A Brief History
America's well-known southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, was
formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1965 by junior high school buddies
Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar) and Allen Collins
(guitar). After a number of name changes, the group finally settled on
Lynyrd Skynyrd to immortalize their long-hair antagonist gym teacher
Leonard Skinner.
As the band toured the South during the late '60s and early '70s, they
picked up a few more members along the way -- bassist Leon
Wilkeson, guitarist Ed King, keyboardist Billy Powell, and drummer
Bob Burns.
In 1972, they were signed to a record deal with MCA by Al
Kooper, who became their producer. Their debut album,
Pronounced Leh- Nerd Skin-Nerd, featuring three lead guitarists
instantly made the band unique, and featured "Free Bird," a tribute to
the late Duane Allman. In 1974, the band earned its first U.S. chart
hit with "Sweet Home Alabama," their answer to Neil Young's critical
"Southern Man."
Tragedy struck the band in 1977 when Van Zant, new guitarist
Steven Gaines, his sister Cassie and their manager Dean Kilpatrick,
were killed in a plane crash in Mississippi. Rossington, Collins,
Powell and Wilkeson were also injured in the crash, but recovered.
The crash occurred just weeks before the release of their album,
Street Survivors -- their most successful featuring "What's Your
Name?" and "You Got That Right."
The surviving members formed a new group, but in 1987 they
reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd with Ronnie's brother, Johnny, on lead
vocals.
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