My Cross to Bear Audiobook (2023)

Plot Summary

My Cross to Bear is the memoir of Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers who were the inspiration for Cameron Crowe's film, Almost Famous. Filled with tales of debauchery and musical fervor, My Cross to Bear details Allman's life from his early years to the present. Greg Allman and his brother Duane were born in Nashville and started performing early in a band called the Allman Joys. Duane was a talented guitarist, ranked second only to Jimi Hendrix by Rolling Stone magazine. Unfortunately, he was killed in a motorcycle accident right after the Allman Brothers released their third album. So Gregg's life bears the marks of two tragic deaths, the first one being the senseless shooting of his father by someone he had just met in a bar.

Aside from the tragedy though, Allman's life has been one big party with copious drug and alcohol abuse; he estimates that he went to rehab eighteen times. Sometimes, while touring, he would sleep with four or five women in the same hotel in one night. They would be in different rooms and once Allman was done with one, he would just say "I'll be right back" and disappear. Of his six marriages, three were before the age of thirty. His third wife was Cher of whom he says, "she smelled like I imagine a mermaid would smell."

Although this memoir delves deep into the rock star lifestyle of which Allman eventually says, "I don't know if I'd do it again," it's also about the music and Allman's passion for it. There are tips here for budding musicians, such as how leaning your head back before belting it out preserves your vocal chords, and matching the bridge to the final verse is the key to songwriting.

Overall, this is a heartfelt memoir written in Allman's distinctive tone and gives the impression of someone rolling with the punches. Allman's charm lies in taking whatever life throws at him and dealing with it, whether it's stardom or drug addiction.

Gregg Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee, as was his older brother Duane. The two brothers got interested in music early and started performing, eventually forming The Allman Brothers Band. After Duane died in a motorcycle accident, Gregg continued his solo career which has been more blues-inspired. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He has been ranked among the top 100 Greatest Singers of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Alan Light is a well-known music critic who has written for Rolling Stone and been the Editor-in-Chief for Vibe and Spin. He grew up in Cincinnati and went to Yale University where he graduated with a degree in American Studies.

"This is a great autobiography so far. I just opened it up and I'm glued to the pages. You don't have to be an Allman Brothers freak to enjoy the complexities and struggles growing up without a father in the 50's and sixties (but it helps). Written by Greg himself it is a rough, etched romp through the rivers of his memories, to steal a John Hartford line. Really enjoying it. Highly recommended. Great book. Ends up sounding a little bit sociopathic but still lovable."

— Diego(5 out of 5 stars)

Publisher Summary

For the first time, rock music icon Gregg Allman, one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band, tells the full story of his life and career in My Cross to Bear. No subject is taboo, as one of the true giants of rock ’n’ roll opens up about his Georgia youth, his long struggle with substance abuse, his string of bad marriages (including his brief union with superstar Cher), the tragic death of brother Duane Allman, and life on the road in one of rock’s most legendary bands.

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Awards

• A New York Times bestseller

• A 2013 Audie Award Finalist for Biography/Memoir

My Cross to Bear Listener Reviews

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• Overall Performance: Narration Rating: Story Rating: — StaceyOliveaux, 5/5/2022
• Overall Performance: Narration Rating: — Ron DeFries, 7/1/2021
• Overall Performance: Narration Rating: Story Rating: — Billy Jones, 5/13/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Confirms that the man is a redneck degenerate. Comes through loud and clear on that point! However, it is an interesting journey he has somehow survived. Good rants throughout on Cher, other ex-wives, other musicians and especially Dickey Betts. His "cross to bear" is apparently having to keep returning to work with Betts, who he clearly hates with a passion (and vice-versa). On the heels of reading "Talk Show" by Dick Cavett, this was especially down and dirty...and entertaining, in a greasy way. "

  — Randy, 2/16/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Better-than-average rock autobio. Gregory manages to give us some idea of how the music sounds and how it was made, in addition to the sexndrugs. A hardheaded sumbuck, but boy he's had a life. "

  — Rex, 2/11/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Not the best written book, but some really interesting information about the origin of songs, and numerous band members. A bit sad going thru all of Greggs' addiction issues, but comes out on the bright side by the end. If you love the Allman Brothers Band as I do, this is a good read, even with the 2 star rating. "

  — Melanie, 2/10/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " 3 and a half really "

  (Video) My Cross to Bear | Audiobook Sample
  — Nicole, 2/5/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Goes on a little too long--kind of like Mountain Jam. "

  — Brenda, 2/2/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Thoroughly enjoyed Gregg's transparency and a little sip of southern hospitality. Filled with honest, sad, fun, crazy, emotional stories that collectively present a life. "

  — Deborah, 1/25/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Very easy to read, a bit light and superficial, really. "

  — Jennifer, 1/19/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Love this book and can't put it down !! "

  — Dayna, 1/12/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " I don't think I have ever called anyone cool in my life but Gregory is one cool cat! "

  — Wendy, 1/4/2014
• Overall Performance:

  " Loved this book. It read like a conversation with Gregg Allman, kudos to the co-writer. Well done. "

  — Glen, 12/27/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " This was a fairly easy read. Nothing here is fantastic writing and it slows down a little toward the end, but if you like the Allman Brothers it has some good history and fun stories. "

  — Lane, 12/22/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " An account of one of the legendary bands in the history of rock. Greg holds nothing back. Fascinating subject, equally fascinating author. I couldn't put it down. "

  — Gary, 12/10/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " Not up to the literary level of Keith Richards memoir, but interesting. Written in too folksey a way for me, but extremely interesting because I lived in Macon during the Allmon Brother's rise. Learned a lot about one of my favorite bands. "

  — Dennis, 12/9/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " It's the usual things dealing with musicians that you hear about. Drugs, booze and sex. But, how he told it was interesting. How his brother's death changed him. "

  — Nadine, 11/15/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " This was really well written. I have always been a huge fan of The Allman Brothers and Greg Allman. Loved this history and the peek into his life. "

  — Patti, 9/18/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " not sure why I read this book to the end, not sure why it was written. "

  — Jean, 8/30/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " Thought the Keith Richards autobiography was more insightful. You come away from this book with the feeling Gregg Allman is a very lonely man. "

  — Wendy, 2/15/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " Tells it like it is, with lots of cool stories of the forming of the Allman Brothers Band. Even more frank are his descriptions of his alcoholism and his love of his brother, who died long ago. "

  — Robb, 1/30/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " I'm finished with this book, even though I didn't finish! Hoping to get some insights into the man and his music, they must have been hidden among the "shit" and "fuck" that permeates just about every sentence of dialogue. But it's worth a try, and you might find it more interesting than I did. "

  — Bob, 1/13/2013
• Overall Performance:

  " Good Read. I love the Allman Brothers so I was interested. Not too self indulgent "

  — Bonita, 11/15/2012
• Overall Performance:

  " Three and a half stars....... "

  — Stevenr, 11/4/2012
• Overall Performance:

  " I won't be finishing it. I've enjoyed other musicians biographies including Ozzy and Clapton. I enjoyed the fact that he wrote presumably like he speaks, but the amount I read was frankly boring. It was worth a try but not worth finishing. "

  — Melinda, 8/30/2012
• Overall Performance:

  " I am not a huge Allman Brothers fan but Gregg Allman's autobiography was a pretty good read. It's the typical rock star bio (drugs, booze, women & money problems) but ends on a fairly positive note. The author seems to have pulled his life together and shares his adventure for all to read. "

  — Jeff, 6/3/2012

About the Authors

Alan Light is the former editor in chief of Vibe and Spin magazines, and a former senior writer for Rolling Stone. He is the author of Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain. A frequent contributor to the New York Times, Alan cohosts the daily music talk show Debatable on SiriusXM.

About Will Patton

Will Patton is an award-winning actor and narrator. HIs narrations have earned the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration and also won dozens of AudioFile Earphones Awards. His numerous film credits include Remember the Titans, The Punisher, The Mothman Prophesies, Armageddon, and The Spitfire Grill. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See.