MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation will host author and historian Bob Beatty at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, for a Q&A on his book, Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East.  

The recently released book by the MTSU alumnus dives deep into the motivations and musical background of The Allman Brothers Band, the Grammy Award-winning group founded in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman.  Although the band’s first two albums stalled commercially, 1971’s At Fillmore East was an artistic commercial breakthrough and showcased their jam band-style that produced hits like Ramblin’ Man and Midnight Rider.  

In Play All Night! Beatty tells the story of what made At Fillmore East one of the most important live rock albums in music history.  

“This will be a very interesting and engaging talk on all things Allman Brothers,” said Laura Holder, coordinator with the Center for Historic Preservation. “We’ll have fun and get people involved in the discussion.”  

The public is invited to the free event on Aug. 30, which will take place at The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, 225 W. College St. in Murfreesboro.   The Heritage Center is managed by the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, a partnership unit of the National Park Service and administered by the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation.  

Center Director Carroll Van West will interview Beatty, then open the discussion for questions from the audience. Beatty’s self-avowed music obsession stems from his childhood, when he devoured a healthy blend of music that ranged from the Beatles to Hank Williams and even bluegrass. Throughout his life he’s interwoven his love of punk, the Allman Brothers and the Jam Depression collective as a historian, fan and musician.   That enduring passion culminated with a Ph.D. in public history from MTSU and publication of Play All Night!. Beatty spent a quarter century working in leadership roles for nonprofits and museums before he founded the Lyndhurst Group, a consulting firm that provides community-focused engagement strategies.

As a public historian, musician and storyteller, Beatty focuses on what brings people together through unending conversation.   You can follow him on Facebook, or Instagram @LongLiveTheABB. •

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