RASKY'S TRIBUTE TO LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Don't Take My Gun
Gimme Back My Bullets
The Beginning
The Band We Now Know As Lynyrd Skynyrd First Formed In 1964
The Founding Members Were Ronnie Van Zant
Bob Burns
Allen Collins
Gary Rossington
And Larry Junstrom
Their Music Was Influenced By Country Music
The Blues
And British Rock
They Were Originially Called The My Backyard
They Soon Changed Their Name To The Nobel Five
Other Early Names For The Band Included
The Wildcats
The Sons Of Satan
Conqueror Worm
The Pretty Ones
And the One Percen
The Name Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Began As A Joke
But It Was A Name That Stuck With The Band Until Today
Leonard Skinner
A Gym Coach At Lee High School In Jacksonville-Florida
Often Got On The Band Members For Their Long Hair
This Was Something That Violated The Dress Code At The School
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1970-1977
Lynyrd Skynyrd Continued To Play Small Venues In North Florida And Georgia
The Band Struggled
But Managed To Stay Together Through The Talent And Efforts Of
Ronnie Van Zant
Allen Collins
Gary Rossington
Ed King
Billy Powell
And Leon Wilkeson
In 1973
They Were Finally "Discovered" While Playing At Funochio's In Atlanta, Georgia
They Signed A Record Deal With MCA
Their First Album Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd Was Released
Lynyrd's Skynyrd's Popularity Took Flight
They Band Became The Opening Act for The Who's 1973 American Tour
Their Next Several Albums Met With Continued Success
The Band Soon Added Some Female Backup
The "Honkettes"
They Consisted Of JoJo Billingsley
Cassie Gaines
And Leslie Hawkins
In 1976
Steve Gaines Joined Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Band Then Recorded Its' First Live Album
One More From The Road
The Day The Music Died
Tragically On October 20-1977
While Touring To Promote Their Street Survivors Album
Their Plane Ran Out Of Fuel And Crashed In Mississippi
Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Cassie Gaines
And The Band's Manager Dean Kilpatrick Were Killed
The Other Band Members Were Also Seriously Injured
Physically And Emotionally
Ronnie Van Zant Was Laid To Rest
Along With His Fishing Pole And Black Texas Hatters Hat
In Orange Park, Florida
Cassie And Steve Gaines Are Also Buried There
Their Final Resting Place Has Become A Site
Where Many Skynyrd Friends Come To Pay Their Respect
June 29--2000
Nearly 23 Years After Ronnie Van Zant And Steve Gaines Were Laid To Rest At Jacksonville Memory Gardens In Orange Park, Florida, Vandals Broke Into Their Graves And Disturbed Their Remains
July 10--2000
The Families Of Ronnie Van Zant And Steve Gaines Announced That They Had Moved Ronnie And Steve To Private Burial Sites
The Exact Location Remains Undisclosed
The Mausoleums At Jacksonville Memory Gardens Will Remain There
As A Memorial To Ronnie And Steve So That Fans Can Visit And Pay Their Respects
Lynyrd Skynyrd Today
After The Tragic Crash
Lynyrd Skynyrd Disbanded
Many Different Albums However Were Released
Which Contain An Assortment Of Their Previously Recorded Music
This Has Helped To Keep Their Popularity Going
Finally
Lynyrd Skynyrd Got Together Again And Played In 1987
They Played At Charlie Daniel's Volunteer Jam
The Fan Response Was Enthusiastic
Today
The Lynyrd Skynyrd Band Plays On And The Music Continues
Author Unknown
A Brief Candle
Both Ends Burning
An Endless Mile
A Bus Wheel Turning
A Friend To Share The Lonesome Times
A Handshake And A Sip Of Wine
So Say It Loud And Let It Ring
That We Are All Part Of Everything
The Present
Future
And The Past
Fly On Proud Bird
You Are Free At ... Last
Charlie Daniels--1978
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