Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell dies at 56

By Patrick Luce Jan 28, 2009, 17:36 GMT

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died Tuesday night, Jan. 27th, at his home near Jacksonville, Florida. He was 56.

There has been no official release for the cause of his death, and the band has announced plans to cancel upcoming shows.

Lynyrd Skynyrd posted a message on its official website stating: “A Great Loss — Beloved Pianist for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, Billy Powell, passed away last night. We will post more info shortly. The family and band request your respect and understanding during this difficult time. Thank you.”

Following a stint as the band’s roadie, Powell joined Skynyrd in 1973 and became the only keyboardist the band ever had in its long history in rock. His addition to the band helped them launch some of their most iconic songs, and he is credited for writing the intro for “Free Bird” – which would go on to rank Number 191 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs of All Time.

He survived the 1977 plane crash which claimed the life of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and several of the band’s crew members. During a break from Skynyrd, he played with the Christian rock band Vision.

Powell returned to Skynyrd for a series of concerts in 1989, and has continued to play with the group since then – including their first concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden in May of 2008. Along with the other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.