Johnny Neel was a keyboardist and songwriter best known for his work with the Dickey Betts Band and the Allman Brothers Band, co-writing the chart-topping “Good Clean Fun.”
- Died: October 6, 2024 (Who else died on October 6?)
- Details of death: Died of heart failure at the age of 70.
- We invite you to share condolences for Johnny Neel in our Guest Book.
Johnny Neel’s legacy
Johnny Neel, who lost his sight as an infant, began writing music at an early age, recording his first single at just 12 years old. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, he got radio airplay in the region as a teen and in the years to come developed a following for his Johnny Neel Band. A move to Nashville in 1984 brought him to studios and stages there, which in turn brought him to the attention of Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts (1943–2024). Impressed by what he witnessed, Betts asked Neel to join his band on tour.
After hearing Neel’s contributions to the Dickey Betts Band’s 1988 album, “Pattern Disruptive,” Gregg Allman (1947–2017) got the same idea, asking him to tour with The Gregg Allman Band, and finally with the reunited Allman Brothers. Neel not only played on the band’s “Seven Turns” album, released in 1990, he also co-wrote their hit comeback single, “Good Clean Fun,” along with three other LP tracks. The song went to No. 1 on Billboard’s mainstream rock chart.
Neel had a thriving solo career as well, with a dozen albums to his name, the most recent being 2012’s “Every Kinda’ Blues… But What You’re Used To.” He was also the owner of Straight Up Sound Studio in Nashville. When not writing, recording, or playing live, Neel was a session musician who contributed to songs by Gov’t Mule, Michael McDonald, Jeff Coffin, David Allen Coe, Suzy Bogguss, and other artists and acts. In 2019, the Delaware Rock & Roll Society inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Johnny Neel
Full obituary: Delaware News Journal
