Police Detective Discovers Unreleased Gregg Allman Song Tracks Hidden in Abandoned Los Angeles Apartment
Los Angeles, CA — May 20, 2025
In an unexpected twist during a routine investigation, a Los Angeles Police Department detective has uncovered a collection of never-before-heard song recordings believed to be by Southern rock legend Gregg Allman. The discovery was made last week in an abandoned apartment in the Echo Park neighborhood.
According to LAPD officials, Detective Marcus Hill was executing a follow-up inspection on a long-vacant property suspected of being used for illicit activity when he stumbled upon a dusty reel-to-reel tape recorder and a box marked “Allman – Demos ’75–’77.” The contents, officials say, include several analog tapes, handwritten lyric sheets, and studio notes bearing Allman’s name and initials.
Preliminary analysis by music historians and sound engineers has confirmed that the vocal and guitar tracks bear striking resemblance to Allman’s signature style during the mid-1970s — a prolific period for the late artist.
“It’s an incredible find,” said Dr. Carla DeWitt, a music archivist at UCLA. “If authentic, these tapes could add a whole new chapter to Gregg Allman’s musical legacy. Some of the lyrics are unlike anything in his known discography — more introspective, bluesy, almost experimental.”
The apartment, officials say, had not been legally occupied in nearly a decade, and it remains unclear how the tapes ended up there. A former tenant, who has not been named, is being sought for questioning as part of a broader inquiry into the origin of the recordings.
The Gregg Allman estate has been notified and is reportedly working with the LAPD to authenticate the materials. A representative for the estate declined to comment until further analysis is complete but acknowledged the significance of the potential discovery.
Detective Hill, a longtime music fan, said he was “blown away” when he realized what he’d found. “You never expect to find history just sitting in a box under a broken window,” he said. “It’s like the music wanted to be heard again.”
If confirmed, the tracks could be released in collaboration with the Allman estate, possibly as part of a future compilation or archival project.
