Lynyrd Skynyrd Pianist Billy Powell Has Died
Posted: Jan 28, 2009Lynyrd Skynyrd’s keyboard player and our friend Billy Powell has died. According to insider sources, he started experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing and called 911 at 12:55 a.m. this morning. When EMS arrived at his 
Orange Park, Florida condo, he was unresponsive, and still holding the telephone in his hand. He was 56 years old.
Born William Norris "Billy" Powell on June 3, 1952, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Powell grew up a Navy brat, spending many years living wiith his family in Italy. When his father died of cancer in 1960, he moved with his family back to the United States and settled in Jacksonville, Florida. While enrolled at the Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, Florida, he began taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Madeleine Brown who often called young Billy a prodigy, saying he really didn’t need her at all because his music flowed from deep inside him.
Billy returned to Jacksonville where he met Leon Wilkeson, future bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. After graduation, Leon helped him get a job as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Powell remained a roadie for Skynyrd until 1972, when he sat down at a piano in the corner of the room at a gig and began to play his own version of “Free Bird.” Ronnie Van Zant was impressed, and invited Powell to join Lynyrd Skynyrd officially as their new keyboard player.
Billy enjoyed the fame, the success of the original band, and endured the tragic plane crash of 1977 that took the lives of several band mambers, including Ronnie. He would rejoin the Tribute Tour ten years later, and stay with the band until death.
During the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell briefly joined a Christian rock band named Vision. His keyboard playing was often spotlighted in Vision concerts. Powell also spoke during the concerts about his newly found faith in Jesus Christ.
Billy’s son Brandon Powell is a guitarist in the Jacksonville based rock band Syntenic.
And the Swampland flag returns to half-mast.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
PS: We will post a Memorial Tribute to Billy in the next day or two with thoughts from many of his friends.
further reading:
The Greatest Keyboard Players of The Southern Rock Era
Comments
nicedress says...
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popsss says...
Our sincere condolences go out to Ellen and the Powell family. Words can not explain the "Family" experience that has been extended to Lindy and myself. Dave"Pops"Clements Lindy Clements
JustinMcCorkle says...
What a tragic loss. Skynyrd is and always has been one of my favorite bands. I cut my teeth listening to Billy. Just an absolutely incredible musician. My heart and condolences go out to his family and especially Brandon. I know what it's like to lose your father bro. Hang in there.
rebelfan1216 says...
I have been a SKYNYRD fan from yhe first tyme I herd their music.I however never got to see them play,before the crash.I did however seen them quite alot since the pay per view,LYVE AT THE FOX,with LYNYRD SKYNYRD & FRYNDS(1993).I was just on the 3rd Simple Man cruise,which was my first.I was able to get a photo with the whole band except of course Ian Evans,who didn't make he trip,and whom we too are all praying for.This was the moment I waited for,for such along tyme.But it was not a meet and greet,just a photo.I am blessed that I was able to see Billy up close.I just said to all, that I love them.The photo is awsome.I will always remember this cruise and how Billy & the rest we're at that one minute in all our lyves,we we're together.Like Johnnie said of Ronnie,he probably would ask Billy what took him so long.My heart goes out to Billy's family,and to the SKYNYRD family.For he is in a better place.we all will miss him.For he is truly a FREEBIRD now.
says...
This is surely a great lose to all.I got the pleasure of hanging out with Billy and Leon and Gary and with Ronnie the New L.S.B. Billy was so great that any time I interview a piano player the first thing ask them do to is play me some Billy Powell.Which only a few can.I will miss him as will the hold Southern Rock/country/ Blues and more fans and freinds.God Bless to his family.A heart felt prayer to all.God Bless Brother Stet Blancett (R.I.P.)Brother Billy
OhioGuy says...
I spent a lot of time watching Billy tonight with my wife and was reminded how great Billy was. In alot of ways he was the most accomplished player Skynyrd ever had (and I think they were all virtuosos as far as I am concerned). My wife (who plays piano) thought he had such a beautiful touch. When I watch him play it reminds me that he really was the differnce maker that put Skynyrd over the top. He was the missing ingredient. The thing I always loved about them was that in the midst of all this rock and roll firepower the foundation of it all) he was always given a place to shine and shine he did. May you rest in peace Billy and thank you for all you left for us.
copperhead says...
I am speechless. It seems like a dark cloud has decended on southern rock. What an incredable player Billy was. No one will ever be able to replace him. It is the end of an era. God bless you brother. You were loved and will be missed.
waynep says...
So sad to hear of Powell's death. Not many original members are left. St. Peter is flicking his Bic and yelling "Free Bird" in Heaven!
tennesseewaltz says...
Billy was a piano master. I was at a soundcheck in 1976 and he was playing Beethoven and it was the most beautiful thing I ever heard. He was unique and amazing.
songwriter says...
I remember the Band Vision. Being a Christian at that time. I was thrilled that Billy had found the Lord and I remember thinking, he may have been the only one that was out of Skynard, at the time. I can't remember Joe's last name the drummer who formed the group Vision, I know he was Paul McCartney's drummer in Wings for a while. But I bought that debut album after seeing that Billy was on there, and hearing his testimony at the time made me want to support him more. Much like Kris Kristopherson emptying ash trays in a studio and being discovered, the world will surely miss my Brother, but Heaven will have one heck of a good Piano Player. God Bless, David
tuckerhead says...
So sad indeed. It's hard to believe I just met him on the Simple Man Cruise earlier this month and now he's dead. Fly on Billy, join the other Free Birds with Jesus.
OhioGuy says...
A huge loss. His piano playing, imo, was unmatched. He brought a sense of classical playing and almost a rollicking rag time boogie to the music (at the same time!!). A devistating loss. God bless you,Billy and God bless the Skynyrd fan's and family.
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