Where Berry Oakley Of “The Allman Brothers Band” Was Killed

Berry Oakley (full name Raymond Berry Oakley III) was born April 4, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. He co-founded The Allman Brothers Band in 1969, alongside Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts and others.

His bass playing was melodic, expressive, and helped define the early “Southern rock / blues jam” sound of the band.  

On November 11, 1972, Oakley was involved in an accident just three blocks from where Duane Allman had his fatal motorcycle accident the year before when he rode his ’67 Triumph motorcycle into a bus. The similarity to Duane Allman’s death is haunting: Both died riding motorcycles in Macon, both around the same age (24), both in very close proximity (within a few blocks) and very similar crash circumstances.

Berry initially declined medical treatment, but was later taken to the hospital where he died of cerebral swelling caused by a skull fracture. Berry was just 24 years old. His final recordings appear on the Allman Brothers’ album Eat a Peach (released February 1972) and other live recordings. 

Berry is buried next to Duane at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon Georgia.

Allman Brothers Discography:

1969 – The Allman Brothers Band
1970 – Idlewild South
1971 – At Fillmore East (Live)
1972 – Eat a Peach (Part live)
1973 – Brothers and Sisters
1975 – Win, Lose or Draw
1976 – Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas (Live)
1979 – Enlightened Rogues
1980 – Reach for the Sky
1981 – Brothers of the Road
1990 – Seven Turns
1991 – Shades of Two Worlds
1992 – An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: First Set (Live)
1994 – Where It All Begins
1995 – An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set (Live)
2000 – Peakin’ at the Beacon (Live)
2003 – Hittin’ the Note
2004 – One Way Out (Live)

Intersection of Napier Avenue at Inverness Ave
Macon, GA 31204