"Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died Wednesday morning (January 28) at his home in Orange Park, Fla. He was 56. Powell was a roadie for Skynyrd until 1972, when the band was hired to play the Bolles School prom. After setting up the band's equipment, Billy sat down at a piano in the corner of the room and began to play his own version of 'Free Bird'. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant was impressed, and invited Powell to join Lynyrd Skynyrd officially as their new keyboard player."-when i was a little kid BILLY played piano at the church we went to. he was such a cool, laid back guy. he used to come to church wearing baggies and flip flops with a hawaiian shirt. he was the man. he had this big, white piano on stage. he let me play the piano a few times after church. i had no idea he was a rock star, he was just BILLY with the big smile.
THANKS BILLY, BANG ON!...
