Remembering Gary Rossington
• Late Sunday we learned the news of the passing of guitarist Gary Rossington, the last surviving — and longest serving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, at the age of 71.
The news of Rossington’s death was posted on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Facebook page: “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. 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.”
Rossington and his Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmates — Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Ed King and Leon Wilkeson — were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Our friends at SuiteRadio worked through the night to produce a one-hour, (45 mins plus local avails) Long Live Rock special remembering Gary Rossington that is expected to be available by midday today. The special is free to air unrestricted for any stations that would like to run it. Your contact is Jim Jones at jim@suiteradio.net.
[Ed. note: the version of this story that appears in Monday’s issue of RAMP inadvertently gives the impression that everyone in Lynyrd Skynyrd has passed away… that is not true — Artimus Pyle is alive and well at 74. We deeply regret any unfortunate misperception].
