Lynyrd Skynyrd (/lɛnərdˈskɪnərd/, LEN-ərd SKIN-ərd)[2] is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass guitar), and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent five years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1969. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), in 1973. By then, they had settled on a lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". After releasing five studio albums and one live album, the band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed, killing Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines; and seriously injuring the rest of the band.
Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Ronnie's brother, Johnny Van Zant, as lead vocalist. They continued to tour and record with co-founder Rossington, Johnny Van Zant, and Rickey Medlocke, who first wrote and recorded with the band from 1971 to 1972 before his return in 1996. Over the years, other founding members of the band have died either during—or after—their time in the band. In January 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced its farewell tour,[3] and continued touring until 2022. Members were still working on the band's fifteenth album at the time of Rossington's death in 2023,[4] after which no original members remained in the band.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd No. 95 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[5][6] Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.[7] As of 2023, the band has sold more than 28 million records in the United States.
^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Biography at AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
^Pronunciation from album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
^"Lynyrd Skynyrd Plot Farewell Tour". RollingStone.com. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Kielty, Martin (March 19, 2019). "Lynyrd Skynyrd working on new album". Ultimateclassicrock.com.
^"The Immortals: The First Fifty".
^"The Original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band".
^"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Inductees by Year: 2006". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
LynyrdSkynyrd (/lɛnərd ˈskɪnərd/, LEN-ərd SKIN-ərd) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard...
near Gillsburg, Mississippi, United States. Chartered by the rock band LynyrdSkynyrd from L & J Company of Addison, Texas, it was flying from Greenville...
LynyrdSkynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1964, the group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary...
LynyrdSkynyrd 1991 is the sixth studio album by American Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd. It was the band's first new studio album since 1977's Street...
LynyrdSkynyrd is an American rock band originally formed in 1966, later named after the guitarist Gary Rossington's high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner...
member of the southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd. He was the older brother of Johnny Van Zant, the current LynyrdSkynyrd lead vocalist, and Donnie Van Zant...
"Free Bird", also spelled "Freebird", is a song by American rock band LynyrdSkynyrd, written by guitarist Allen Collins and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant...
Second Helping is the second studio album by LynyrdSkynyrd, released on April 15, 1974. It features the band's biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama"...
American musician best known as a founding guitarist of Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd, with whom he performed until his death. Rossington was also a founding...
studio album by the Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd, released on October 17, 1977. The LP is the last Skynyrd album recorded by original members Ronnie...
"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by American rock band LynyrdSkynyrd, released on the band's second album Second Helping (1974). It was written in response...
was an American musician and the keyboardist of southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009. Powell was born in Corpus Christi...
is an American musician who played drums with the southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd from 1974 to 1977 and from 1987 to 1991. He and his bandmates were inducted...
Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996. King was born in the...
The Essential LynyrdSkynyrd, is a two-disc compilation of LynyrdSkynyrd in the peak years of its classic lineup (1971–1977). The double album was remastered...
Southern rock band Blackfoot and a member of LynyrdSkynyrd. During his first stint with LynyrdSkynyrd from 1971 to 1972, he played drums and sang lead...
current lead vocalist of Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd. He is the younger brother of LynyrdSkynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van...
guitarist, and one of the founding members of the Southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd. He co-wrote many of the band's songs with frontman and original lead...
was best known for her work with the Honkettes, backing vocalists for LynyrdSkynyrd. Billingsley was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, to Doc and...
an American musician. He was the bassist of the southern rock band LynyrdSkynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001. Born on April 2, 1952, in Newport...
Global Information
