Formed in 1964 at Jacksonville, Florida with Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and.by 1970 the band had added, Steve Gaines and Leon Wilkison and Billy Powell, plus there were three Female back up singers. Cassie Gaines, JoJo Billingsly and Leslie Hawkins.

At the suggestion of Bob Burns, the group settled on the name “Leonard Skinner” which was in part a reference to a character named “Leonard Skinner” in Alan Sherman’s song “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” and in part a mocking tribute to their P.E. teacher Leonard Skinner at Robert E. Lee High School.

The band changed the spelling to give the name Some Character “Lynyrd Skynyrd”

In 1977 flying from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana their plane ran out of Fuel and crashed at Gillsberg Mississippi killing Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines, (Steve’s sister one of the backup singers).

 As well as their Road manger Dean Kilpatrick plus both of the Pilots. 

The surviving band members were seriously hurt and effectively the group disbanded.

In 1987 the band was reformed with the Surviving members and Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s younger brother on lead Vocals, and two new Guitarists Ed King and Randall Hall.

The tour was supposed to be a one-off but the tour was so successful that it breathed New Life into the band.

The band is still on tour and I hope that you have an opportunity to see them.

The thing that you have to understand about the band is that they are Guitar Heavy and they play them long and loud,

From Lynyrd Skynyrd humble beginnings through tragedy, Reunion and Redemption the band has earned a place on Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Artists of all Time.

In 2006 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Over the years the band has released 22 Albums.

Enjoy