My Cross to Bear

By: Gregg Allman, Alan Light

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Biography and Memoir, 2013

As one of the greatest rock icons of all time, Gregg Allman has lived it all and then some. For almost 50 years, he's been creating some of the most recognizable songs in American rock, but never before has he paused to reflect on the long road he's traveled. Now, he tells the unflinching story of his life, laying bare the unvarnished truth about his wild ride that has spanned across the years.

The story begins simply: with Gregg and his older brother, Duane, growing up in the South, raising hell with their guitars, and drifting from one band to another. But all that changed when Duane and Gregg came together with four other men to forge something new - a unique sound shaped by soul, rock, and blues and brimming with experimentation; a sound not just of a band, but of a family.

Bringing to life the carefree early days of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg holds nothing back - from run-ins with the law to meeting girls on the road, from jamming at the Fillmore East to experimenting with drugs. Along the way, he goes behind the scenes of some of greatest rock music ever recorded, without shying away from the infamous and painful deaths of his brother, Duane, and Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley. Speaking for the first time about the profound impact that his brother's death had on him, Gregg offers a tribute to Duane that only a younger brother could write, showing how, to this day, he still confronts the grief of losing his big brother, even as Duane continues to guide and inspire him.

Setting the record straight about the band's struggles in the face of death, Gregg shows how the decision to persevere came with a heavy price. While the rock-and-roll excesses of drugs, alcohol, and personality clashes led to a series of breakups that culminated with the band's permanent reunion in 1989, Gregg fought his own battle with substance abuse, going to rehab no less than 11 times and floating through a string of failed marriages, including his tabloid-frenzied relationship with Cher, before finally cleaning up once and for all.

Capturing the Allman Brothers' ongoing, triumphant resurgence as well as his own recent fight against hepatitis C, Gregg presents a story as honest as it is fascinating, providing a glimpse inside one of the most beloved and notorious bands in the history of rock music and demonstrating how, through it all, the road goes on forever.

©2012 Gregg Allman (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Amazing story and delivery of a great musician

What did you love best about My Cross to Bear?

I thoroughly enjoyed how Gregg just laid it all out there, his life, his music, his addictions. All make for very interesting read for any musician or any fan.

What did you like best about this story?

His connection to the music. Whether its the instruments or the writing, he continued to tell his own melodic story.

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but I really enjoyed his narration. Best audio book performance I've heard. His accent and inflections made it feel like a guy from Macon telling Gregg's story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me pick up my Les Paul Custom and jam some more!

Full story of a great man

What grate life and timeless memories. His music will live in the lives of so many.

Great book!

Loved hearing how the band started out and everything in between. Gregg Allman was down to earth, brilliant and a true musician.

Remarkably Tragic Yet Beautiful Soul

Loved the honestly of Greggory Allman telling intimate family details, also drug and alcohol abuse conquered by Faith. God Bless him.

Loooved!

The narrator had the perfect voice for this book. I have been a big fan of the Allman Bros, and still am. The details of Greg Allman's book held my interest until the end...not too much, not too little, but just the right amount of information about his life...
highly recommend!

Good stuff

Really liked it.... Lucky greg minimized music theory and talked about band history.. Very entertaining

Brought back a lot of memories

This book was really good, very well written and I especially like chapter 15 about 15 minutes in when Greg talks about how they got back together at Central Park, because I was there back in 1978. I could not believe my eyes when the whole band came out and joined Dickey betts on stage. It was a total shock to all since it was a Dickey Betts concert. It was awesome. Best trip I ever had 😊

Great 👍 book

Fantastic story and life of a true rock n roll legend. Inspiring to so many.

This book made him a human and man not just a music icon.

I have loved the Allman Brothers mostly my whole life as a young girl and a grown woman. So many of the songs resonate and take me to a place a time. This book really made me feel like now I know the man and his struggles as well as successes. People who know me know that when they hear the Allman Brothers they will think of me as well. Thank you

COUNTRY CREEP BECOMES COUNTRY GENT.

Would you consider the audio edition of My Cross to Bear to be better than the print version?

YES

What other book might you compare My Cross to Bear to and why?

ERIC CLAPTONS BOOK *CLAPTON*

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

WELL I'D HAVE TO SAY .ALOT OF TRAGETY IN THAT BOYS LIFE, AND OH, WHAT A WASTE.

Any additional comments?

I HAD THE OPPERTUNITY TO MEET AND SPEND VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITH HIM IN 86', SADLY, HE WAS VERY DISCONNECTED.