Surrounded by a familial community of noteworthy talent, bassist Berry Duane Oakley developed his deeply ingrained love for music. As the son of The Allman Brothers Band’s founding bass player, the late Berry Oakley, and with stepfather Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), Oakley’s musical calling seemed preordained. He first met Devon Allman and Duane Betts, as a teenager, during The Allman Brothers Band’s 1989 Dreams tour. Often Oakley sat-in with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, laying the foundation for his prolific and successful career now entering its fourth decade.
In 1991, he toured with his godfather, Robby Krieger, then with Bloodline- in a lineup including Waylon Krieger and Joe Bonamassa. Bloodline’s self-titled debut launched a Top 20 single, leading to national TV appearances and support sets for Bob Dylan and B.B. King, among others. In 1996, Oakley teamedfor the first time with Betts for the Oakley Krieger Band.
In 2000, he joined Blue Floyd, the supergroup brainchild of Gov’t Mule’s bassist, the late Allen Woody. Additionally, Oakley served a stint with Betts, again, in Backbone69, and for 11 years with Negron in CNB. In 2015 he founded Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band with the legendary, now deceased,Allman Brothers Band drummer.
Gathering annually in the Catskills, Oakley is also a recurring presence at Roots Rock Revival camp, performing with prominent players such as Oteil Burbridge and North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther & Cody Dickenson. At home in Sarasota, Florida, Oakley leads his Indigenous Suspects, includingmembers of The Dickey Betts Band.