Gary Rossington, a founding member of the Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died. He was 71.
The news of Rossington's death was confirmed by the band in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday evening.
"It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today," the statement shared."Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does." "Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time," the statement concluded.Rossington co-founded the band, which would eventually become known as Lynyrd Skynyrd, in the early 1960s, alongside Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns, in Jacksonville, Florida.
The band found massive success with hits like"Sweet Home Alabama" and"Free Bird," and released five studio albums and one live album before a horrifying plane crash in 1977 killed Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and injured many other members of the band.The band was reformed in 1987 when Johnny Van Zant -- Ronnie's brother -- brought together original members for a reunion tour. Rossington continued to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd up until his death.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Last Original Member, Dead at 71Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd whose ethereal slide guitar helped make the Southern rock band’s song “Free Bird” an indelible anthem, has died at the age of 71
Read more »
Gary Rossington Dies: Guitarist And Last Surviving Original Member Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Was 71Guitarist Gary Rossington, the last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who survived their 1977 plane crash and played with the band until this year, died Sunday. He was 71. “It is with our de…
Read more »
Gary Rossington, last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies at 71'Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does,' the band said in a Facebook post.
Read more »
Last founding member of Jacksonville’s own Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd passesJUST IN | The last founder of the Jacksonville-based rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has passed, according to a statement put out by the band’s official Facebook account.
Read more »
Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd's Deadly 1977 Plane CrashLynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who died Sunday at 71, survived the band’s 1977 plane crash. Here’s the story of one of rock’s most legendary tragedies
Read more »