The Allman Brothers Band has lost another member of its family. It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of our second manager, Steve Massarsky who succumbed to his long battle with Cancer. Steve was originally a lawyer who worked on the “American Indian Foundation” that the ABB sponsored. He subsequently went on to manage the 1970’s version of Dickey Betts & Great Southern, which led to the reformation of the ABB in 1978. With Dickey Betts, he commenced and guided the audit of Capricorn Records, which led to its subsequent demise and freedom for the Brothers to make records and get paid for their sales.
Steve resigned as the manager in 1981 having accomplished what the band had set out to accomplish, but remained active behind the scenes as an attorney and consultant. As a manager he returned with the Dickey Betts Band in the late 1980’s He was heavily involved in the “Dreams” box set and the bands reformation in 1989. As the result of his launching the successful Valiant Comic Book company he resigned as attorney in the mid 1990’s but remained as counsel emeritus until the time of his death.
Steve Massarsky was one of the good guys. He got us out of a lot of jams, and advised us well. His memory for detail was uncanny, his advice creative, his friendship irreplacable.
He was one of five people The Allman Brothers Band thanked by name at their induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with Bill Graham and Tom Dowd. Most fans have no idea who he was or what he did. The Allman Brothers Band knew what he was made of, and what he did for the Brothers. He will be missed. Thanks Steve, we never told you that enough, you deserved hearing it more than it was ever said.
The Allman Brothers Band, Family, Crews & Management
