RIP Leonard Skinner Inspiration For Lynyrd Skynyrd
HIGH school gym teacher and basketball coach Leonard Skinner died today in Jacksonville, Florida. He’s the guy who who inspired the name of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, writes our man in LA.
He was 77 and had Alzheimer’s disease. He also outlived most of the band.
Singer Ronnie van Zandt, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing singer Cassie Gaines were killed in a plane crash that seriously injured the other band members on October 20,1977.
Bassist Leon Wilkeson was found dead in his hotel room on July 27, 2001; replacement drummer Thomasson died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on September 9, 2007 of an apparent heart attack.
On January 28, 2009, keyboardist Billy Powell died at 56.
Posted: 21st, September 2010 | In: Music Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
