Video: Gregg Allman joins the Neville Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock for “Midnight Rider”

Yesterday we paid tribute to Gregg Allman by looking back at a classic 1971 Allman Brothers Band show at famed New Orleans venue The Warehouse. Today I’m taking things in a slightly different direction by shining a light on one of Allman’s many fantastic collaborations.

Originally broadcast in 1989, The Neville Brothers: “Tell It Like It Is” was an episode of Cinemax Sessions that found iconic the New Orleans siblings teaming up with Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Buffet, The Dixie Cups, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dennis Quaid, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ed Bradley, John Hiatt and, of course, Gregg Allman. Herbie Hancock served as the production’s musical director.

Allman joined the fray for one of his own tunes—“Midnight Rider”—and the Aaron Neville hit “Tell It Like It Is.” Aaron and Gregg share singing duties on both songs, which makes for an interesting sound as Neville’s angelic falsetto gives way to Allman’s Southern growl and vice versa. It’s hell of a way to take in two voices that are as distinctive as they are different.

Allman, as you’ve probably heard, passed away on May 27 at the age of 69. He will be buried next to his brother, Duane, during a private ceremony in Macon, GA this Saturday.

“Midnight Rider”

“Tell It Like It Is”