Gregg Enriquez

On January 10, 2014, a star-studded tribute concert to Gregg Allman directed by Don Was was held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. All My Friends showcases this show in double-CD/single-DVD and, in light of the subsequent announcement that the Allman Brothers Band would retire at the end of 2014 in the wake of the twin departures of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, it gains a certain sense of poignancy…

Gregg Allman is one of the most acclaimed, beloved, and awarded icons in rock and roll history. As a founding member of the legendary Allman Brothers Band and in his own storied solo career, Allman has long been a gifted, natural interpreter of the blues; his soulful and distinctive voice is one of the defining sounds in the history of American music…

Gregg Diamond was an accomplished songwriter, piano player, drummer and producer. Based in New York, Gregg emerged in the mid-70's as a producer, initially on the jazz fusion scene with artists including Impact Of Brass on albums including 'IOB' (1977) for Polydor. During the disco era of the late 70's he produced albums for his groups Star Cruiser and Bionic Boogie. 'Gregg Diamond's Star Cruiser' delivered 'Star Cruiser', including 'Starcruisin' and 'Holding Back' for the Miami-based Marlin label (via TK) in 1978.
The same year 'Gregg Diamond's Bionic Boogie' delivered 'Hot Butterfly', featuring Luther Vandross as lead vocalist on the title song and 'Cream (Always Rises To the Top)'. 'Hot Butterfly' was written by Gregg and later recorded by Chaka Khan on 'Naughty'. Gregg stayed at Polydor for two further albums, 'Tiger Tiger' (1979) and 'Hardware' (1979). Gregg also wrote songs for Andrea True Connection, Gloria Gaynor and worked with James Brown.
Sadly, Gregg died from gastrointestinal bleeding in 1999.

Recorded in the same year as the Brothers and Sisters album, this solo debut release is a beautiful amalgam of R&B, folk, and gospel sounds, with the best singing on any of Gregg Allman's solo releases. He covers his own "Midnight Rider" in a more mournful, dirge-like manner, and Jackson Browne's "These Days" gets its most touching and tragic-sounding rendition as well. Although Chuck Leavell and Jaimoe are here, there's very little that sounds like the Allman Brothers Band - prominent guitars, apart from a few licks by Tommy Talton (Cowboy, ex-We the People), are overlooked in favor of gospel-tinged organ and choruses behind Allman's soulful singing.

Recorded at a small club called Uncle Sam's in Hull, Massachusetts, on July 1, 1983, the album features Allman and his band performing Allman's solo songs, as well as Allman Brothers Band classics like "Midnight Rider," "Dreams" and "Melissa," and renditions of favorites like "Trouble No More" and "Statesboro Blues."