Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Ronnie Van Zant / Lynyrd Skynyrd
themusicsover Ronnie Van Zant
January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977
Ronnie Van Zant was the singer and main songwriter for southern rock powerhouse, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band he formed in 1964 with fellow high school classmates. The band slugged it out on the road in and around the southeast region of the U.S. until they got their break by getting signed to MCA Records in 1972. The following year, they released their debut album, pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd, which included such future hits and Southern rock staples as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and of course, “Free Bird.” The hits continued to roll in and the band soon found them self touring with such bands as the Who and the Rolling Stones. By late 1977, the band was as popular as any in America, had just completed their Street Survivors album, and were in the middle of what was to be their biggest tour yet. But then one of popular music’s worst tragedies struck. On October 20, 1977, while flying between shows in Greenville, South Carolina and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, their small chartered plane experienced engine trouble causing it to crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Dead on impact were band members, Ronnie Van Zant (29), Cassie Gaines (29), Steve Gaines (28), road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot and co-pilot.
What You Should Own
Just three days after the release of Street Survivors, several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including 
Cassie Gaines was part of gospel trio who, in 1975 were invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd as back-up singers. Her brother, 
Merle Travis was a country singer, songwriter and guitarist who was just as renowned for his picking as he was for his songwriting. Born in the coal country of Kentucky, Travis struck a chord with his lyrics about the horrible conditions that coal miners worked and lived in. Travis moved to Hollywood in the mid ’40s and found work as a studio musician. Within a few years, he was signed to Capitol Records where he began to release a string of country albums that are considered some of the best of the genre. His songs were recorded by the likes of 