It almost didn't happen. But Gregg Allman was a man who intended on keeping his word.

In 2014, the former Allman Brothers Band musician was set to headline the Waterfront Blues Festival with his solo band, and he had big shoes to fill: Robert Plant, "Stairway to Heaven" Robert Plant, topped the festival the year before. The charity festival had created a special Sunday ticket just for Plant--and now for Allman.

Days before the Sunday show, Allman was hospitalized, another medical setback in a year that saw him missing tour dates with a broken wrist and bronchitis.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gregg Allman has been forced to cancel this week's upcoming shows," his team said in a statement. "He apologizes for inconveniencing his fans and hopes to return to these cities as soon as possible."

Portland bluesman Curtis Salgado took his place on the bill. Salgado's voice sounded great and his harmonica, even better, but Portland fans had to wonder if Allman would be able to make it back.

2014 was a pivotal year for Allman. That January, he was honored with an all-star tribute concert that drew musicians from the worlds of rock, soul, blues, and country--the music that the Allman Brothers Band helped fused together into Southern rock on classic albums sic as "At Fillmore East." And in October, the Allman Brothers played their final shows after a 45-year run.

"It's all about perseverance, man; always has been," he said in an email interview in 2014. "Back in 1970, we spent 300 days on the road, playing everywhere we could for whoever we could for almost no money. We did it because we believed; well, my brother made us believe! Then we lost him and Berry Oakley, but we carried on. Through break-ups and line-up changes, we've made 45 years, which is a long time to do anything, brother."

But not long enough to retire on. In what would be his final Portland concert, Allman did make it to Portland in 2015, leading a night of Allman-world performances including his son Devon and his former drummer Jaimoe.

"We gon' try our best to make up for last year," he told the Waterfront Park audience, and they did, offering up songs including "Midnight Rider," "Melissa" and a cover of his friend Jackson Browne's "These Days." In Allman's hands that night, the music felt deep and hard-earned.

The months that followed brought more health struggles, and the news came on Saturday that the musician, 69, had died at his Georgia home. Some will remember him at his beloved Beacon Theater, others at the Fillmore East. But some Oregonians will think back to a waterfront stage, a steady groove, and what it took to deliver a lifetime of songs to town that night. Perseverance, man.

-- David Greenwald

dgreenwald@oregonian.com

503-294-7625; @davidegreenwald

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