Allman Brothers Guitarist Dead, Dan Toler: Former Allman Brothers Band, Greg Allman Band Rocker Battled ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Dead at 65

Former Allman Brothers guitarist Dan Toler died Monday at the age of 65, according to the Ticket Sarasota. Toler had been battling ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease since 2011, leaving him unable to speak or play the guitar for the last few months of his life.

"Dangerous" Dan Toler was a guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, the Greg Allman Band, and Dickey Betts' Great Southern band. Toler joined Dickey Betts' Great Southern band in the late 70's, then moved on to the Allman Brothers Band with Betts and his brother. Toler would play with the Allman Brothers Band on their 1979 comeback album "Enlightened Rogues" as well as their next two albums before spending most of the 80's with the Greg Allman Band. Toler went on to record hit song, "I'm No Angel" in 1986.

Toler would rejoin the Dicky Betts' Great Southern band in 2002 before creating the Townsend Toler Band with John Townsend. Toler would play with the Renegades of Southern Rock and the Toler Tucci Band before finishing his career.

Toler's close friend Chaz Trippy revealed the news of Toler's passing to the Ticket Sarasota Monday. Toler's wife, who cared for him through his battle with ALS, put Toler to sleep Sunday night and when she went to wake him up the next morning he had passed.

Trippy told the Ticket Saracosta, "His ability to make people laugh and feel good and happy was amazing." Trippy continued, "That smile of his is just a force of life and, God, how he loved playing that guitar."

In 2011, Toler's brother David died at the age of 59. It was shortly after that Dan announced he had ALS. The brothers performed as the Toler Bros. during the 90's. Trippy said, "He's up there with his brother now jamming in heaven."

No funeral plans have been made yet.