ATLANTA — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says he plans to attend Gregg Allman’s funeral Saturday afternoon.
A private memorial is planned in Macon, where The Allman Brothers Band first became famous.
Allman will be buried near his late brother, founding Allman Brothers guitarist Duane Allman, and late bandmate Berry Oakley at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Carter said in a statement Friday that he and his wife, Rosalynn, were deeply saddened by Allman's death.
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Carter says The Allman Brothers Band assisted his 1976 presidential campaign, helping draw bigger crowds than Carter got alone at the time.
In 1974, Carter invited Allman to a party he was hosting for Bob Dylan at the Governor’s Mansion on West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. And in January 1977, the Allman Brothers Band were guests at Carters’ Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.
“Yeah, Cher came with Gregg Allman,” Carter said of the rocker’s then-wife, before going on to recount in detail how much the band had boosted his political fortunes:
“Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers just about put me in the White House,” Carter said. “They were the best fundraisers that we had. In those days, they would charge somebody $15 to come hear them play. And we were getting the whole $15 plus 15 more matching dollars. So we got $30 every time someone came to hear the Allman Brothers Band play. And Cher came along with Gregg … They were married for a brief time, as you may remember.”
The 92-year-old former president says he has always been grateful to Allman, and he wants to show his respect.
Just over a year ago, Allman received an honorary doctorate of humanities degree from Mercer University.
Carter, a member of the Macon-based university’s board of trustees, beamed as he helped to drape the white “hood” signifying the honor over the black graduation robe worn by an uncharacteristically shy-looking Allman.
The Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
