By Jonathan CohenNEW YORK (Billboard) - Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died
Wednesday morning (January 28) at his home in Orange Park, Florida. He was
56.
According to the Associated Press, Powell called 9-11 around 12:55 a.m.,
saying he was having trouble breathing. Rescue crews arrived at the
home, but Powell was pronounced dead just before 2 a.m.
Orange Park Police Lieutenant Mark Cornett told the AP that Powell had
missed an appointment yesterday for a cardiac evaluation.
Powell, whose fluid piano runs spiced such classic Skynyrd songs as
"Freebird," "Call Me the Breeze" and "Sweet Home Alabama," and founding
guitarist Gary Rossington were the only two original members of the
Southern rock band to survive the 1977 plane crash that killed singer
Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup vocalist Cassie Gaines.
Since then, guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Leon Wilkeson have also
died; former drummer Artimus Pyle survived the crash but no longer
tours with the band, which re-formed in 1987 and still is a powerful
concert draw.
Skynyrd lore has it that Powell, a former roadie for the band in its
earliest incarnations, was asked to join by Van Zant when the latter
heard Powell's keyboard take on "Freebird."
According to the band's publicist, as-yet-unspecified shows will be
canceled as a result of Powell's death. Skynyrd was slated to perform
Friday (January 30) in Kinder, La., and the following day in Biloxi,
Miss. A European tour was set to begin May 20 in Finland
