Street Survivors

Certainly, one of the most under appreciated bands in the history of Rock and Roll is Lynyrd Skynyrd. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, this band of talented musicians invented Southern Rock, with such grand ole tunes as "Sweet Home Alabama", "Simple Man", "Gimmie Three Steps" and their fantastic ballad, "Freebird".

The band began in 1964 and played until 1977, when the group was involved in plane crash in Mississippi which took the lives of three band members, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant.

During this thirteen year period, this band amassed a body of work which is truly legendary. The band reformed in 1987, with Ronnie's younger brother Johnny taking over lead vocals. The Van Zant family is quite talented, as another brother Donnie is the front man for another great southern band, .38 Special. Many of the former mates are still involved, although the band recently lost pianist Billy Powell to a heart attack.

Skynyrd, named for a high school teacher the forming band members disliked, had been wrought with tragedies throughout the years, but they continue to persevere. Gary Rossington and his wife Dale Krantz and Ricky Medlocke, an original from the old days who headed up the southern group Blackfoot, are among those playing with Skynyrd these days.

In promotion of their new album, God & Guns, Johnny Van Zant and the band turned up on the Mike Huckabee show, joining Huckabee on stage for a pair of tunes. Take a listen:



I'll rank Lynyrd Skynyrd fourth on my all time best bands list, and I still listen frequently today, perhaps preferring Simple Man as my favorite. How bout a second helping? Here is one from the old days. Turn it up!