Artist Spotlight
I was born on a hot autumn day in Sacramento, the beautiful capital of California. It was October 18, 1977. Two days later, as I was being brought home from the hospital, a plane traveling across the swamps of Mississippi crashed to the Earth, killing 6 members of what later in life I would consider to be one of the greatest bands of all time, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Like most people born in the last 30 years, I couldn’t tell you the first time I heard “Sweet Home Alabama,” only that I’ve always known the anthemic love song to Dixie. In a million years I still wouldn’t be able to tell you how many time my friends, people I know and myself have raised our fists in the air and screamed “Free Bird!”
And that includes the times where I actually yelled it at Skynyrd right before they performed it live.
What I can tell you though is that when I was 16 years old I got a tattoo. It was a big beautiful rose tattoo and beneath it are the words, “Free Bird.” That moment remains perfectly intact in my mind because it was one of my defining moments as a woman, as a teenager and as a music lover.
Lynyrd Skynyrd remains one of the most played bands in my music collection. I have a feeling that there is a special place in Heaven for the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. After suffering so many tragic losses and obstacles they deserve as much.
All of these thoughts came flooding through my mind as I read the news that Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died of a heart attack Wednesday morning at the age of 56.
After the 1977 crash that left Skynyrd in shambles, Powell spent the eighties in various groups, including the Rossington-Collins band with fellow Skynyrd alum, Gary Rossington.
In 1991 Powell and the other remaining members of Skynyrd joined forces with Johnny Van Zant (original lead singer, Ronnie’s brother) on vocals and breathed life back into Southern Rock. Since then they have had a number of albums and successful tours, most recently with both Kid Rock and Hank Williams, Jr.
In 2006 Powell, along with the rest of Skynyrd, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Powell is survived by his wife, Ellen Vera Powell, and four children. In a brief statement Hank Williams Jr. had this to say, “I will truly miss Billy. We have all lost one of our best rowdy friends.”
And as for me well, when I wash up tonight I’ll look in the mirror and see, as I have everyday since I was 16, that rose tattoo. I’ll see the words “Free Bird” written underneath. And I’ll think of Billy Powell.
Fly high free bird!
