Sea Level Guitarist Jimmy Nalls Dies at 66

Share This:

Guitarist Jimmy Nalls, a core member of Sea Level, a spinoff founded by keyboardist Chuck Leavell in 1976, died today (June 23). He was 66. Nalls is the third member of the Allmans’ extended to family to pass this year, following ABB drummer Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman.

The Allmans’ Facebook page posted the following: “The tears continue to flow in our musical world as we learn of the passing of Jimmy Nalls, a tremendously talented guitarist and wonderful friend. Jimmy was a founding member of Sea Level and performed and recorded with Gregg Allman, Dr. John, Alex Taylor, the Nighthawks and a host of other Macon musicians. Jimmy fought a valiant battle since 1995 with Parkinson’s disease, causing him to have poor balance, tremors and muscle-related difficulties. In spite of this he continued to make amazing music. He died today in his home in Nashville as the result of one final fall. The Allman Brothers Band will miss our old pal Jimmy Nalls.”

Jimmy Nalls (Photo from his website)

Nalls was born May 31, 1951, in Washington D.C., and, according to his website, played on sessions for such artists as Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Alex Taylor and Don McLean before teaming with Gregg Allman in 1973 on the latter’s Laid Back album. Nalls also worked with Dr. John, Livingston Taylor and others before he was tapped to join the band Leavell was forming. Nalls stayed with Sea Level until its split and appeared on all of their recordings. In 1988, Nalls joined the blues-rock band the Nighthawks and, in 1990, worked in the band of soul-country artist T. Graham Brown.

Nalls began experiencing the effects of Parkinson’s in 1994. The disease impacted his ability to play the guitar and although he remained as active as possible, his performances necessarily became fewer.

In 1999, Nalls released a solo album, Ain’t No Stranger. Guitar Player magazine described Nalls as having “superior taste, beautiful intonation, a refined sense of melody, and an obvious love for the blues.”