On This Day in 1983: Allman Brothers Bassist Lamar Williams Dies at 34, Linked to Agent Orange Exposure
Society of Rock
On January 21, 1983, Lamar Williams, the bassist known for his work with the Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level, died of lung cancer at age 34 in Los Angeles. Doctors believed his illness was tied to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War. Williams had been treated at Veterans Affairs facilities in the Los Angeles area before his death, which came just days after his birthday.
Williams was born on January 14, 1949, in Gulfport, Mississippi. He grew up in Handsboro and Newton, where he developed a love for music at an early age. He taught himself bass by studying the lines of players he admired and began performing in local groups while still a teenager.
From Vietnam to the Allman Brothers Band
In 1968, Williams was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to South Vietnam during the height of the war. A pacifist who opposed violence and the conflict, he frequently went absent without leave (AWOL) and spent time wandering the jungles of the countryside before occasionally rejoining units. Despite those actions, he was given an honorable discharge in 1970 with the rank of private.
After returning home, Williams played with a Biloxi group called the Fungus Blues Band. His skill on bass soon brought him to the attention of Allman Brothers drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson. Following the death of original Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley in a motorcycle accident, the band held auditions. Williams, a friend of Jaimoe’s from Mississippi, impressed the group and was offered the position in late 1972.
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A Key Part of the Band’s Success
Williams joined the Allman Brothers Band during one of its most successful periods. His more traditional bass style offered a solid foundation that allowed the group’s drummers and guitarists greater freedom onstage. He played on much of the band’s best-selling album, Brothers and Sisters, which included songs like “Ramblin’ Man” and “Jessica.” During this time, the band performed to large audiences and appeared at events like the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, where an estimated 600,000 fans gathered.
As the mid-1970s progressed, internal struggles and changing dynamics led to the band’s dissolution in 1976. Williams then formed the band Sea Level with Jaimoe and pianist Chuck Leavell, blending rock with jazz and blues influences. He remained with Sea Level until 1980, shortly before that band broke up.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1974, Williams married Marian Belina, and the couple had two children. One of his sons, Lamar Williams Jr., later became a musician as well, performing with bands that honored his father’s influence and the Allman Brothers’ style.
Doctors diagnosed Williams with lung cancer in 1981. They believed the disease was linked to his exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during his Vietnam service, though this connection reflects medical assessment rather than direct proof. After extensive treatment, Williams died at a young age. He was buried in Biloxi National Cemetery in Mississippi.
After his death, the Lamar Williams Foundation For Agent Orange Research was formed, raising funds through benefit concerts in the mid-1980s for research and support of Vietnam veterans. In 2015, the Mississippi Blues Trail placed a marker honoring Williams and other local musicians, celebrating their contributions to American music.
