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George Tickner, original guitarist and co-founder of Journey, dies at 76

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Journey is mourning the loss of one of its original members. Guitarist George Tickner, who co-founded the rock band in 1973, has died. He was 76.

Lead guitarist Neal Schon announced his bandmate’s death Tuesday on Facebook. Schon, 69, said Tickner “will be missed immensely!”

“George ... thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely,” Schon said in his Facebook tribute post . “Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all the past and present band members. So heartbreaking..I think we need to do a group hug.”

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Tickner, who was born in New York on Sept. 8, 1946, was a former rocker with the San Francisco band Frumious Bandersnatch with bassist Ross Valory. In 1973, Tickner and Valory formed Journey with Schon and drummer Prairie Prince.

Shortly after Journey released its debut album, “Journey,” in April 1975, Tickner departed the group to “attend Stanford University on full scholarship” to pursue a medical degree, according to Schon.

Tickner continued to pursue music after his Journey days, establishing the Hive recording studio with Valory. Tickner, Valory and keyboardist Stevie “Keys” Roseman also created the band VTR and released its sole album, “Cinema,” in 2005.

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Schon did not reveal additional details about Tickner’s death, including a cause or survivors. He did remember his late bandmate Wednesday with music.

“Some smooth Strat to EZzzzzzz your soul. Prayers for George,” Schon captioned an Instagram video of himself playing guitar to a slow song. The official Journey Instagram account reposted Schon’s video to its story on Thursday.

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George Tickner, co-founder and rhythm guitarist of Journey, dies at 76

The musician co-wrote several songs on the band's first three albums before departing to get his Ph.D at Stanford University.

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at  Entertainment Weekly  with over five years of experience covering the latest in entertainment. A proud Kingston University alum, Emlyn has written about music, fandom, film, television, and awards for multiple outlets including MTV News,  Teen Vogue , Bustle, BuzzFeed,  Paper Magazine , Dazed, and NME. She joined EW in August 2022.

George Tickner, a co-founding member and the original rhythm guitarist of Journey , has died. He was 76.

His former bandmate Neal Schon announced the musician's death in an Instagram video that featured him playing guitar in Tickner's honor on Thursday. "Some smooth Strat to EZzzzzzz your soul. Prayers for George," he captioned the post. "Farewell old friend." The video was reposted in a story on Journey's official Instagram account later that day.

Schon also paid tribute to Tickner's legacy in a poignant Facebook statement. "Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey's original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away," he wrote. "Godspeed, George… Thank you for the music."

Alongside a separate image, Schon added, "Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner… you will be missed immensely! Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey's early years. The reason he left Journey was to attend Stanford University on a full scholarship, earning his Ph.D. Fly free above the stars, sir… Herbie's waiting to greet you."

Representatives for Journey did not immediately respond to EW's request for more information.

Tickner founded Journey alongside Schon, Prairie Prince, Gregg Rolie, and Ross Valory (he had previously played with the latter in the psychedelic band Frumious Bandersnatch) in February 1973. The San Francisco band held their first-ever public performance at the city's historic Winterland Ballroom on New Year's Eve that year and would go on to dominate the airwaves with hits like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Separate Ways," and "Faithfully."

In addition to serving as Journey's rhythm guitarist, Tickner co-wrote and composed several songs on their first three albums, including "Of a Lifetime," "Topaz," "Mystery Mountain," "You're on Your Own," and "I'm Gonna Leave You."

Although he left the group to study medicine, Tickner remained in close contact with his former bandmates. He and Valory co-founded a recording studio called The Hive and performed together, alongside fellow Journey alum Stevie 'Keys' Roseman, in the band VTR. They released an album, Cinema , in 2005.

Tickner later reunited with Journey when the band received its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

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Journey co-founder George Tickner dies at 76, band member says

George Tickner, co-founder and original rhythm guitarist of the rock band Journey, has died at age 76, band member Neal Schon said in a Facebook post .

Schon, a fellow Journey co-founder and the band's lead guitarist, announced Tickner's death July 4, praising the musician for his "incomparable contributions" to the band in a statement on Facebook.

"Godspeed, George... thank you for the music," Schon wrote in the post. "We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely. Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members."

A representative for Journey did not immediately respond to TODAY.com's request for comment.

Tickner, Schon, keyboardist and vocalist Gregg Rolie, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Prairie Prince founded Journey in the early 1970s. Tickner and Valory were both previously in the band Frumious Bandersnatch, which was based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Journey," the band's eponymous first album, was released in 1975 and was the only album to include Tickner in the lineup. Before leaving Journey to attend Stanford University, Tickner contributed to writing songs for the band's next two albums, "Look into the Future" and "Next."

“He came up with chordings I have never heard,” Rolie said in the liner notes of Journey’s Time3 box set, Music Times reported . “He had these massive hands, and he would de-tune his strings and come up with these voicings that nobody else could.”

Journey would eventually go on to become one of the most prominent rock bands of the 1980s, earning over 100 million record sales globally. According to Journey's website , the band's 1981 song "Don't Stop Believin'" is the most downloaded song of the 20th century.

After leaving Journey, Tickner stayed close to the music industry and co-founded a recording studio with Valory called The Hive, according to Variety.

Tickner was present for Journey's induction ceremony into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, where he reunited with Schon and Valory, as well as Journey members who succeeded him, including lead singer Steve Perry.

Schon again paid tribute to Tickner after his death in an Instagram post July 6.

"Prayers for George, farewell old friend," he wrote in the caption.

Tickner’s cause of death was not immediately clear.

Esther Sun is an intern for TODAY.com. She loves café-hopping and watching cooking TikToks she knows she will never try.

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Founding Journey Guitarist George Tickner — Who Left Band to Become a Doctor — Dead at 76

Bandmember Neal Schon posted on social media: "George…thank you for the music"

Johnson/Mediapunch/Shutterstock

George Tickner, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of rock band Journey, is dead at 76, his former bandmate announced Wednesday.

Guitarist and vocalist Neal Schon shared the news in a Facebook post alongside photos of Tickner, writing, “Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old. Godspeed, George…thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely.”

“Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members,” he continued. “So heartbreaking. So heartbreaking. I think we need to do a group hug, JJ’s! 😭🙏😢🎸💔🎶🕊️”

Gems/Redferns

Schon added that “‘Of a Lifetime’ is still one of my favorite songs ever.”

“Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner,” Schon wrote. “you will be missed immensely! 😢Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey's early years. The reason he left Journey was to attend Stanford University on full scholarship, earning his PhD. Fly free above the stars, Sir.” 

Concluding the post with a reference to Journey band manager Herbie Herbert, Schon said, “Herbie's waiting to greet you.” 

A cause of death was not shared.

Tickner, born in Syracuse, New York on Sept. 8, 1946, began his music career with Frumious Bandersnatch — a band that gained popularity in the San Francisco Bay area — playing at a festival called The Fantastic Flight of The Mystic Balloon in Lafayette on July 22, 1967, according to SK POP.

In 1973, Tickner and Valory teamed up with Santana alumni Gregg Rolie, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Prairie Prince — along with Schon — to form Journey. 

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On New Year’s Eve, they played their first public show to a crowd of 10,000 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Variety reported.

The progressive rock band would later evolve into one of the most successful pop-rock acts of the '80s. 

Tickner contributed as a cowriter and musician to the band’s self-titled debut album in 1975 — which charted at No. 138 — as well as their second and third albums, Look Into the Future and Next , with 25 gold and platinum albums, a 15-time platinum RIAA Diamond Certified greatest hits compilation and classic hits like “Don’t Stop Believin'" and “Any Way You Want It” in its path, per Variety .

Tickner left the band in 1977 to pursue a career in medicine — earning a Ph.D. at Stanford Medical School — and built a recording studio called the Hive with Valory, according to Ultimate Classic Rock .

"He came up with chordings I have never heard," Rolie said in Journey's Time3 box set's liner notes, according to Music Times . "He had these massive hands, and he would de-tune his strings and come up with these voicings that nobody else could."

In 2005, Tickner reunited with Journey for their induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Related Articles

Journey co-founder George Tickner dies: 'Fly free above the stars'

George Tickner, the co-founder of Journey , has died. He was 76.

"Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. GEORGE TICKNER, Journey's original rhythm guitarist and songwriter contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old" Neal Schon , Journey co-founder, wrote on Facebook Wednesday.

"Rest peacefully. Dr. George Tickner ... you will be missed immensely!" Schon wrote. "Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey's early years."

Tickner's career with the band known for hits including "Don't Stop Believin'," "Faithfully" and "Separate Ways," was short-lived. His work with the group spawned more of a jazz-prog-rock vibe on their eponymous 1975 album rather than the signature anthemic rock sound Journey would become known for after Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry joined a few years later.

"The reason he left Journey was to attend Stanford University on full scholarship, earning his PhD. Fly free above the stars, Sir," Schon wrote.

"Dear George, 'Of a Lifetime' is still one of my favorite songs ever," Schon captioned his post. "RIP brother God Speed."

Journey's Neal Schon: Says he and Steve Perry are 'in a good place' before band's 50th anniversary

USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Schon for additional comment.

Although Tickner left the group, in its early days, he didn't leave the music industry entirely.

He also co-founded a recording studio with Journey bassist Ross Valory called the Hive and was in the band VTR with Valory and Stevie "Keys" Roseman (who also had a stint with Journey) as well, according to Ultimate Classic Rock .

Tickner joined Journey during a 2005 reunion for its Hollywood Walk of Fame induction, per Ultimate Classic Rock.

Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

George Tickner, Founding Member of Journey, Dead at 76

George Tickner, a founding member of the rock group Journey, has died at 76. He was the original rhythm guitarist and co-wrote several Journey songs. “Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news,” Neal Schon , Journey’s lead guitarist, wrote on social media . “Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums has passed away.” He added, “Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members. So heartbreaking.” In another slide, Schon said, speaking to Tickner, “Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey’s early years.” Tickner was a performer on the first Journey album, Journey , and has songwriting credits on the next two, Look into the Future and Next .

Tickner began his music career as a member of the band Frumious Bandersnatch, named after the Lewis Carroll poem “The Jabberwocky.” He then formed Journey in 1973 with fellow Frumious Bandersnatch member bassist Ross Valory, alongside lead guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist and vocalist Gregg Rolie, and drummer Prairie Prince, though Prince was never on record as he quit the band a few months in. The four, along with new drummer Aynsley Dunbar, put out their first record, Journey , in 1975. Tickner left the band shortly thereafter for medical school, attending Stanford University on a full ride. He was still involved in the music industry while working as a doctor, co-founding a recording studio with Valory called the Hive. He reunited with the band in 2005 when Journey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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George Tickner, the co-founder and original guitarist for Journey, has died at the age of 76.

News of Tickner’s death was confirmed by co-founding member Neal Schon on social media.

No cause of death has been given at this time.

“Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old,” Schon, 69, wrote on Facebook Thursday.

“Godspeed, George… thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely.”

He continued, “Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members. So heartbreaking. I think we need to do a group hug, JJ’s.”

The Grammy-nominated rock band has  sold over 100 million albums  — and the stadium anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’” has surpassed 1 billion  Spotify  streams.

Twenty-five of Journey’s songs — including “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” — charted on the Billboard Hot 100.  

“ Journey’s Greatest Hits ” is  one of three albums  ever to spend 600 weeks on the Billboard 200 — joining Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Legend.”

Tickner, Santana’s Schon, and bassist Ross Valory joined forces in San Francisco to form the band together back in 1973.

At the start, Tickner was a major contributor and the original bass guitarist before eventually focusing on just the guitar.

Gregg Rolie and The Tubes’ Prairie Prince were also there for the forming of the band, with its first performance taking place on New Year’s Eve that year.

Prior to founding Journey, Tickner was a member of the psychedelic rock band Frumious Bandersnatch with his pal and co-member Valory.

Journey headed out on the road on their US “Freedom Tour” at the start of this year, and were supported by Toto.

The band’s current lineup features Schon as lead guitarist, Jonathan Cain   on the keyboard, Arnel Pineda as the lead vocalist, Jason Derlatka on the keyboard, Deen Castronovo on drums, and Todd Jensen as the bassist.

Tickner left Journey following the release of its eponymous debut album in 1975 to pursue a career in medicine.

He secured a full scholarship at Stanford Medical School and was said to be writing music and performing as a hobby on the side.

In January 2005, he joined other members of the band to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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George Tickner, First Rhythm Guitarist For Journey, Dead At 76

Senior Reporter

Dr. George Tickner, a founding member and the original rhythm guitarist for the arena rock band Journey, has died at age 76.

Former bandmate Neal Schon confirmed Tickner’s death in a Facebook tribute on Thursday. He offered no details about the cause.

“Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner. you will be missed immensely! Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey’s early years,” Schon wrote.

Tickner was the rock group’s first rhythm guitarist, joining the band in the early ’70s when it was assembled by Santana manager Herbie Herbert. Tickner left Journey before the group made it big, quitting in 1975 to pursue his medical degree after receiving a full scholarship to Stanford University.

Tickner was still with Journey for its 1975 self-titled debut. After leaving the group, he was credited as a songwriter on the subsequent albums “Look Into The Future” (1976) and “Next” (1977).

Journey found major fame after the addition of vocalist Steve Perry in 1977. The band’s first album with the singer, 1978′s “Infinity,” included their early hits “Wheel In The Sky” and “Lights.”

During Journey’s first years, the band included Schon, Tickner, keyboard player and vocalist Gregg Rolle, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Prairie Prince. Prince was later replaced by David Bowie drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

The band’s current lineup includes Schon, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.

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Journey guitarist George Tickner dead at 76

Tickner was the original guitarist and co-founder of iconic '80s rock band.

Journeys Jonathan Cain reflects on rock bands struggles with fame in doc: We werent in a good place

The legendary American rock band that dominated the music scene in the 80s is now the subject of a new documentary premiering on Reelz titled "Journey: A Voice Lost…and Found."

George Tickner , the original guitarist and co-founder of the iconic '80s rock band Journey, has died. He was 76.

Journey's lead guitarist and co-founding member Neal Schon, 69, shared the tragic news about Tickner's death.

"Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old," Schon wrote on Facebook accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the band.

JOURNEY CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: ROCK BAND MEMBERS THEN AND NOW

From left to right, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Neal Schon, George Tickner and Aynsley Dunbar of Journey. (Getty Images)

"Godspeed, George… thank you for the music. We will be paying tribute to you on this page indefinitely."

Tickner's cause of death remains unknown.

"Our condolences to his family and friends, and to all past and present band members. So heartbreaking.. I think we need to do a group hug, JJ’s," Schon concluded. 

STARS WE'VE LOST IN 2023

Loving fans paid tribute to Tickner on the shared social media post. 

"You have so many Precious Musicians with You over the years. Condolences to George’s and the Journey Family. Love the music you have all done Together…and thankful for Georges Contributions…" one fan wrote.

Another Journey fan penned, "Oh no, I am truly sorry to hear this news. Fly with the angels and rest peacefully George."

"Thanks for the great music George Ticker another new Star in the Sky tonight," a comment read.

From left to right, rock group Journey bandmembers Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry, George Tickner, Neal Schon, Aynsley Dunbar (rear), Robert Fleischman, Ross Valory and Steve Smith (beret) at their star ceremony where they were honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Getty Images)

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Schon additionally shared another photo of Tickner holding a plaque of the Hollywood Walk of Fame star and explained the reason he left the band Journey.

"Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner..you will be missed immensely! Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey's early years. The reason he left Journey was to attend Stanford University on full Scholarship, earning his PhD. Fly free above the stars, Sir…Herbie's waiting to greet you." 

News of Tickner's death comes after the legendary band celebrated its 50th anniversary in April. 

American rock band Journey, left to right, bassist Ross Valory, singer Steve Perry, drummer Steve Smith, guitarist Jonathan Cain, and guitarist Neal Schon acknowledge the audience after performing at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, June 10, 1983. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Journey was formed in February 1973 by Schon, Gregg Rolie and Herbie Herbert.

FORMER JOURNEY FRONTMAN STEVE PERRY REVEALS WHY HE LEFT BAND AT ITS HEIGHT

Steve Perry was the frontman and prominent songwriter for the band for 10 years alongside Schon, Rolie, Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Aynsley Dunbar and Steve Smith.

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The rock band has charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with 25 of their hit songs – "Don’t Stop Believin’," "Open Arms," "Who’s Crying Now" and "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart). Journey has sold over 100 million albums.

Current members of the band include Schon, Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.

Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an Entertainment Writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @SGiangPaunon.

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Journey Co-Founder George Tickner Dies at 76

Co-founding Journey rhythm guitarist George Tickner has died at 76, according to former bandmate Neal Schon . Brought in by the late Journey manager Herbie Herbert, Tickner played an important role in their first three albums before leaving to pursue his Ph.D. at Stanford University Medical School.

"Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner. You will be missed immensely," Schon posted on Facebook . "Herbie's waiting to greet you."

Born on Sept. 8, 1946, Tickner was discovered by Herbert while still in Frumious Bandersnatch, a Berkeley, Calif.-based group that gave Herbert important early experience as a road manager. They made a small local splash, appearing at some of the Bay Area's biggest venues – including a February 1967 opening gig for Canned Heat and the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. They also produced a self-released three-song EP.

Still, Frumious Bandersnatch's main claim to fame was producing players who went on to bigger things. Later-era bassist Ross Valory followed three other former members of Frumious into Steve Miller 's band before joining Tickner in Journey's original lineup. By then, Tickner had already sat in with San Francisco legends Jerry Garcia and Merle Saunders.

Tickner brought along an approach on the guitar that was far different than Carlos Santana , whom Schon and fellow co-founder Gregg Rolie had previously worked with for years. "He came up with chordings I have never heard," Rolie said in the liner notes for Journey's Time3 box set. "He had these massive hands, and he would de-tune his strings and come up with these voicings that nobody else could."

He wrote or co-wrote three of the seven songs from Journey's self-titled 1975 debut , including its titanic opener "Of a Lifetime," but quickly grew restless. Tickner left before the arrival of 1976's Look Into the Future but the LP featured two more co-writes, "You're on Your Own" and "I'm Gonna Leave You." His final Journey songwriting contribution became "Nickel and Dime" from 1977's Next .

Even though he was largely out of the spotlight afterward, Tickner didn't leave the music business entirely. He co-founded a recording studio with Valory called the Hive and was in the one-off band VTR with Valory and Stevie "Keys" Roseman, who'd earlier appeared on Journey's 1981 Top 40 hit "The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)." Tickner also took part in Journey's 2005 reunion at the Hollywood Walk of Fame induction ceremony . A cause of death was not immediately reported.

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Gallery Credit: Allison Rapp

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Herbie Herbert, Longtime Manager of Journey, Dies at 73

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Walter James “Herbie” Herbert II, a Bill Graham protégé who began as a roadie for Santana and ended up managing Journey for 20 years, died at his home in Orinda, California on Monday, Oct. 25, of natural causes. He was 73.

Herbert is the third Graham business associate to have died over the past few months, following Mick Brigden, the ex-Rolling Stones tour manager who headed the management side of Bill Graham Presents, and Dell Furano, founder of Winterland Productions merchandising, both of whom passed in September. Ironically, Herbert died on the 30th anniversary of Graham’s death, which occurred on Oct. 25, 1991.

A native of Berkeley, California, Herbert was a self-described hippie and unregenerate Grateful Dead supporter who began working for Graham as a roadie for Santana (where he first met future Journey members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie). He managed Frumious Bandersnatch, a psychedelic San Francisco rock band named after a character from the Lewis Carroll poem, “Jabberwocky,” whose members included soon-to-be Journey stalwarts Ross Valory and George Tickner. Their independently released three-song EP produced a minor underground hit in “Hearts to Cry.”

After leaving Santana, he put together the original Journey line-up in 1973, remaining as manager until 1993. He fully immersed himself in the band’s business, traveling with them as their road manager. A savvy entrepreneur, he established an in-house Nightmare Productions to make the records, pioneering the use of large-scale videos through Nocturne Productions which revolutionized state-of-the-art lighting and sound for the stadiums that bands were now playing, establishing the foundation for today’s live concert industry. An avid San Francisco 49ers fan, he was the first to book rock acts to play halftime shows and had a luxury box right next to owner Eddie DeBartolo’s.

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As a seasoned businessman, Herbert parlayed Journey’s real estate holdings into a sizable income. With the band’s art director Jim Welch, Herbert’s creative marketing plan used underground artists Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly, one-word album titles and expert point-of-purchase branding long before it became standard practice in the music business. A reported personality conflict with lead singer Steve Perry led to Herbert leaving the band in 1993.

In a 2017 interview with San Francisco radio station KQED at the time of Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Herbert didn’t hesitate to comment on the band’s increasing dysfunction, pointing to Schon as the divisive factor Steve Perry once was. “It’s a tragedy,” he said. “It’s all rooted in financial issues, and it’s too bad because it could be the undoing of what is a great business.”

Herbert also managed the Steve Miller Band and co-managed Swedish groups Roxette and Europe, along with Mr. Big, Enuff Z’Nuff and Journey splinter groups The Storm and Hardline. In the late ‘90s, Herbert moved from behind the stage into the spotlight, recording three albums as Sy Klopps, performing sold-out shows at the Fillmore with a band that included current and former Journey band members Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Prairie Prince and Ross Valory.

Herbert took many lesser-known artists under his wing and was a prominent supporter of the local Bay Area music scene.

“He made so many people’s lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good,” said his wife Maya.

“I’ll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experienced together,” Schon posted on Instagram. “Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a motherf–er for all of us every step of the way. I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever.”

Added his longtime friend, veteran San Francisco Chronicle journalist Joel Selvin: “He had one of those personalities that tended toward teaching, coaching, sharing and encouraging. It was in his DNA. Journey was always Herbie’s idea, it was his band. The musicians didn’t have a vision; they wanted to make money, and Herbie steered them in that direction. He was the complete guiding hand. I always called him the military-industrial complex of rock, and he took that as a compliment. He had an enormous spirit. Seeing him in action was awesome.”

After the recent death of Dell Furano, Herbert posted on his friend’s Facebook page: “The goal isn’t to live forever, it’s to create something that will. That’s what Dell did.”

So, too, did Herbie Herbert, who is survived by his devoted wife Maya, daughters Seaya and Katherine, brother Robert and sister Katherine.

There is a documentary in the works about Herbert’s life that began production before he died. Plans for a memorial celebration will be announced.

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‘Ramblin’ Man’ Dickey Betts’ musical and life journey traces all over Florida

The “Ramblin’ Man” of the Allman Brothers was a Florida man, too.

Dickey Betts, a founding member and a lead guitarist of the trailblazing Southern rock group he formed with brothers Gregg and Duane Allman in Jacksonville in 1969, died Thursday at his Osprey home in Sarasota County , according to band management.

Betts was 80.

Betts wrote the band’s sole Top 10 single, “Ramblin’ Man,” in 1973 — a song that peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 that fall, held out of the top spot by “Half Breed,” a campy story song hit by Cher. The detail amuses trivia watchers because a couple years later in 1975 Gregg Allman would marry Cher in what became one of pop culture’s most unlikely of unions.

The Allmans had many adventures on the road both in and out of Florida and Betts split from the group in 2000. But there was plenty of Florida man in this ramblin’ man from the start of his career through the end.

In fact, the Betts name in Florida dates back to the Civil War.

Betts’ Florida history

Here are some of Betts’ Florida connections.

▪ Betts was born in West Palm Beach on Dec. 12, 1943. He was raised in Bradenton. His family’s roots in Florida date back to the southeastern Manatee County community of Myakka City, about the time of the Civil War, according to the Sarasota Herald-Trubune.

▪ Betts Road, named for the family, is just east of Bradenton in Myakka City.

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▪ Betts formed a band, Second Coming, with bassist Berry Oakley, in Jacksonville in the late ‘60s. The pair would soon meet with the Allmans and form that band in the same locale in 1969.

▪ The Allman Brothers Band’s second album, “Idlewild South” that featured Betts compositions “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Revival,” with Tom Dowd producing, was the first of the group’s numerous albums to be either partly, or wholly, recorded at Criteria Studios in North Miami. Dowd preferred producing in South Florida. The Allmans also cut “Seven Turns” at Criteria in 1990, and mixed their 1995 live album, “2nd Set,” at Criteria.

▪ Betts recorded his second solo album “Dickey Betts & Great Southern” in 1977 at Criteria. He wrote the closing track. “Bougainvillea” with actor Don Johnson who, in seven years, would achieve worldwide fame as Sonny Crockett on NBC’s crime drama, “ Miami Vice ” for a five-season run from 1984 to 1989. Betts played guitar on Johnson’s high-profile debut album, “Heartbeat” on an upbeat track called “Love Roulette.” Johnson’s “Heartbeat,” released in 1986 amid the star’s “Miami Vice” fame, was also recorded at Criteria.

▪ The Allmans recorded their 1994 album, “Where It All Begins,” their last studio album with Dowd as producer, at Burt Reynold’s studio in Jupiter. Five of the 10 songs, including the title track, were Betts compositions. This was Betts’ last album with the band.

▪ Betts died on April 18, 2024, at his home in Osprey.

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