Billy Powell from Lynyrd Skynyrd died

• Author: admin
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jan 28,2009

First Coast News

Longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist and pianist Billy Powell has died.

Powell, 56, died early Wednesday morning. The death was initially posted on the band’s fan club web site.

Orange Park Police Chief James Boivin says Powell called 911 at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having difficulty breathing.

Police arrived at his home and his niece answered the door. She didn’t know why police were there, but police say Powell called from his bedroom, Boivin says.

Boivin says Powell missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. Boivin says Powell died of “natural causes” and the police investigation is complete.

Powell was one of two band members, along with Gary Rossington, still active who performed with the band prior to the fatal plane crash in 1977 that killed 3 of the band’s members.

Lynyrd Skynyrd has 2 concerts scheduled for next week in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Jacksonville News

Billy Powell, a longtime keyboard player for Lynyrd Skynyrd who survived the band’s 1977 plane crash, died at his Orange Park condo early this morning, according to police.

Orange Park Police Chief James Boivin said Powell called 911 from his condo in Club Continental and was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m. after rescue crews performed CPR on him. Boivin said he was told Powell had an appointment with his heart specialist Monday but never made the appointment.

Current Lynyrnd Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant spent 22 years with Powell in the band. He said the took the news of Powell’s death hard.

“You know, they say they’ve got one hell of a band up in heaven. My brother Ronnie up in heaven is probably saying, ‘Billy, what took you so long?’ I’m sure they’re catching up on things in heaven.”

Powell, who went to Bishop Kenny High School, joined Skynyrd in 1972 after working for the Jacksonville band for a couple of years as a roadie. He was seriously injured in the Oct. 20, 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and five other people.

Johnny Van Zant said his brother invited Powell to join the band after he heard him playing piano during a rehearsal of “Free Bird.” “Ronnie said, ‘What’s that?’ and Billy said, ‘That’s the introduction to ‘Free Bird.’ Ronnie said, ‘I like that. You’re in the band.’”

The piano introduction to the song became a highly anticipated part of the band’s live show, though Johnny Van Zant said Powell was sometimes relucant to jump into the spotlight with it.

Rolling Stones

Billy Powell, the only keyboardist Lynyrd Skynyrd ever had, died last night at his home near Jacksonville, Florida. He was 56. No cause of death has been announced, and a post on the official Synyrd Website reads, “A Great Loss — Beloved Pianist for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, Billy Powell, passed away last night. We will post more info shortly. The family and band request your respect and understanding during this difficult time. Thank you.”

Powell first joined Skynyrd in 1973 after serving as the band’s roadie for a year. His keyboard work features prominently on the band’s debut (pronounced ‘leh-’nerd ’skin-’nerd), with Powell credited for crafting the intro for their epic anthem “Free Bird” (Number 191 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs of All Time). After impressing Ronnie Van Zant with his work on the song, Powell was officially invited to join the band, and remained a member from their debut album until 1977’s Street Survivors.

Powell survived the 1977 plane crash that took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and other crew members. Despite suffering injuries including facial lacerations and nearly losing his nose, Powell was the first to be discharged from the hospital and was the only member to attend his bandmates’ funerals. After Skynyrd, Powell joined the Christian rock band Vision, but reunited with Skynyrd after a decade-long hiatus for some concerts in 1989, and ultimately remained with the band until now. In May, Skynyrd played their first-ever gig at New York’s Madison Square Garden with Kid Rock.

Powell and the rest of his Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. With Powell’s death, guitarist Gary Rossington becomes the lone surviving original Skynyrd member.

Technorati Tags: lynard skynard, lynyrd skynyrd, azkena rock festival 2009, azkena rock festival, benicassim 200, billy powell died, lynyrd skynyrd keyboardist dead, billy powell video