Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts in critical condition after accident at his Sarasota County home

SARASOTA COUNTY — Dickey Betts has been hospitalized after a freak accident at his home.

Betts, the "Ramblin' Man" singer-songwriter and founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist, went out to his backyard on Little Sarasota Bay, and while playing with the family dog, slipped and cracked his head, causing bleeding in his brain.

Betts has been sedated at an undisclosed local hospital following the accident that occurred Monday evening at the Osprey home he shares with wife, Donna.

David Spero, Betts' longtime friend and manager, said the beloved rock legend is listed "in critical but stable condition."

Brain surgery, to relieve swelling, has been scheduled for Friday.

Donna is by her husband's side with Dickey's children.

"The family appreciates all of your thoughts and prayers during this very trying time,” Donna said. “Dickey is a notorious fighter and he is displaying that now.”

Dickey's oldest child, Kimberly, is a country singer who lives in Manatee County, where the Betts family has ties that date back to shortly after the Civil War.

Dickey's only son, Duane, plays lead guitar in his dad's Dickey Betts Band, and recently finished a tour of Europe with the Devon Allman Project.

The new Dickey Betts Band debuted in May with a local "live rehearsal show" at Sarasota's White Buffalo Saloon. The Dickey Betts Band has been touring the East Coast through the summer, earning positive reviews in publications such as Rolling Stone.

Last month, Betts suffered a mild stroke at his Sarasota home and had to cancel upcoming tour dates. A week later, Spero announced Betts was responding "very well to treatment" and on Sept. 14 posted to Betts' social media pages that, "Dickey Betts is raring to go. His recovery from his minor stroke is ahead of schedule and he has already started playing his guitar again."   

Now, though, Betts' family, friends and bandmates are focusing their attention on Betts regaining his health, with upcoming November shows, including Nov. 5 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, indefinitely postponed.  

"It was just a few days ago that Dickey was telling me how excited he was to get back in front of the fans on Nov. 1," Spero said. "It is very unfortunate, for all involved, that we need to cancel those shows. Please add Dickey into your thoughts and prayers. I’ll keep everyone updated on his expected progress."

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