Oteil Burbridge

The Allman Brothers Band, 1969–2014

With the band: 1997–2014
Instruments: Bass, vocals

Early Years

Oteil Burbridge was born in Washington, D.C., in 1964, and grew up in a musical house with his brother Kofi, who played just about every instrument. Oteil started on drums before he picked up the bass, and he plays it with a virtuosity rooted in jazz, funk and gospel.

The Aquarium Rescue Unit

In Atlanta Oteil helped found Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, an anything-goes band that became a cornerstone of the Southern jam scene. Guitarist Jimmy Herring and drummer Jeff Sipe played in it too.

Seventeen Years with the Brothers

When Allen Woody left in 1997, Oteil took over the bass chair. He stayed until the band’s final show in 2014, longer than any other bassist in ABB history. His fluid, melodic playing powered the twin-guitar lineups with Jack Pearson and later with Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, and you can hear him on Peakin’ at the Beacon (2000), Hittin’ the Note (2003) and One Way Out (2004).

Beyond the Brothers

Oteil also led his own band, Oteil and the Peacemakers, and played with Kofi in the early Tedeschi Trucks Band. In 2015 he joined Dead & Company with members of the Grateful Dead and John Mayer. They played stadiums, and in 2024 they began a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Since 2017 Oteil has led Oteil & Friends, a rotating group that mixes Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers songs with originals. In 2026 he released The Offering, an album he made with vocalist Lamar Williams Jr., son of former ABB bassist Lamar Williams, and he toured with Oteil & Friends.