In the wake of Gregg Allman’s death on May 27, 2017, many obituaries have noted that four of the five children of the singer-musician are themselves performers. The best known among them is Elijah Blue Allman, age 40, the son of Allman and singer Cher—the two were married for an extremely short time in 1975 and Elijah was born the following year.
Known professionally as P. Exeter Blue, Elijah was the singer and guitarist of a band called Deadsy (whose last album came out in 2006). He has also worked with the bands Thirty Seconds to Mars, Korn and others. He appeared on his mom’s 1999 Crimson & Clover album.
Before Elijah Blue, however, there were two other sons. The oldest, Michael Sean Allman, was born in July 1966; his mother, Mary Lynn Sutton (sometimes cited in biographies as Mary Lynn Green), was a waitress and/or dancer when she met the young Gregg Allman. Michael leads a band that carries his name—they performed in Northampton, Mass., the night after Gregg’s death. Michael told local news channel WWLP that he felt his father would have wanted him to carry on making music. He said he was still processing the news of his father’s passing. “Only the living suffer, so now a nation mourns with me,” he said. Michael reportedly has a tattoo of Gregg Allman on his torso.
Related: Gregg Allman and Cher marry, 1975
Devon Allman, born in 1972, is the son of Gregg and Shelley Kay Jefts, Gregg’s wife for a brief time in the early ’70s. He is a vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter who is the founder of the band Honeytribe. The band recorded two albums, in 2006 and 2010. Devon also recorded with Royal Southern Brotherhood and has released three solo albums: Turquoise (2013), Ragged & Dirty (2014) and Ride Or Die (2016). Devon grew up in St. Louis with his mother and had little contact with Gregg. Devon posted the following on Facebook after receiving many condolences from fans: “I wanted to take the time to thank y’all for the amazing outpouring of love and light sent to my family over the last few days. Our family has been deeply touched by the heartfelt tributes and loving words that have rolled in. Beyond that I’m speechless. I’m numb. I’m empty. My Dad once told me, ‘Son, there’s something on this planet more powerful than the nuclear bomb.’ I said, ‘Yeah? What’s that, Pop? And he replied …..’words.’ Your kind words have helped during a very difficult time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. One love > DA”
Watch the Devon Allman Band play “One Way Out”
Devon Allman has since teamed with Dickey Betts’ son Duane, to form the Allman Betts Band.
Gregg Allman also leaves behind two daughters. Layla Brooklyn Allman—whose first name, of course, derives from the Derek and the Dominos track on which Gregg’s older brother, the late Duane Allman, played guitar along with Eric Clapton—is also a singer. The 24-year-old Layla is the daughter of Shelby Blackburn and Gregg, and is the singer with the band Picture Me Broken, who won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Breakout Bay Area Artist. The band has opened for Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson.
Gregg’s other daughter, Delilah Island Allman, from the singer’s late ’70s marriage to Julie Bindas, was born in 1980 and is not a performer.
Gregg Allman did not have any children with his seventh and final wife, Shannon Allman, whom he married in 2012.
Related: Warren Haynes pays tribute to Gregg Allman
Here’s Layla Brooklyn Allman with her band Picture Me Broken
Watch a promo for the Michael Allman Band
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3 Comments
God bless the Allman family. My heart and prayers are with you
Thank you Michael for such a great show last night in Troy. I look forward to seeing you again.
I’m having a SHACK ATTACK..
How about you Michael?
It will be nice to see you jammin’ out on the Sunday Jam night in Beautiful Downtown Hudson!!!!