RichCI Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist, dies at Florida home ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) — A keyboardist for the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died at his northeast Florida home. Keyboard player Billy Powell called 911 about 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having trouble breathing. Rescue crews performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m., said Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett. Powell, 56, who has a history of heart problems, missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. A heart attack is suspected. No autopsy will be performed because Powell's cardiologist will sign the death certificate, Cornett said. The Jacksonville-based band was formed in 1966 by a group of high school students — famously, it took its name from a P.E. teacher they disliked, Leonard Skinner. Powell joined the group around 1972, the year before they released their first album, "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd." It became one of the South's most popular rock groups, and gained national fame with such hits as "Free Bird," "What's Your Name" and especially "Sweet Home Alabama," which reached the top 10 on the national charts in 1974. The band was decimated on Oct. 20, 1977, when their chartered plane crashed in a swamp near McComb, Miss. Six people were killed — lead singer Ronnie Van Zant; guitarist Steve Gaines; and his sister, vocalist Cassie Gaines; as well as an assistant road manager, the pilot and co-pilot. Powell was one of the survivors. Two years after the accident, Powell and fellow members Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkeson formed the Rossington-Collins Band. It broke up in 1982. Powell was on hand again in 1991 when a revived version of the band put out a new album, "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991" and launched a tour in Baton Rouge, La., where the band was headed in 1977 when the plane crashed. Fans who kept their tickets from the canceled 1977 concert were admitted free. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. ___________ One helluva keyboard player. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Rolling Stone article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Being a piano player myself, I can honestly say that he was an incredible player and he will be missed. Very soulful player... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddy light Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 one day after he misses doc appt. he's gone! guys if ya have a dr. appt. GO TO THE DR.! ya never know. shoot man, that sux. another one from my favorite band is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBENDS Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 R.I.P. Billy Powell. Were all gonna die, but I have a feeling that he lived a better life than most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 He will be missed. He was truly part of a great band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I am a hugh fan and he will be missed but I do have a question someone here may know. There was a sceen in Forest Gump were Jenny was doing drugs in a apartment with a guy, before she almost jumped off a balcony. Was the guy in that sceen Billy Powell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm glad I had a chance to see him play with the modern LS about a year and a half ago. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Yeah, I just saw this on the local news. What a shame. Great player for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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