Lynyrd Skynyrd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert, 2008
Background information
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Genres	Southern rock
Years active	1966–1977; 1988-present

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Their name comes from one of their school teachers who was named Leonard Skinner. They wrote songs including: "Sweet Home, Alabama", "Simple Man" and "Freebird." The lead singer's name was Ronnie Van Zant. After Ronnie died, his brother Johnny Van Zant became lead singer.

Plane crash

On October 20, 1977, the band was on tour flying to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for their next gig, when their 1977 Convair 240 plane ran out of fuel and crashed in a heavily wooded area. Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilots were killed in the crash. The rest of the band and crew were injured and temporarily split up. They reunited in 1987 with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny as their new singer.

Images for kids

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  Leonard Skinner was a physical education instructor at Robert E. Lee High School (pictured) in Jacksonville, Florida known for his strict enforcement of the school's regulations on male hair length.

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  Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973

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  A crowd of 120,000 fans at Knebworth House in 1976

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  Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977

See also

In Spanish: Lynyrd Skynyrd para niños