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~

[skcin]

Poor Billy. Who's the only survivor now?

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by skcin

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).

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

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.