Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist dies at Florida home
 

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.

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

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

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

I think it's Gary Rossington?

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

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

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

Irony has such a way of being ironic.

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

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?

http://www.songlyricscollection.com/...rd-to-find.jpg


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

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

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


'cmon, REALLY.

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.

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

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.
***~~~***~~~***~~~

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.