Billy Powell

[donf]

Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynrd keyboardist died at 56.....> He was a good friend of my uncle and one of only two surviving members who are still with the group (Pyle is not).

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=349800&GT1=28102

[Robert Hendrix]

Very sad news. Another freebird flies home.
Rest in peace brother.

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/28/lynyrd-skynyrd-keyboardist-billy-powell-dead-at-56/

[lerxstcat]

Yeah, I was very sad to hear of this earlier today. RIP Billy...

[nhspike]

Damn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GyOgVFDocs

[Top Jimmy B]

Very sad.

[toddstaples]

[Vass]

Terrible shame, too young. Gary R. was original correct?


Vass

[toddstaples]

Terrible shame, too young. Gary R. was original correct?


Vass

yea,
he and gary were the only 2 left...

Now its just gary.

[lerxstcat]

Ed King is still alive, and according to Wikipedia Billy was no longer an active member anyway, but listed as a former member. The Wiki article on Skynyrd was not yet updated with Billy's death as of a couple of minutes ago when I checked it.

RIP Billy, it's a sad day...

[skorb]

those motherfuckers lived hard lives.

talk about getting everything both super-good and super-bad that life has to hand out, in spades. jeez.

[donf]

yea,
he and gary were the only 2 left...

Now its just gary.

Ed King is still alive as lerxstcat says. Also, Artimus Pyle, drummer, (was also in the plane crash) is still alive, though, I think he had a falling out with the band afterwards.

As for Billy, he was still an active member and had performed with them as late as two weeks ago on board the Simple Man Cruise Jan 2009.

[hippietim]

RIP Billy - thanks for the amazing tunes.

[lerxstcat]

Ed King is still alive as lerxstcat says. Also, Artimus Pyle, drummer, (was also in the plane crash) is still alive, though, I think he had a falling out with the band afterwards.

As for Billy, he was still an active member and had performed with them as late as two weeks ago on board the Simple Man Cruise Jan 2009.

Artimus was with them for a long time, but in these cases a lot of people get particular about "original" status. He did replace the original drummer in 1974, though he was a better drummer IMO and with them longer than the original guy.

Kinda like leaving Ian Gillan out of a discussion of Deep Purple because Rod Evans was there to sing "Hush" before he joined the band. How many people would think Ian was the original because he sang on most of their peak career songs?