Billy Powell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Powell
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Powell in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Norris Powell |
| Born | June 3, 1952 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 2009 (aged 56) Orange Park, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern rock, hard rock, country rock, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1970–2009 |
William Norris Powell (born June 3, 1952 – died January 28, 2009) was a talented American musician. He was best known as the keyboard player for the famous southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Billy played with the band from 1972 until he passed away in 2009.
Contents
Billy's Life Story
Growing Up
Billy Powell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. His family moved a lot because his father was in the U.S. Navy. Billy spent some of his childhood years in Italy.
In 1960, his father passed away from cancer. After that, the Powell family moved back to the United States. They settled in Jacksonville, Florida. In elementary school, Billy met Leon Wilkeson. Leon later became a lifelong friend and the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Billy became very interested in playing the piano. He took lessons from a local teacher named Madalyn Brown. She thought Billy was a natural talent and learned quickly on his own. For high school, Billy went to Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, Florida. Later, he returned to Jacksonville and attended Bishop Kenny High School. After finishing high school in 1970, he briefly studied music in college.
Joining Lynyrd Skynyrd
Around 1970, Billy started working for Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was a roadie, which means he helped set up their equipment. He worked with the band for two years.
In 1972, Lynyrd Skynyrd played a show at a school dance. During a break, Billy sat down at a piano and started playing a song. The band members were amazed by his piano skills! They quickly offered him the job of keyboardist.
In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd signed with MCA Records. They became famous after releasing their first album, (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd). Their popularity grew even more in 1974 with their next album, Second Helping. This album included their very popular song, "Sweet Home Alabama". The band continued to gain fans. In 1977, they released another album called Street Survivors.
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Plane Accident and Return to Music
Just three days after their Street Survivors album came out, something very sad happened. The band's plane crashed into a forest in Mississippi. This accident took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie Gaines. Other people on the plane also passed away.
The rest of the band members were hurt. Billy Powell had serious cuts on his face, but he was otherwise okay. He was the first band member to leave the hospital. He was also the only one who could attend the funerals for his bandmates.
After the plane crash, Lynyrd Skynyrd stopped playing for a while. Billy joined a Christian rock band called Vision in 1984. He recorded three albums with them and toured a lot. He also worked with the band 38 Special.
In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd got back together for a tribute tour. Billy rejoined the band and stayed with them. He continued to play keyboards for Lynyrd Skynyrd until he passed away.
Billy's Passing
On January 28, 2009, Billy Powell passed away at his home in Orange Park, Florida. He was 56 years old. He had a heart attack during a break from Lynyrd Skynyrd's touring.
Many musicians and fans honored Billy after his death. The music he recorded with Vision was played at his memorial service. Kid Rock sang a special tribute song. Many Southern Rock musicians attended, including his bandmates and friends. Billy was survived by his wife, Ellen, and his children. Later, Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote and recorded a song called "Gifted Hands" to honor Billy.
