Watch Willie Nelson’s Son and Duane Betts Pay Tribute to the Late Dickey Betts with an Allman Brothers Band Classic

In late August, Lukas Nelson and his band The Promise of the Real played a two-night stand at The Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Nelson and the band played highlights from their catalog as well as a handful of covers. During one set, Nelson shared the stage with a special guest for a touching tribute to a late legend. Duane Betts, son of the late Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts joined Nelson and the band for a rendition of “Blue Sky.”

Often, Lukas plays covers of Willie Nelson’s songs to honor his dad. This time around, though, he and Duane took a moment to honor Dickey Betts with one of the Allman Brothers Band’s most popular songs. Watch them deliver a spot-on cover of the classic song below.

“Blue Sky” isn’t just a classic Allman Brothers song. It was significant for many reasons. At the same time, came out at a pivotal time for the band. The song appears on Eat a Peach, the final album the band recorded before Duane Allman died.

Lukas Nelson and Duane Betts Cover an Allman Brothers Classic

According to Songfacts, Dickey Betts wrote this song about his then-girlfriend Sandy “Bluesky” Wabegijig, a member of the Odawa and Ojibway First Nations tribes from Canada. They met in 1971, married in 1972, and parted ways three years later.

Gregg Allman usually sang lead for the band. However, that wasn’t the case with “Blue Sky.” Betts took the lead on the song he wrote for the woman he loved. Later, Betts would sing lead on the band’s biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.”

The band never released “Blue Sky” as a single. However, it still became popular among fans and became a mainstay of the Allman Brothers Band’s setlists. Additionally, it received much unsolicited airplay and remains in rotation on classic rock radio today.

Duane Allman died shortly before the band released Eat a Peach. Fortunately, he had already recorded his parts for many tracks on the album, including this one. He and Betts share a solo during the song’s bridge.

So, with this song, Lukas Nelson and Duane Betts paid a loving tribute to the late Dickey Betts and gave a nod to the Allman Brothers Band’s legacy.

Featured Image by Jeff Moore/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock