The Southern jam stylings of Gov't Mule may likely be silenced with the sudden death of bassist Allen Woody.

Woody, who had previously played with the Allman Brothers, was found dead Saturday morning of unknown causes by a chambermaid in a room at the Marriott Courtyard Motor Hotel in Queens, New York. He was 44.

According to the "Tennessean" newspaper, Woody was found with no apparent signs of trauma, and no drugs were found in the room, although other press reports say an overdose has not been ruled out. An autopsy is said to have been inconclusive.

Woody, who also played mandolin, joined the Allman Brothers in 1989 and left with bandmate Warren Haynes to form Gov't Mule in 1997. He remained friendly with his former bandmates, most recently joining them on stage for three songs at a Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, festival on August 6.

The Allman Brothers announced the bassist's death at their performance in Chicago Saturday night. A post on

the official ABB Web site pays tribute to the musician, as does the official Gov't Mule Web site at www.mule.net.

Gov't Mule last appeared in concert at the Bayou Music Festival in Croton-On-Hudson, New York, on August 19. The band was scheduled to head out on the road again starting in Columbus, Ohio, September 2. Also on the schedule was a November tour with Ben Harper. Harper had appeared on the song "Lay Your Burden Down" from the Mule's third studio album, "Life Before Insanity," released earlier this year (see [article id="1429662"]"Ben Harper Talks About Kicking It With Gov't Mule"[/article]).

Woody, a Nashville native who made his home in Lebanon, Tennessee, had spent the week in New York and had been expected to return home Saturday morning. Born Douglas Allen Woody, he is survived by his wife, baby daughter, and father.

Donations are being accepted for the Savannah Woody Educational Fund (named after the musician's daughter), care of Hard Head Management, P.O. Box 651, Village Station, New York, New York, 10014.