Billy Powell of Lynyrd Skynyrd has been found dead at his home in Florida. He was 56.
Powell was having trouble breathing and called 911 but when ambulance officers arrived he was dead.Powell joined Lynyrd Skynyrd at the start in 1970. They had the big break when their song ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ became a massive hit. It was a response ti Neil Young’s ‘Alabama’ and ‘Southern Man’. The lyrics of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ state “I hope Neil Young remembers, a southern man don’t want him around’.
Years later, as a peace offering to them, Young wrote ‘Powderfinger’ but they didn’t record it.
On October 20, 1977 tragedy struck. The band’s chartered plane crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi killing members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines as well as the band’s road manager and two pilots were killed on impact.
Powell survived the crash buy his nose was almost torn off in the impact. He suffered severe facial lacerations and well as damage to his right knee.
The cause of death for Billy Powell is expected to be a heart attack.
