Photo: Gary Rossington | By Jacob Uitti, American Songwriter | Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last original member, Gary Rossington, died on Sunday (March 5). He was 71. The cause of his death has yet to be given, though he did suffer from heart ailments. A founding member of the legendary Southern rock band, Rossington also survived plane and car crashes.
The band announced the news of Rossington’s death on Facebook. “It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today. Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 4, 1951, the slide guitar player boasted the longest tenure in the band. He became the last surviving original member in 2009, following the death of keyboardist Billy Powell. He was also part of The Rossington Band and The Rossington Collins Band.
Rossington’s slide playing is featured prominently on many Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, including “Free Bird.” The musician famously survived a car accident in 1976 after driving his Ford into a tree. The incident reportedly inspired the band’s song, “That Smell.” A year later, Rossington survived a plane crash that took the lives of several band members, including singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines. Rossington walked away with a few broken limbs and a punctured stomach and liver.
> > > > > > > > >
Rossington is survived by his two daughters, Mary and Annie, and wife, singer Dale Krantz-Rossington.
> > > > > > > > >
Read the full story here:
https://americansongwriter.com/lynyrd-skynyrds-last-living-member-gary-rossington-dies-at-71/
# # # # #
Gary Rossington, Founding Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist, Dies at 71
SPIN Staff | Gary Rossington, the guitarist for legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died at the age of 71. The band posted a statement confirming Rossington’s death on its verified Facebook account, though it did not specify a cause of death. Rossington was the last surviving original Lynyrd Skynyrd member and had been active in the band up until his death.
“It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today,” the statement said. “Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”
Born on Dec. 4, 1951, Rossington formed the band with Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom, and Bob Burns in his native Jacksonville, Fla. Originally called My Backyard, the band changed its name to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969 as a reference to their physical education teacher, Leonard Skinner, and to a character in the 1963 song “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.”
Skynyrd’s 1973 debut, Pronounced Len-‘nerd ‘Skin-‘nerd, featured future classic rock staples such as “Simple Man” and “Free Bird” and set the band on a trajectory that has to date included 14 total studio albums, 60 million units sold, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
> > > > > > > > >
The band has dates scheduled as soon as March 12, plus a summer tour with ZZ Top, but though there’s no word yet if they will be postponed or canceled. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last album, Last of a Dyin’ Breed, was released in 2012.
> > > > > > > > >
Read the rest of this story here:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/gary-rossington-founding-lynyrd-skynyrd-013029069.html
Photo: Gary Rossington
https://www.facebook.com/slim.brown.5872
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Last Original Member Gary Rossington Dies at 71
