Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal | "Statesboro Blues"

In the penultimate release of the 2015 Blues & Brews live music video series, we revisit a significant piece of local music history. In 1991, the Town of Telluride had outgrown the performance stage in Town Park. With an expanding summer economy, the Fred Shellman Memorial Stage was built in its place. In July of that year, Taj Mahal famously sat-in during The Allman Brothers set at the Telluride Mid-Summer Music Festival. The song? "Statesboro Blues".

"Statesboro Blues" is an old blues song written by Blind Willie McTell and covered most notably by The Allman Brothers Band. Rolling Stone Magazine has ranked The Allman Brothers Band's version as #9 in their list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time".

Fast forward to 25 years later, where we find Taj Mahal once again sitting in as a guest of Gregg Allman for another rendition of the song at the 2015 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Allman closed out the festival last year on Sunday, September 20th and would be the last band to ever play on the historic stage. The Town of Telluride has its sights set on a brand new stage debuting for the 2016 summer festival season.

Imagine that. Gregg and Taj were among the first to play on the stage and the last to perform on it. Stay tuned for the final video featuring Gregg's set closer "Southbound" - the final song to ever be played on the stage.

For photo highlights of Gregg Allman's set, click here. Gregg Allman's full discography is available on iTunes, click here. For more Blues & Brews videos, subscribe to #TellurideBlues on YouTube.

Steve Gumble2016