Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, Ramblin Man, has died. He was 80.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died at his home in Osprey, Florida, David Spero, Betts manager of 20 years, confirmed. Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Spero said.

He was surrounded by his whole family and he passed peacefully. They didnt think he was in any pain, Spero said by phone.

Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans music, which combined the blues, country, R&B and jazz with 60s rock.

Founded in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the traditional notion of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. The band was also notable as a biracial group from the Deep South.