Lynyrd Skynyrd is a well known rock band in Southern U.S.A. the band's popularity soared in the 70's when it was being led by the popular vocalist and song writer, Ronnie Van Zant before he died alongside two other band members in an air crash in Mississippi in 1977. The band was initially called ‘' My Backyard'' in Florida in 1964, when it was formed by five teenage friends. In 1968, they worn a local contest and used the winnings to produce their debut album ‘'Need all my Friends''.
The band consequently changed names severally and finally kept performing with the band name “Leonard Skinnard”.
In 1973, they changed the spelling to Lynyrd Skynyrd which was an inspiration from a song by Alan Sherman. In 1977, after starting a tour and three days after they released their sixth album ‘'Street Survivors”, they were involved in a plane crash that killed three band members while three others were badly injured. In 1987, the band reunited and got replacements for the dead members and recorded ‘'Southern by the Grace of God".
The new band has experienced several changes and has continued several changes and has continued to go on tour and produce albums till date. In 2004, the group was ranked #95 by a popular magazine on the ‘greatest artists of all time'. In 2005, they performed at the Grammy awards and in 2006 they were inducted by the rock and roll hall of fame after being nominated seven times. The inductees included Ronnie Van Zant (Lead Singer/Song Writer), Allen Collins (Songwriter/Lead and Rhythm Guitar), Steve Gaines (Singer, Song Writer, Lead and Rhythm Guitar), Ed King (Backup Vocals, Songwriter, Lead and Rhythm Guitar), Gary Rossington (Songwriter, Lead and Rhythm Guitar;), Billy Powell (Keyboards), Leon Wilkeson (Songwriter, Bass Guitar), Bob Burns (Drums), and Artimus Pyle (Drums). They have twelve albums to their credit including several compilations and videos.
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