Died On This Date (January 23, 1990) Allen Collins / Lynyrd Skynyrd
themusicsover Larkin Allen Collins
July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990
Allen Collins was a founding guitarist of and sometime co-writer for southern rock giants, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band’s ride to fame was partially due to songs co-written by Collins. That list includes “That Smell,” “Free Bird,” and “Gimme Three Steps.” When Ronnie Van Zant and others from the band were killed in a plane crash in 1977, Collins went on to have success with the Rossington-Collins Band. Their biggest hit was 1980’s “Don’t Misunderstand Me.” Tragedy struck Collins again in 1986 when he caused a car accident that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. Since he was under the influence, he was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He accepted a plea which kept him out of jail, but had him, among other penalties, speak out against drunk driving at all future Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts. Collins died of pneumonia, brought on by the paralysis on January 23, 1990. He was 37 years old.
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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), 
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