Lynyrd Skynyrd Group Members: Page 2

Billy Powell was born on (June 3, 1952) in Corpus Christi, TX. His father was a Navy man, and so Powell spent some of his childhood in Italy. Before he was nine years old, his father passed away, and the family moved back to the United States where Powell attended a military boarding school in Florida. He took piano training during this time, but hardly needed the lessons. Some people are just born with an ear for music, with a gift for playing what tunes they like, and young Powell was so blessed.

After graduating from high school, Powell entered college and, not surprisingly, majored in Music Theory. He also studied music in what many would consider a less practical way, by becoming a roadie for the Lynyrd Skynyrd rock group and performing with the band Alice Marr. After a couple of years of working with Skynyrd as a roadie, Powell let the group hear what he could do on the keyboards. It was 1972 and Ronnie VanZant was so impressed with what he heard that Powell was giving the job of Skynyrd's keyboardist on the spot. Things went from good to great, life slowly becoming a dream come true for Powell and his bandmates as they set about making album rock history.

In 1972 Skynyrd was hired to play the Bolles School prom and while they were setting up, Billy noticed a piano off in the corner. "All of a sudden I sat down and played them my own version of 'Freebird', Billy remembered. "Ronnie VanZant came up to me and said, 'You mean to tell me, you've been playing the piano like that and you've been workin' for us for a year....' And I said, 'Well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life.' So, right then and there, he said, 'We need a keyboard player.'"

In 1973 things finally started coming together for Lynyrd Skynyrd. During a week-long stint at Funochio’s in Atlanta, the band was discovered by the renown Al Kooper. After signing a record deal with MCA subsidiary Sounds of the South, Skynyrd entered the studio with Kooper producing. The result -- Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd -- started the band on its rise to fame with standards like ‘Gimme Three Steps’, ‘Simple Man’, and the incendiary, guitar-driven classic, ‘Freebird’.

Gold and platinum albums followed a string of hit songs like ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, ‘Saturday Night Special’, ‘Gimme Back My Bullets’, ‘What’s Your Name?’, and ‘That Smell’. Over the four years Skynyrd recorded, the memories gradually turned into legends. Opening the Who tour. “Skynning” Europe alive. 1975’s Torture Tour. Steve Gaines. One More From The Road. The Knebworth Fair ’76. By October 20, 1977, Skynyrd’s songs had become radio staples. Their latest album, Street Survivors, had just been released to critical and popular acclaim. Their ambitious new tour, just days underway, saw sellout crowds. Then it all fell away at 6000 feet above a Mississippi swamp.

At 6:42 PM, the pilot of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s chartered Convair 240 airplane radioed that the craft was dangerously low on fuel. Less than ten minutes later, the plane crashed into a densely wooded thicket in the middle of a swamp. The crash, which killed Ronnie VanZant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick and seriously injured the rest of the band and crew, shattered Skynyrd’s fast rising star as it cut a 500 foot path through the swamp. Lynyrd Skynyrd had met a sudden, tragic end.

After several years of recovery, the crash survivors felt the time was right for another try. Billy was the first of the survivors to return to music playing on a .38 Special album as well as several other projects. In 1979, Billy and Leon Wilkeson joined with several other Jacksonville players and formed Alias. Their one album, Contraband, did not sell well. When Gary Rossington and Allen Collins slowly began planning a new band both Billy and Leon signed on. The Rossington-Collins Band debuted in June 1980 with the Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere album. Kicked by such songs as ‘Getaway” and 'Don’t Misunderstand Me’ the album sold more than a million copies and the band toured to enthusiastic, sellout crowds. However the band’s 1981 follow-up effort stumbled in the marketplace despite being well-received critically.

When Gary Rossington and Dale Krantz left the Rossington Collins Band, Allen formed the Allen Collins Band which produced one album, Here, There and Back in 1983.

After the Allen Collins Band folded, all the band members maintained their musical pursuits but on a smaller scale. Billy and Leon joined a Christian band, Vision, in 1985. As the tenth anniversary of Skynyrd's fatal plane crash approached all the band members knew there would be more and more calls for a Skynyrd reunion. Billy and Leon began considering reforming the band, but nothing gelled until Gary reluctantly signed on to the project. Reuniting all the crash survivors, Ed King and attempting to fill the shoes of Ronnie VanZant and Steve Gaines and Allen Collins proved a daunting task. The band, however, took the stage for the first time in a decade at the 1987 Charlie Daniels’ Volunteer Jam.

The band found that the devotion of Skynyrd’s fans had increased dramatically in the years since the plane crash. As the Tribute Tour stretched on, the band approached the delicate issue of continuing with new material. What had started as a tribute to the glory of Skynyrd’s past had become an important part of the band’s future.

Billy and the Skynyrd band returned to the Fox Theatre in December 1995 to cement Skynyrd’s place in rock roll history with the debut of Freebird... The Movie. Centering around Skynyrd’s famous 1976 performance at the Knebworth Fair and candid “home movies” of the band on and off the road, the film serves as the final testimony on the significance of one of the greatest rock bands America produced.

Leon Wilkeson:

Profession: Musician

Real Name / Birth Name / Full Name: Leon Russell Wilkeson

Birh Date: April 2, 1952

Birth Place: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Death Date: July 27, 2001

Death Place: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA

Best Known As: Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Leon Wilkeson Biography

Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson was able to dodge death two times (while on tour with the band), but proved not as lucky a third time. Born on April 2, 1952 in Jacksonville, Florida, Leon Russell Wilkeson became a major Beatles fan just as he became a teenager, as he sought to learn the bass in order to copy his favorite member of the Fab Four, Paul McCartney. Dropping out of his school band to focus on learning the bass, it wasn't long before a 14-year-old Wilkeson was approached by a fellow student, who told him that her brother was searching for a bassist in his band. The girl's brother turned out to be Ronnie VanZant, and soonafter, Wilkeson signed on with VanZant's local group, the Collegiates. But due to plummeting school grades, Wilkeson had to drop out of the group at the behest of his parents. It wasn't long however before Wilkeson found himself in another local group, the King James Version, as he began to study the 'lead bass style' of such accomplished players as Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Jefferson Airplane's Jack Cassidy, the Animals' Chas Chandler, and the Allman Brothers' Berry Oakley. By the early '70s, word was out that Wilkeson was fast becoming on of Jacksonville's top bassists, and when old friend VanZant's new band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, found themselves without a bassist, Wilkeson got the gig.

Skynyrd had just landed a recording deal with MCA, which should have signaled smooth sailing for the group. But this didn't prove to be the case, as Wilkeson began to get cold feet just prior to recording sessions getting underway for their debut album, as he felt that he was still too young and not ready for a 'life on the road.' The bassist surprised his bandmates by bowing out, and taking a job stocking ice cream at 'Farm Best Dairy Products.' Former Strawberry Alarm Clock member Ed King subbed for Wilkeson during the recording of Skynyrd's 1973 debut, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, but just as sessions wrapped up, Wilkeson began having second thoughts about leaving the group. After discussing the matter with VanZant, Wilkeson was welcomed back into Lynyrd Skynyrd. With the group's outlaw/party hearty image and tough southern rock, Skynyrd quickly became one of the '70s top bands - due to solid touring and such hit albums as 1974's Second Helping, 1975's Nuthin' Fancy, 1976's Gimme Back My Bullets and One More from the Road, plus 1977's Street Survivors (in addition to such hit singles as "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama"). It was also during this 'classic' era of the group that Wilkeson picked up a gimmick of wearing colorful hats while onstage, which soon became his trademark of sorts.

With Skynyrd coasting along with hit albums and sold-out tours (as well as leading a southern rock 'movement,' with the emergence of such similarly styled acts as .38 Special, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, the Outlaws, etc.), it appeared as though things would only get better for the band. But tragedy was lurking just around the corner for Wilkeson and his bandmates. The group and its entourage were involved in a horrible plane crash on October 20, 1977 outside of Gillsburg, MS, which left several bandmembers dead (including VanZant) and the rest badly injured. Understandably grief-stricken, Wilkeson and the other survivors bowed out of the spotlight for the remainder of the '70s, as they attempted to put the broken pieces of their shattered lives back together (although Wilkeson did manage to lay down bass parts for a release by the project Alias - 1979's Contraband). The dawn of the '80s appeared to bring great promise for most of the surviving bandmembers, as a new group formed, the Rossington-Collins Band, consisting of Wilkeson, in addition to such ex-Skynyrd members as guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, plus keyboardist Bill Powell.

The Rossington-Collins Band got off to a good start, as their 1980 debut, Anytime Anyplace Anywhere, became a modest sized hit. But shortly after the release of their sophomore effort, 1982's This is the Way, the band split up. Wilkeson opted to remain with Allen Collins in a new venture, the Allen Collins Band, issuing a lone album in 1983, Here, There Back. Subsequently, little was heard from Wilkeson during the mid '80s. But by 1987, Wilkeson signed on with a reunited version of Skynyrd (with Ronnie VanZant's younger brother, Johnny, supplying lead vocals) - as the group embarked on a successful, sold out tour. The new version of Skynyrd continued to tour and release albums on a regular basis, when another mishap almost cost Wilkeson his life during the early '90s. Guitarist Ed King found Wilkeson (still sleeping) with his throat cut and bleeding profusely on the group's tour bus, and was rushed to the hospital. The bassist was patched up and able to continue on with Skynyrd, but exactly who was to blame for the incident remains unsolved to this day (King blames Wilkeson's then-girlfriend, while she blames King).

Skynyrd received another burst of renewed interest during the late '90s, due to an episode of VH1's 'Behind the Music' that explored the group's turbulent career. But yet again, just as it appeared it would be smooth sailing here on out for Wilkeson and his bandmates, tragedy struck. The bassist was found dead on July 27, 2001 in a Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida hotel room. Although he'd been allegedly suffering from chronic liver and lung disease, the cause of death was deemed 'from natural causes.' Wilkeson's death also put the group in a strange position, since an agreement with Ronnie VanZant's widow stated that at least three of Skynyrd's longtime members would have to be in attendance for it to be able to tour and issue albums under the name 'Lynyrd Skynyrd.' The group continued on anyway, with replacement bassist Ean Evans taking Wilkeson's longtime spot.

Credits:Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Ed King:

Profession:

Real Name / Birth Name / Full Name:

Birh Date:

Birth Place:

Best Known As: Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ed King Biography

Artimus Pyle:

Profession: Musician

Real Name / Birth Name / Full Name: Thomas Delmar Pyle

Birh Date: July 15, 1948

Birth Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Best Known As: Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Drummer

Artimus Pyle Biography

Born at St Joseph's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky on July 15, 1948, Thomas Delmar Pyle, the only son of Clarence and Mildred Pyle, weighed nearly 8 pounds. Almost from his earliest memories, Artimus recalls being fascinated by rhythm and sound. Even his first love -- horses -- came from the rhythmic clopping as they moved. Tommy and his two sisters were always around horses and animals as they grew up spending a lot of time with their grandparents. Artimus' first memory involves falling off a horse at age seven. When asked if he was OK after picking himself up, the confident Tommy replied, "Yep, it's a long way down though." All of the Pyle kids worked a great deal for their family while growing up. One of his earliest jobs -- at the age of eight -- was running a bulldozer with his grandfather. Again, Tommy noticed the constant rhythm of the machine and was soon tapping his feet and patting his hands in time with his work. Artimus' natural sense for time and rhythm made his mother buy him a set of bongos when he was nine years old.

Then when Tommy turned twelve, his dad bought him a real set of drums -- a used Slingerland rig that he treasured. This gift soon led to the formation of his first band, The Thom Thumbs. After graduating high school, Tommy entered the Marine Corps where he performed extremely well. He was selected the best honor recruit in 1968, which netted him the award of a full-dress Marine uniform from the Leatherneck magazine. His career in Marines, although short, was rewarding and an influence that remains to this day. When he left the Marines, Tommy enrolled at Tennessee Technical College in Cookeville, Tennessee. Here Tommy was transformed into Artimus. Still "baby-faced" despite the years in the Marines, his buddies at the school renamed him in honor of the virgin Artemus. As college friends met hometown friends, Artimus stuck.

Although he had developed other interests and jobs, music continued calling Artimus and he returned to the drums. His first real break came with the Charlie Daniels band's Volunteer Jam. His first recording lists -- Artimus Pyle, percussion. Then with other work for the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus became known as a powerful session drummer.

Using his connections with Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker, both acts that toured often with Skynyrd, Artimus met with Ronnie VanZant and Ed King at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia. The results of that meeting -- Saturday Night Special -- greatly impressed Ronnie. Artimus' live debut with the band took place in Jacksonville's Sgt Pepper's Club in October 1974. The gig, a show to raise money and awareness for Jacksonville's food bank, was hot. Everyone remembers the band walking through the front door and into a crush of people that doubled the legal occupancy of the club. Playing under the hot lights in an over-packed club with an underpowered air conditioner made for a memorable night. When Bob Burns left the band permanently following Skynyrd's first European tour in December 1974, Artimus quickly got the nod as Skynyrd's new drummer.

The years Artimus played with Skynyrd were the years that solidified the legend behind the band. Quickly developing into one of the nation's top touring draws with a grueling schedule of 300 shows a year, the constant work and touring paid off. By October 20, 1977, Skynyrd’s songs had become radio staples. Their latest album, Street Survivors, had just been released to critical and popular acclaim. Their ambitious new tour, just days underway, saw sellout crowds. Then it all fell away at 6000 feet above a Mississippi swamp.

When the time came for the crash survivors to continue their musical careers with the Rossington Collins band, Artimus was originally slated to resume his duties on drums. Shortly before the recording project got underway though, he was involved in a serious motorcycle crash in South Carolina. His injuries prevented Artimus from joining Rossington Collins, but the following year he released his own album, A.P.B. with the Artimus Pyle Band. Followed with Nightcaller in 1983. At the time of the ten year anniversary of Skynyrd's plane crash Artimus was living and studying in Jerusalem. When the call came about reforming Skynyrd for the 1987 Tribute Tour.

Artimus returned to the States the next day. What was originally set up as a one-time event, stretched into a three year tour across the country. Then in 1991, Lynyrd Skynyrd '91 released the first new recordings in 14 years. The tour supporting the album was a tense and grueling one for Artimus, and resulted in his leaving Skynyrd in August. Since leaving the band Artimus has always remained active in his own musical projects. In the past year he has taken an active role in promoting Freebird... The Movie by appearing for television and radio interviews across the country.

Steve Gaines:

Profession: Musician

Real Name / Birth Name / Full Name: Steve Earl Gaines

Birth Date: 14 September 1949

Birth Place: Miami, Oklahoma, USA

Death Date: 20 October 1977

Death Place: Gillsburg, Mississippi, USA. (plane crash)

Best Known As: Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Guitarist

Steve Gaines Biography

Guitarist Steve Earl Gaines was born in Oklahoma in (1949). He caught a lifelong case of guitar fever after seeing a live performance of the Beatles. When he was about 14, his father bought him a guitar and it was love at first strum. From that day on, young Steve Gaines knew exactly what he was going to be when he grew up.

Gaines' first band was called the Ravens. The group got the chance to record its debut offering at the famous Sun Recording Studio, located in Memphis, TN. After that, Gaines moved on to other bands like RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. Working with producer John Ryan, Gaines recorded a number of tracks such as "Give It to Get It," "Blackjack Davey," "Talkin' About Love," and "It's Alright."

Gaines was still mostly an unknown, but that began to change in 1976, thanks to Cassie, his sister. Cassie Gaines was working as a backup singer for the hot rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, who happened to be searching for a new guitarist. Cassie spoke to member Allen Collins and got Steve a chance to play with the group at a show, but only for one song. The guys in the band weren't expecting much from the singer's brother and even had things set up so Steve's amplifier could be pulled if he couldn't keep up -- but Steve Gaines could keep up with the best rocking guitar. In less than a month, Steve was a member of Skynyrd. While with the group, he performed on unforgettable hit recordings like "One More From the Road" and "You Got That Right."

The rise to stardom only lasted a little over a year for Steve. On October 20, 1977, the plane carrying the Lynyrd Skynyrd band crashed into the Mississippi swamp lands. Both Steve and his sister Cassie were killed in the horrific crash, along with Ronnie VanZant and manager Dean Kilpatrick.

In 1988, MCA Records took some of the recordings Steve had made with producer John Ryan and released them on the album, One in the Sun. There was also one other full-length release in 2000, Okie Special, that carries some of Steve's earlier work with other bands. "Road Runner," "I Don't Want to Lose," "Bellbottom Blues," and "Fanny Mae" are some of the blues-rock fans will find on this complication.

Credits: Charlotte Dillon, All Music Guide