Your cousin was and will always be The Greatest Piano Maestro in Rock History. We were Blessed to have heard and enjoyed Billy's rare, extraordinary, beautiful expressions. Billy could any piano speak sing, cry, laugh and dance. We all were truly fortunate and blessed to have been there to witness him. God Bless.
Fantastic piano player. Live listening to his technique. My uncle was a jazz pianist here in Chicago so I learned a little bit from him but I am having trouble with rockabilly if that's what you call it. Wondering how he got started?
That cat could pound those ivories like no other!!! And to think, he was discovered! He was just a roadie until Ronnie found out he could play piano. The rest is history! The combination of three guitars, bass, drums, piano, lead vocals, backed up by three pretty ladies singing like they were in church..... man, it just doesn't get any better than that combo! The great ones are slowly but surely leaving this world and I'm scared of what is going to be left... Fly on Freebird, Fly ON!
They say that you never know what people think of you until you`re gone.Sad but true.But even in life i`ve never heard one bad thing about Billy.He was a great person and one hell of a pianist. I never saw the original Skynard,but I did them twice live afterwards.Always a great show. God bless a great man and musician.His music will live forever.RIP
That sound the original Skynyrd had was all hands on deck. Each piece made a difference. From the 3 guitars of Allen, Gary and Ed/Steve to the girls doing backup Jo, Cassie and Leslie to Ronnie's vocals to Leon and Bob/Artimus holding it all together and so on. And Billy was just as important to that sound as the rest. His piano gave it that honky tonk bar room feel as well as adding classical piano part to places in songs noone ever thought to stick them before. Without one of those parts it simply don't work as well. RIP Billy Powell
Thanks for all the great music Billy. You were truly one of those with the rarest of talents. You provided melody in the midst of all those driving rock arrangements. May the soul of your work continue to influence many generations to come. RIP.
Every time I watch Billy Powell play piano I'm amazed. He plays such awe inspiringly beautiful music. I hear the music but, for the life of me, I can't see him touching the keys of the piano. A truly gifted musician.
Billy, R.I.P.. Brother. I will see you in Rock & Roll Heaven. The whole band was great at what they did, Ronnie's vocals and Lyrics, all the screaming guitars are Awesome, But Billy made it Sound very Pretty , Billy's Keyboard Playing just Put a Huge Layer of icing on the Cake.. Just Beautiful to where you felt like you were flying on a Cloud, Peace , Cousin Figel
I'll never forget the day, hearing about his death on the radio that morning. I was about to give blood in a blood mobile, and the lady was just about put the needle in my arm. When I heard them on the radio saying Billy Powell had pasted away. I jumped up, and scared the nurse half to death, when I did. She said what's wrong, and told her, didn't you just hear, Billy Powell had pasted away. She goes' and I kid you not' who was he. Talk about getting upset, I said are you Kidding me. He was the piano player for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Has been since they formed years ago. And who is, to me the greatest piano players of all time. Just like those who have passed on from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, you really don't know just how much you are missed, and never 've forgotten. I have, and til the day my own life ends, will be the biggest die hard Skynyrd fan as long as I live. RIP.. Billy Powell, you will be missed.🎹🎹
Billy Powell. The best keyboard player ever, IMO. I bought my very own piano right after he passed away, & am self teaching myself how to play. RIP Billy. We miss you.
Billy Powell... A great man, a person who will be greatly missed by skynard fans and all the people who had a chance to know a legend... He is one of my personal role models, he inspired me to start playing the piano!
Billy Survived the horible plane crash and had bad stories about it! But he lived on and rocked on until he could not rock on no more! Billy Powell was the best! RIP my brother!
U had to go and make me cry man. I miss him. Lucky enough to see him many times live. Long live Lynryd Skynyrd and Billie Powell. Thank you, tears of joy.
I had the privilege to watch him play live three times. He was a tremendous piano player for sure. The last time was in 2006. Three Doors Down opened up for Lynyrd Skynyrd. I had won tickets off of a radio station and wish they come with backstage passes but they didn't. Long Live Lynyrd Skynyrd.
BILLY, YOU COULD PLAY THE KEYBOARDS LIKE NO ONE ELSE, YOU WERE SUCH A KIND PERSON, YOU WERE SO GRACIOUS TO ME AND MY SON WHEN WE MET YOU BACKSTAGE IN RENO NEVADA IN 2004 AT THE RENO HILTON FOR YOUR SKYNYRD SHOWS, I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE CASINO AND I SAW YOU PLAYING THE SLOTS, AND I ASKED IF YOU MIND IF I SIT DOWN NEXT TO YOU AND YOU SAID SURE, WE PLAYED SLOTS TOGETHER AND TALKED FOR AN HOUR, THAT MADE MY MY LIFE WONDERFUL, THANK YOU FOR BEING A REAL PERSON, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, COUSIN FIGEL
RIP Billy, you are def my number one piano player ever. Only free birds fly. You were always free to fly and buddy you made millions fly too. Gone but not forgotten buddy. Never! You my friend, are a Legend.
Gravitys Lie His playing in Free Bird makes me lose it every time, when Ronnie says "play it pretty for Atlanta" or wherever they were. Rest in peace Billy, we miss your gift, your smile.
I was in Fairfield HalfWay House with Billy in 1988, and he was the nicest guy in a tense situation. I think I was the only Black guy who knew who he was, because he wouldn’t play the piano that was upstairs. Glad to have met him...
I listen to this tribute to Billy many times a day! It's perfect! Many thanks! Mr. Powell, I miss you so much! you were and you are number ONE in the world ranking of all rock pianists in the world one day I will meet you in Heaven for sure! One & only Mr. Powell!
Made me tear up. I’m glad I had the pleasure to see them when they started touring again I was on the front row in Charlotte.awesome show and an awesome tribute to one of the best piano players rock and roll has ever known but more than that, he was a good guy. A decent man that loved to play music. That’s what counts. Thanks for this man.
What a story, to go from roadie to member of the band, and leave such an indelible contribution to the band's sound. Thanks Billy for all the inspiration as a keyboard player, as well as a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd!!
The Man Who Inspired me to Start my Daughter at 7 into piano lessons She took them for Several years; & still plays today; No where as good as Billy the Amazing Powell...Best Piany player in US History! Still Glad she Took up playing piano so good.
Just found this today. I watch the old concerts but about the crash, and the losses, it's just so damn hard still. Having played piano myself for 10 years, Billy got credit for being one of the best for sure. In my opinion he was pure piano & keyboard genius. Listening to the piano just SMOKING in the background where a lot of folks concentrate on the guitar, man, he was flying. Wasn't able to watch this until today, but I thank you for it dearly! They are rocking the heavens for sure!
Billy Powell, always my favorite member of the band. I mean since back when, I was a teenager in the 70s. His keyboard/piano playing has always just blown me away. Hope to get to hear you play in person on the other side.
As time goes on and music changes and real musicians disappear Billy Powell stands at the top as the greatest rock pianist of all time Jerry Lee was rock and roll. Elton and Billy Joel were top 40. Everyone else were keyboard. My fav is freebird. It's so beautiful and drive at the end. On a grand piano. Nobody did it better. Rip my hero. Rip
They best southern rock pianist to come around.....Nobody could touch Billy!!! Skyryrd's sound would never became as legendary as it did without Billy....Freebird would of never been the hit that it had....Guy started out as a roadie till he was discover to have had a hidden talent no one knew about....And history was created.....Ladies & Gentleman.......Mr. Billy Powell!!
Just wonder aloud, had Ronnie & the other of lived, just what all would they have been able to of done. They were not only an amazing band, but in my eyes they were & forever will be THE BEST. As for what they had done had it not been for that damn plane crash, guess we'll never know. Call it one of Rock N Roll's great mystery's.
A pure genius who was a huge part of a great band. He lives forever in many folks minds. I have two lads aged 13 and 17 and they love him still. He will never die. Billy lives forever!!!
Play it pretty for them Billy, the magic your fingers produced was second to none. Thank you for all music you made, as it is a part of our lives forever. Rest in Peace!
I say this guy was the best pianist in the word no doubt about it he could out play anyone in his sleep he will be missed. man call me the breeze solo was the best ive ever heard.
@ firedell6 Powell was good, but to say he was 'the best' is a stretch. There was a guy named Joe Milan who lived right here in Jacksonville who was every bit as good, if not better than Powell. He played with a band called ' Mouse the Boys and Brass It was only a matter of time and opportunity. Milan was a monster and could have easily been the Billy Powell in LS. fate chose otherwise. RIP my brother Joe.
i met what was left of the band during the tribute tour in 1991 while i was performing at the holiday inn in muscle shoals al i met artimas the drummer outside as the bus rolled in my drummer was a kid about 10 from jasper and he got off the bus and asked shawn if we were playing in the lounge and we talked to him and even went on the bus and i told them if they wanted to to come sit in and i wouldnt tell anybody who they were if they didnt want me to and the whole band watched while artimus pyle played drums billy even put some money in our tip jug they were really cool and friendly just good ole home people like me i still have their business card about worn out from telling about them i also got to have jojo the female backup singer perform with me at the elks club in jasper al quite a few years ago on new years eve she and her husband had a christian thing in cullman al she has since passed on too they were all just regular people god bless all david Uptain jasper al
I always thought of Billy Powell as rock's best flat out pianist. You have others like Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman that are in a class of their own, then you have Billy Powell. Others like Max Middleton are also inspiring but Powell was flat out rock and his licks and solos really complimented Skynyrd's style.
Billy, we all love you and miss you. I had an opporunity to me him and the band before a show in Milwaukee, WI. Thank God. He was the best. Prayers go out to his family and friends. God Bless.
A brief candle,both ends burning An endless mile,bus wheel turning A freind to share lonsome times A handshake and sip of wine So say it loud and let it ring That were all part of everything The present,future,and past Fly on proud bird,your free at last -Charlie Daniels R.I.P. Billy Powell
Working as a roadie doing hard labor. Waiting at the back of a show venue to load the truck because of rain. Billy saw a piano near the loading dock. And said this is how I would play Free Bird. Not anyone knew Billy was a musician and they teased him. He sat down at the piano. did some warm up exercises. And then made everybody's jaw drop. That little stunt got him fired on the spot. And hired as a band member.
Skynyrd has always been a very lyrically and musically gifted rock band. Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant have both written great song's for the band. The list of great guitarist that has passed through the band is like reading a who's who of guitar players. As well as the other musicians. But I've always felt that Billy Powell's piano on top of all of that crunching guitar is what made Skynyrd sound so unique. It rounded the sound up and took it on home where it needed to be. IMO.
And think of this: You do not hear of any bad-willed stories of the man either. Rock on forever, Billy! He has definitely influence me in piano as Skynyrd has with all other instruments and music in general. Sounds like you should call him something a little more than a “professional” or “talented:” The man was blessed and knew how to feel music. What a beast.
This is great thank you for this. I truly believe that Mr Powells playing was the foundation their sound stood on. Not taking from others, BP had a way of stepping up & stepping back. Talented enough to take over but never did I guess?
