On this day in 1948, the great singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant was born. Van Zant was the lead singer and primary vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but unfortunately, he is almost as well known for his death on October 20, 1977. He perished in a plane crash that also claimed the lives of Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, Dean Kilpatrick, Walter McCreary, and William Gray. Although Lynyrd Skynyd (a name based off a mean high school gym teacher) is still touring and music, many fans will agree that the original sound left with Ronnie Van Zant. Let's take a look at his last studio album (released three days before his death), Street Survivors.
The album starts out with "What's Your Name", a song that can always be found on classic rock radio stations nation-wide. Billy Powell's piano and the horn section are a great compliment to Van Zant's vocals and Gaines' guitar solo. One of the most iconic songs in the band's history is "That Smell", a song that features the Honkettes on background vocals and sounds like a darker version of "All Along The Watchtower." The tune speaks so much of the negative aspects of life, that it's hard not to think of the terrible plane crash while during the almost six-minute tune. The tempo slows down a bit for "One More Time" and while the Honkettes are still around, it's Van Zant's haunting voice and lyrics that grab the audience's attention.
Gaines penned the next tune "I Know A Little" way back in 1976, and the band shows that it can boogie-woogie with anybody. His solo shows just how much he loves the blues progression. Gaines actually helps out with lead vocals for "You Got That Right" and he shows he can hang with Van Zant in that department (at least for one song). The lyrics are again a little foreshadowing, as "you won't find me in an old folks' home" hits a little close to home. The tempo goes back down for "I Never Dreamed" and it's the slide guitar that plays a focal part in the instrumental fills. This song is popular with fans at concerts, as they can sing along to their dearly departed lead singer.
We finally get a cover with Merle Haggard's "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" and Artimus Pyle's quick drums keep the heads bobbing throughout this blues. To answer the question, no, there's no guitarist named Roy in the band, even though Van Zant says "sounds like Roy" during the guitar solo. The album ends with "Ain't No Good Life", an excellent end to a southern rock album that recalled many blues characterics. As much as fans hate it, this is the last anyone will hear of Ronnie Van Zant and he goes out with his boots on.
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