Southern rock icon to have section of U.S. Highway 41 in Florida named in his honor.

Key Information

• Subject: Dickey Betts, co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band.
• Proposed Honor: Renaming a stretch of U.S. Highway 41 in Florida after Betts.
• Significance: He authored the song “Ramblin’ Man,” which references the highway.
• Legacy: Betts passed away in April 2024 at age 80 and is celebrated as a key figure in Southern rock.

A Southern rock legend with deep Florida roots will have a stretch of U.S. Highway 41 named after him — pending state approval.

The Sarasota County commissioners are requesting the Florida Department of Transportation to rename part of U.S. 41 in honor of Dickey Betts, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

This tribute is especially fitting as Betts lived for decades near U.S. 41, memorialized in his lyric: “I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus rollin’ down Highway 41.”

Betts, who died in April 2024 at age 80, is hailed as one of Florida’s finest musical exports, combining rock, blues, and country into Southern rock and influencing today’s jam band scene.

Sarasota County pushes to rename portion of U.S. 41 after Dickey Betts

The specific section of U.S. 41 to be renamed remains undecided, but it is likely to be the stretch running through Osprey, near the home where Betts lived.

Donna Betts, his wife since 1989, continues to reside in the house. Their son, Duane, a well-known musician himself, often visits.

Earlier this year, Duane curated a sold-out “In Memory of Dickey Betts” all-star charity concert held Feb. 28 in Macon, Georgia, where the Allman Brothers were based.

The concert featured performances by notable artists like Warren Haynes and Susan Tedeschi, raising funds for a scholarship in Betts’ name at Berklee College of Music.

The event concluded with Duane leading a tribute performance of “Ramblin’ Man.”

Dickey Betts’ family has been in Sarasota-Manatee since the 1870s

While Betts was not born in the back of a bus, he significantly understood the road. He lived near U.S. Highway 41 in Sarasota County for years, forming deep connections.

“My family has been in Manatee County since like 1870, right after the Civil War,” Betts shared. They homesteaded land, staking their claim to it.

He recalled moving frequently due to his father’s work, resulting in schooling both in West Palm Beach and Sarasota.

A gifted musician, Betts gained recognition early, winning a talent show at the Manatee County Fair at age 14.

By 16, he left home to join the circus, eventually becoming a founding member of the Allman Brothers.

Aside from “Ramblin’ Man,” he contributed classics like “Blue Sky” and instrumentals such as “Jessica.”

Platinum and gold records adorn the Betts home in Sarasota County

The Betts’ home in Osprey showcases numerous platinum and gold records. Notably, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 61 in its list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

The Allman Brothers’ albums, including Brothers and Sisters, served as inspiration for various cultural works, including Cameron Crowe’s film Almost Famous.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Southern rock legend to have Florida U.S. 41 named for him