Billy Powell Piano Player For Lynyrd Skynyrd Dead At 56

[davien]

From cmt.com:
Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died Wednesday morning (Jan. 28) at his condo in Orange Park, Fla., near Jacksonville, of an apparent heart attack.

Law enforcement authorities said the musician called 911 around 12:55 a.m. to report that he was having trouble breathing. Paramedics performed CPR, but Powell was pronounced dead shortly before 2 a.m. He had reportedly failed to show up Tuesday (Jan. 27) for an appointment with a heart specialist to undergo a cardiac evaluation.

In what has always been considered a guitar-based band, Powell's distinctive piano work helped define Lynyrd Skynyrd's sound and Southern rock, in general.

Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and guitarist Gary Rossington and drummer Artimus Pyle (who left the band in 1992) are now the only living members of the band's lineup who survived a 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Guitarist Allen Collins died in 1990, and bassist Leon Wilkeson passed away in 2001.

[Speng]

Wasn't he a pretty large guy? I remember the VH1 Behind the Music episode and he didn't look like the healthiest dude back then.

[Securb]

With Allen Collins gone the Rossington Collins Band thing doesnt even work anymore if Gary Rossington wants to go back out on the road I think he should do so under his own name at this point - Lynyrd Skynyrd is a tribute act/cover band.

[davien]

When they originally reunited with Johnny Van Zant on vocals they called themselves Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd but, that didn't last long. After a legal battle with Ronnie's wife it was agreed that the band must have at least 3 survivors of the plane crash in the band for it to use the Skynyrd name. After Leon Wilkeson died she didn't complain about their being only 2 survivors, probably because she was making a lot of money off Ronnies Royalties.

Gary had some minor success with the Rossington band before reuniting Skynyrd with his wife Dale on vocals (she also sang for Rossington Collins). And Johnny and Donnie Van Zant have done well with their Van Zant albums. So if Skynyrd break up their could still be new music from the extended family

[Securb]

So if Skynyrd break up their could still be new music from the extended family

Without a doubt plus all of the legions of musicians they have influenced, CCR invented southern rock Skynyrd perfected it.