April 20th 2024.
Jeremy Clarkson, a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, recently shared his admiration for the late musician Dickey Betts. As one of the co-founders of the Allman Brothers and the writer of their hit song Ramblin' Man, Betts holds a special place in the history of Top Gear.
Sadly, Betts passed away at the age of 80 after battling cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for over a year. This news deeply saddened Jeremy, who hosted the show from 1998 to 2015. He took to his social media to pay tribute to the legendary guitarist, saying, "Dicky Betts has died. You probably haven't heard of him. But he wrote a song called Jessica. And you will DEFINITELY have heard that."
Speaking of Jessica, the iconic theme song of Top Gear, it was actually written by Betts as a lullaby for his daughter. Butch Trucks, Betts' bandmate, shared the story behind the song on Nights With Alice Cooper, saying, "It's just a beautiful song. Dickey wrote it for his little girl - she was about a year old, crawling around on the floor. That was the inspiration for that real kind of thing. It has a little lullaby on the ending, that kind of thing." He also added, "It's energetic, melodic and very rhythmic. It's a lot of fun to play. That one can get pretty artistic sometimes."
The song was first used as the theme for Top Gear when the show premiered in 1977. It continued to be the theme song when the show was revived in 2002, until it was recently taken off air by the BBC. The decision to shelve the show was made after co-host Freddie Flintoff's involvement in a severe car accident in December 2022.
Dickey Betts' family announced his passing earlier this week, saying, "It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts at the age of 80 years old." The iconic guitarist, who was also a performer, songwriter, and family patriarch, died at his home in Osprey, FL, surrounded by his loved ones.
In light of this news, the family has requested privacy and prayers during this difficult time. They also added, "Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide." If you have any memories or stories about Betts, please get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency. You can email us, call us, or visit our Submit Stuff page - we would love to hear from you.
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