Gary Rossington, co-founder, guitarist and songwriter for Lynyrd Skynyrd, died on March 5, 2023, at age 71. He was the band’s last surviving original member, and his slide guitar became a defining part of “Free Bird.” The Associated Press reported at the time that no cause of death was given.
Who was Gary Rossington?
Rossington was a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and one of its guitarists and songwriters. His slide playing on “Free Bird” helped shape the sound of the song and remains central to his musical legacy. The track appeared on the band’s 1973 debut, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd). The album introduced the group’s music to listeners beyond its early following.
Why was he called the last original member?
Rossington was the last surviving member of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s original lineup when he died. That description refers to the original members, not to everyone who survived the band’s 1977 plane crash.
The October 1977 crash killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick and both pilots. Rossington and the other surviving band members lived. Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited in 1987, with Johnny Van Zant as lead vocalist; Rossington returned with the continuing band. The group’s official history recounts the crash and reunion.
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What did the band say about his death and its future?
The band announced Rossington’s death. In a statement quoted by the Associated Press in March 2023, it called him a “brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist.” The report said no cause of death was given.
After his death, the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington expressed support for continuing live performances and keeping the music alive. That was the position stated by those parties; it was not a claim that Rossington himself would be replaced. In the band biography, Rossington described the group’s ambition this way: “We wanted to stay around. That was our dream, for the band to play and play our music and let that be heard.”
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A lasting connection to “Free Bird”
For listeners tracing Rossington’s contribution, the 1973 debut album is a natural starting point: it contains “Free Bird,” where his slide guitar is especially prominent. The track links his work as a guitarist to the original band’s best-known era, while his return after the 1987 reunion made him a long-running presence in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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