Birthday: Ronnie Van Zant

Lynyrd Skynyrd's original singer, Ronnie Van Zant (seated in the photo at left), would have celebrated his 61st birthday today.

Van Zant was born on Jan. 15, 1948 in Jacksonville, Fla. He was originally interested in a professional sports career as a boxer or stock-car racer. Nonetheless, Van Zant formed Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1964 with school pals Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass) and Bob Burns (drums).

Van Zant sang with the band from their debut album, 1973's (pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd), through 1977's Street Survivors, their fifth record.

Unfortunately, Van Zant's life was cut short on Oct. 20, 1977 when a chartered plane carrying him and the rest of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed near Gillsburg, Miss. Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his wife Cassie Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd's road manager and the plane's pilot and co-pilot were killed. Van Zant was 29 years old.

This prompted Lynyrd Skynyrd to split up until 1987, when Van Zant's brother, Johnny Van Zant, took over vocals for the band. Lynyrd Skynyrd continue to record today, and are currently working on a new album which they say features a recording of the band's pre-crash lineup that's never been released.