Gary Rossington, lead guitarist and last surviving founding member of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, known for hits like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” that spread the sound of the South around the world, died March 5. He was 71.
His death was confirmed by an agent, Ken Levitan, who said he was unable to provide the cause of death or the place of death.
The band said in a statement released on social media that “our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist … is in heaven now with his Skynyrd brothers and family, playing it beautifully as he always does.”
Robert Burns Jr., one of the original three founders of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the 1960s, died in an accident in 2015 after his vehicle crashed into a tree. Ronnie Van Zant, another founding member, died in a plane crash in 1977, along with guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, singer Cassie Gaines. Mr. Rossington was injured in the accident but survived.
According to the band’s website, Mr. Rossington, Burns and Van Zant met in the summer of 1964. After meeting while playing on rival baseball teams in Jacksonville, Fla., an “impromptu afternoon jam session” spurred them on to a band, first under the name My Backyard, then The Noble Five – Allen Collins and Larry Junstrom had joined by then – and The One Percent before eventually becoming Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969. The long-haired musicians named the band in part after a gym teacher, Leonard Skinner, who banned boys from having long hair.
The band is still touring. It was due to appear at a festival in Florida next week, although it wasn’t immediately clear whether the death of Mr. Rossington, who was still an active member, would result in the cancellation of that event.
“We’re still standing, keeping the music going,” Mr Rossington was quoted as saying on the band’s website. “We wanted to make the guys who aren’t with us prouder – and also keep the name proud.”