Allman Brothers Band founding member Dickey Betts suffered a serious fall on Monday evening (Sept. 17) and is in critical, but stable, condition. He will, however, need brain surgery to assuage the effects of the fall.

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Betts was playing with his dog at his home in Osprey, Fla., on Little Sarasota Bay, when he slipped and cracked his head. The fall caused bleeding in his brain; the surgery, scheduled for Friday (Sept. 21), will relieve swelling. For the time being, Betts is sedated and at an undisclosed hospital in the Sarasota area.

Betts' wife, Donna, and his children are keeping watch over the artist. “The family appreciates all of your thoughts and prayers during this very trying time,” Donna says. “Dickey is a notorious fighter and he is displaying that now.”

Betts, 74, is a Florida native from a musical family. Together with Duane and Gregg Allman, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson, Betts founded the Allman Brothers Band in 1969. He stayed with the band until they disbanded in the mid-1970s and was also involved in the band's numerous reunions; however, the band fired Betts in 2000.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Betts canceled a series of tour dates following a mild stroke in August and being diagnosed with "post-stroke repercussions." He'd announced his retirement in November, then changed his mind.

“When I turned 70 years old, I just figured I wanted to go fishing and play golf and mess around and stuff, so I decided I would retire," Betts said. "Well, I got bored as hell sitting around here ... The promoters starting calling me, offering me good money to go out and play again. I was bored, and they wanted me back. That's the way it happened."

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