On This Day in 2009, Billy Powell Keyboardist of Lynyrd Skynyrd Passed Away
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Billy Powell, the keyboard player for Lynyrd Skynyrd who contributed to hits like “Sweet Home Alabama,” passed away on January 28, 2009. He was 56 years old and is remembered for his role in the band and his survival of the tragic 1977 plane crash that took the lives of several band members.
On the day of his passing, Powell made a 911 call from his home in Orange Park, Florida, reporting difficulty breathing. Emergency responders arrived and performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later, according to Lt. Mark Cornett of the Orange Park Police. Powell had a history of heart issues and had missed a scheduled appointment with his doctor the day before. A heart attack is believed to have caused his death.
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History and Evolution of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd, originally formed in 1966 by a group of high school students from Jacksonville, Florida, chose its name as a tongue-in-cheek reference to a gym teacher they disliked, Leonard Skinner. Powell joined the band in 1970 and became its official keyboardist in 1972. This was shortly before the release of their debut album, Pronounced ‘Lēh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd, which helped launch them to fame. Their mix of Southern rock and powerful lyrics made them one of the South’s most celebrated bands, with hits like “Free Bird,” “What’s Your Name,” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” which reached the top 10 on the charts in 1974. In 2006, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s history was forever changed when their chartered plane crashed in a swamp near McComb, Mississippi. Six people, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and vocalist Cassie Gaines, were killed in the crash. Powell survived but sustained facial injuries. He was the only member of the band physically able to attend the funerals of those who died. This tragic event marked a turning point for the band.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Resurgence and Tribute Tours
After the crash, Powell and bandmates Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, and Leon Wilkeson formed the Rossington-Collins Band in 1979. However, this group disbanded in 1982. In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for a tribute tour featuring Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s younger brother, as lead singer. Powell was part of this revival, and in 1991, the band released a new album titled Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991. That year, they started their tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—the destination of their ill-fated 1977 flight. Fans who had held onto their tickets from the canceled concert were given free entry to the show.
Powell continued to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd throughout the years. The band’s final album with him, Vicious Cycle, came out in 2003. Reflecting on Powell’s death, Johnny Van Zant remarked: “Maybe it is just the destiny of Lynyrd Skynyrd. We’ve played before millions and millions of people, and it’s been a wonderful ride and a bumpy one too.”
Van Zant shared that Powell’s journey with the band started unexpectedly. “Nobody knew he could play the keyboard,” he said, explaining that Powell had originally been a roadie until Ronnie Van Zant heard him playing one day.
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The Legacy of Billy Powell with Lynyrd Skynyrd
Shortly before his death, Powell and the band went on a cruise with thousands of their fans. According to Van Zant, the group had recorded new material and had upcoming performances planned. These were canceled following Powell’s passing.
Billy Powell’s skills on the keyboard left an indelible mark on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s sound. Howard Kramer, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s curatorial director, said, “He was a phenomenal piano player. The band may be able to get another piano player, but they will never replace Billy Powell.”
Ross Schilling, the band’s manager, described him as “one of the best piano keyboardists, rock ‘n’ roll keyboardists, of our lifetime.” Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. added: “I will truly miss Billy. We have all lost one of our best rowdy friends.”
