Allman Brothers guitar from Big House museum stars in CMT’s Gregg Allman tribute

A piece of Macon music history took center stage at the CMT Music Awards tribute to Gregg Allman Wednesday night.

As Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean and Darius Rucker sang “Midnight Rider” to open the show, Duane Allman’s 1957 Les Paul goldtop guitar was in the hands of Derek Trucks, nephew of the late Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks, who died earlier this year.

“It’s really cool to see people playing it and continuing the legacy of Duane and the Allman Brothers,” said Maggie Johnson, director of marketing for the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House.

The guitar, on permanent loan from current owner Scot LaMar, can normally be seen in a display case in the Vineville Avenue museum, where some band members once lived.

Duane Allman swapped it for a 1959 Cherry Sunburst Les Paul similar to the one owned by Eric Clapton.

Museum curator Richard Brent occasionally hands off the goldtop to other musicians such as Vince Gill, Jason Isbell and Devon Allman, Gregg’s son.

LaMar wants the instrument played. In an earlier Telegraph article he was quoted as saying “It is a shame to me that so many of our greatest guitars have become dead artifacts.”

During the CMT tribute, Trucks also was playing Duane Allman’s old amp he used at the famed “At Fillmore East” live performance, Johnson said.

Visitors to the Big House can have their picture taken in front of a mockup of the “Filmore East” album cover of Allman Brothers equipment boxes.

The museum has been attracting hundreds of visitors a day since Gregg Allman died May 27.

The guest book from Snow’s Memorial Chapel has been at the museum since Saturday’s funeral.

Gregg Allman’s children signed the book, as did Dickey Betts — one of two surviving members of the original band.

Betts did not make it to the Big House private reception last week, Johnson said, but drummer Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson was there along with Gregg Allman’s children, including Elijah Blue with his mother, Cher.

“She just kind of looked around. I don’t think she’s been here before,” Johnson said.

The artifacts were familiar to her, including pictures of Cher and Gregg during their Macon years.

Nearly 5,000 people were outside the gates, listening to “The Young Brothers,” who regularly play at the Skydog festival that honors Duane “Skydog” Allman.

Johnson’s highlight of the reception was a jamming rendition of “Whipping Post” featuring some of the children of Allman Brothers Band members: Duane Betts, Melody and Vaylor Trucks, Berry Oakley Jr., Lamar Williams Jr. and Devon and Michael Allman.

“It was really incredible to see them all come together as a musical family in honor of their parents and their musical family,” Johnson said. “They’re all fantastic musicians and all really talented.”

The elaborate flower arrangements from the funeral were still on the stage Thursday when the museum opened back up to the public.

A chrysanthemum guitar, colorful mushroom and two other guitars made of roses were propped up against the back wall.

Although the museum is expected to continue to do a brisk business in the coming months as fans continue to mourn, don’t expect to see any lasting mementos from the private party.

“There was a strict order that we don’t have any photographs taken of people here,” Johnson said. “Not to deprive anybody, but just give them a little privacy.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Allman Brothers guitar from Big House museum stars in CMT’s Gregg Allman tribute."