The Plane Crash That Stunned The Music World
On this date 45 years ago, Southern Rock group, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashed in Mississippi on October 20, 1977. The crash killed 6 out of 26 passengers. It was the plane crash that stunned the music world.
Among the dead were the band’s frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, who died on impact.
The band’s last concert was in Greenville, South Carolina and they were headed to Baton Rouge to play a date at LSU.
I still listen to them at times and love their music. Actually, Ronnie’s brothers Donnie and Johnny, who became the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, played our Guitar Pull years ago when they formed the group Van Zant. I remember them being so nice and really humble.
The tragedy marked a stopping point for the Jacksonville, Florida band that got their start recording in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and innovating a sound that would become known as southern rock. They reunited with the surviving members in 1987 with Van Zant’s brother Johnny taking over on lead vocals.
Today, there is a memorial at the plane crash site for fans to stop by and pay their respects.
I’ll play some Skynyrd music this weekend to remember them!
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gallery:
