Gary Rossington dies at 71: Guitarist was Lynyrd Skynyrd's last surviving original member
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member, Gary Rossington died on March 5 at the age of 71. The band's official page released a message on Facebook on the same night confirming the news of Rossington's death.
"It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today," the statement read. "Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time," the statement concluded.
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The band was involved in a plane crash in 1977
"The last of the Free Birds has flown home," the estate of his late buddy Charlie Daniels posted in tribute on Twitter. The cause of Rossington's death has not yet been made public, as reported by Entertainment Online. Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed in the early 1960s, in Jacksonville, Florida by Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom, and Bob Burns.
Before a horrific plane crash in 1977 claimed the lives of Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines and seriously injured many other band members, the band saw great success. The group's self-titled 1973 debut LP, featured hits like 'Gimme Three Steps', 'Tuesday's Gone', and 'Simple Man', as well as the Top 20 pop single 'Free Bird', which would go on to become one of rock's most well-known and lasting tunes. The album earned two platinum records and peaked at No 27 on the Billboard 200. Skynyrd, which got its name from a dreaded gym teacher at their high school, Leonard Skinner, would release four more studio albums and a live CD. In 2006, the group was admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rossington toured with re-formed Lynyrd Skynyrd
Rossington was on board when the aircraft crashed, but he made it through the terrifying ordeal. When Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's brother, gathered the founding members for a reunion tour in 1987, the band was once again formed. Rossington kept performing with Lynyrd Skynyrd right up to his death.
Rossington co-wrote several of the band's best-known songs, including 'Free Bird'. In 2021, he underwent emergency heart surgery but he recovered and rejoined the band in touring. The band was getting ready to embark on a 22-city North American tour with ZZ Top when news of his death broke. He leaves his wife Dale Krantz-Rossington and their two children behind.