renowned rock group the Allman Brothers Band, died at at his home in Osprey, Fla.

The influential guitarist, songwriter and vocalist had been battling two kinds of cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The news was shared on Betts' official website in a statement by his family.

Betts' blues, rock and country-influenced guitar style helped define Southern rock in the 1960s and '70s.

He leaves an enduring and enviable legacy that we will all be celebrating for eternity."

Released in 1973, "Ramblin' Man" went on to become the band's first and only top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

He came from a musical family and started out playing ukulele at 5 years old

the guitarist's spiraling sound is perfectly captured in the track "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" on the Allman Brothers' 1971 At Fillmore East album

Betts also made his name as a songwriter with songs like "Jessica" and "Blue Sky."

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