Gregg Allman receives doctorate from Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter and Gregg Allman
Jimmy Carter greets Gregg Allman

Former US president Jimmy Carter hailed the achievements of the Allman Brothers Band when he gave Gregg Allman an honourary doctorate at the weekend.

And he said the band was instrumental in helping him attain his highest office, which he held from 1977 to 1981.

The ceremony took place at the Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where the band started out – and nearly reduced the keyboardist to tears.

Carter said: “When the Allman Brothers, back in 1976, adopted me and began to let the nation know I was okay with them, most people said, ‘Well, if he’s okay with the Allman Brothers then he must be qualified to be president.”

He added that Allman’s honourary doctorate of the humanities was presented “in recognition of a truly extraordinary accomplishment in creative work.”

Allman is one of only three musicians to have been decorated by the university, after bandmate Chuck Leavell and Little Richard. He performed a short set including classic track Midnight Rider before the ceremony.

The Allmans are cover artists in the latest edition of The Blues, on sale now in print, digital and via TeamRock+.

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.