He was a confidant to Macon music icon Gregg Allman. Remembering the life of Chank Middleton

Hewell “Chank” Middleton, a close friend to Macon music icon Gregg Allman, has died, the singer’s estate says.

Born in 1950, Middleton was a Macon native and died at age 71.

A social media post from the estate of Gregg Allman’s stated: “It is with deep sadness to tell you that Gregg’s longtime and dearest friend Hewell ‘Chank’ Middleton has passed away. Gregg & Chank had a bond of brothers. Chank was by Gregg’s side on tour & in life since 1969. #RIP Brother Chank.”

Middleton reportedly first met the Allman Brothers Band members in 1969, the same year the band formed, at a Macon barbershop adjacent to the recording studio where the band was rehearsing. Middleton worked as a shoe shiner at the barbershop and soon became friends with the whole group, but especially with Gregg Allman.

In a 2018 interview posted by Gregg Allman, Middleton referred to himself as the “first Allman Brothers Band fan.”

A post published Monday on the Allman Brothers Band website stated: “At various times, Chank worked for Gregg and the (Allman Brothers Band_ as a personal assistant, facilitator and confidant; everyone in the ABB loved and cherished Chank … The Allman Brothers Band family is deeply saddened by the loss of their brother, Chank Middleton, as he joins Duane, Berry, Butch, Gregg, and the rest of the ‘crew.’ Let them know we will all be coming – won’t be long before we are there.”

A cause of death has not been reported currently.

Throughout their friendship of nearly 50 years, Middleton called Allman by his given name Gregory, and they became especially close after Gregg’s brother Duane died in 1971. In a 2017 interview, Middleton said that the Allman Brothers Band song “Win, Lose or Draw,” released in 1975, was written about him and his experience in prison from 1972-1974.