Skynyrd

Skynyrd is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964. In 1969 the group adopted the name Lynyrd Skynyrd, a pun on a high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner, with the spelling altered to Skynyrd. The classic lineup included Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums); later members added Ed King (guitar), Leon Wilkeson (bass), Billy Powell (keyboard), and Steve Gaines (guitar).

The band rose to prominence as a leading act in the Southern rock movement of the 1970s. They fused blues rock, boogie, and hard rock to create a distinct guitar-driven sound. Their breakthrough album, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd (1973), features the expansive track “Free Bird” and established the band’s signature style. Second Helping (1974) yielded the enduring hit “Sweet Home Alabama,” while Street Survivors (1977) followed before a devastating tragedy.

On October 20, 1977, the band’s chartered plane crashed in Mississippi, killing vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, and three others. The catastrophe effectively ended the band’s early era. The remaining members reformed in 1987 with Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother, Johnny Van Zant, on vocals, and the group has continued to tour and record with various personnel changes.

Legacy and influence: Lynyrd Skynyrd is widely regarded as a foundational Southern rock act and one of the era’s best-known bands. Their songs, especially “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” remain staples of classic rock radio and live performances. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.