Gregg Allman honored by fellow musicians (VIDEO)

Southern rock luminary Gregg Allman has been honored by an all-star lineup of musicians at a tribute concert in Atlanta.

Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal and Vince Gill were among those on hand Friday night to perform Allman’s blues rock music that influenced many artists that followed his band’s early 1970s success.

“I try not to think about it just directly. It’s kind of like we all came to the gig together,” Allman said backstage before the show. “It’s pretty overwhelming but I’ve got the music to hang onto, to keep me on the ground. Otherwise they’d have to take me out of here on a string, like a balloon.”

Allman, who has come back strong from a liver transplant in recent years, said he feels years younger and fit enough to go on the road again.

“I feel like a million. The Mayo Clinic people not only saved my life. I feel 30 years old, day and night,” Allman said.

Taj Mahal said agreeing to play the one-night special show was a quick decision because the Allman Brothers Band is part of the fabric of American music.

“Anybody who listens to American music is going to have to hear them,” Mahal said. “They just went with good music and stayed with good music.”

Vince Gill provided some of the best moments of the night, riveting the audience with some hot guitar licks and vocals on “Midnight Rider.” Other country stars, including Martina McBride and Eric Church, also performed soulful version of the band’s well-known songs.

Agencies/Canadajournal