Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist dies at Florida home

[estranged4life]

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) -- A keyboardist for the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died at his northeast Florida home.

Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett says 56-year-old keyboard player Billy Powell called 911 about 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having trouble breathing. Rescue crews performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m.

Cornett says no foul play is suspected and an autopsy will not be performed.

He says Powell missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. A heart attack is suspected.

Powell was one of two surviving band members who were with the group before a 1977 plane crash that killed three of its members.

[mylittledemon]

too young to die! What a shame. God rest his soul & bless his family.

[GODDESS6]

very sad music news~
may he rest in peace~
:angel:

[skcin]

Poor Billy. :( Who's the only survivor now?

[DavidMn]

Poor Billy. :( Who's the only survivor now?I think it's Gary Rossington?

[RoseGarden]

Sorry to hear this. His key board playing seem to have come so naturally and had such a unique sound (as did Skynard).

[gldstwmn]

Billy Powell was a blast to watch play. He will be greatly missed.

[David]

So is he the guy who played the piano on "Sweet Home Alabama"?

[SteveMacD]

He says Powell missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. A heart attack is suspected.

Irony has such a way of being ironic.

[gldstwmn]

So is he the guy who played the piano on "Sweet Home Alabama"?

Yep. He was actually one of three surviving members as Artimus Pyle is still alive.

[SteveMacD]

Yep. He was actually one of three surviving members as Artimus Pyle is still alive.

And hanging out with Gary Glitter...

[gldstwmn]

And hanging out with Gary Glitter...

I heard about that. WTF? How does the guy who was basically the hero in the plane crash end up being a pedophile?

[SteveMacD]

I heard about that. WTF? How does the guy who was basically the hero in the plane crash end up being a pedophile?

http://www.songlyricscollection.com/lyrics/f/fleetwood-mac/heroes-are-hard-to-find/heroes-are-hard-to-find.jpg


(which is also kinda creepy in the context of this discussion)

[David]

"Alabama" is the only song by them I've ever heard.

[SteveMacD]

"Alabama" is the only song by them I've ever heard.

http://www.absolutad.com/gallery/originals_bull****1_ranndino.jpg


'cmon, REALLY.

[David]

'cmon, REALLY.Well! I don't listen to rock & roll. I was never into rock & roll!

[SteveMacD]

Well! I don't listen to rock & roll. I was never into rock & roll!

Skynrd, much like Fleetwood Mac, was hard to escape back in those days. I find it hard to believe you've never heard Freebird or Call Me The Breeze.

Actually, I think Powell was the best musician in Skynyrd, and I'm shocked that this keyboardist would have completely escaped you.

[David]

Skynrd, much like Fleetwood Mac, was hard to escape back in those days. I find it hard to believe you've never heard Freebird or Call Me The Breeze.I've heard people talk about Freebird, but I don't think I have ever heard it.

Actually, I think Powell was the best musician in Skynyrd, and I'm shocked that this keyboardist would have completely escaped you.I've always taken notice of Józef Hofmann! The rock guys are just rock guys. Some of them are pretty good song composers ~*~*~*~

I hate rock, Steve.
***~~~***~~~***~~~

[gldstwmn]

I've heard people talk about Freebird, but I don't think I have ever heard it.



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Watching this, I can almost smell the Acapulco Gold in the air. I haven't really listened to this in a long time. Over the years, liking Sknynyrd has become a sort of 70's cliche. Seeing this reminds me of what a great band they really were.