This the best comment I have seen of Billy Powell : "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 the 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!"
Rest in Peace Brother... every day a little more of my youth slips away but I think I grew up in the greatest time ever to be alive... We defiantly had the best music..
I agree bro! I had the added bonus of growing up in Florida right around the corner from the Van Zant’s. So it’s almost like it’s in my blood to listen to Florida rock and roll. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to Molly Hatchet to Stranger band I’ve lived to listen to the best of the best. Even Jim Morrison was born here. I still love British rock too!
I remember when Billy Powell passed, Such a terrible loss, Whenever "Call me the breeze" is playing I can't wait for the part where Powell just tears those keys up, Damn he could play.
I’m always amazed especially in this song by as guitar based group as Skynyrd that Billy managed to outshine them all. Just another member of a little old southern band that outshines them all.
I was working as a stagehand at a gig at the Oil Palace in Tyler Texas with Skynyrd and Bad Company. I got lucky that day/night,as the load in was completed, there was time to help out wherever help was needed. I got to help Bad Company’s drum tech set up,wipe down the symbols and hear many stories. Back in those days I was young and fit,and was asked to stand on the stage as a “bouncer” for both bands. This was my hometown,and I felt pretty good to be able to do that. BADASS!!! But the best part was during the lull in the action,before the show,I was asked by Skynyrd’s road manager to go knock on the Skynyrds bus and ask them if they needed any ice for the coolers. I did,and the door was answered by Billy Powell… No big deal to some,but to me,it was BADASS. He was very nice and polite,and I just gave him ice and that was enough for me.But the other best part was being on stage,feeling the energy 1st hand. No issues on stage,just a couple girls running up on the stage a couple times…priceless
I met Billy a couple times and spent some time with him when I lived in Jax he used to play piano for my neighbor who was a singer. Great guy very down to earth and never acted like he was above anyone. I also met Artimus Pyle a couple times when I was bartending on Jax beach nice dude as well
Billy. When I saw Skynyrd in Asbury Park in ‘77 it was him and that piano that I recall as much as the guitars and Ronnie’s voice. He had that place in palm of his hand. Just fantastic.
He was so young. Guess I think he should have made it to 100. Hey Billy, tell Ronnie hi from Daphne. One day all Skynyrd fans will meet up in Heaven and will rock out together. Thank you Billy for all you did for everyone.
One of the things I LOVED about Billy Powell was that he never copped to the digital age. At a time when everyone else was jumping on their Moogs, Billy stayed true to his baby grand. Not a purer sound on the planet for Rock's most talented pianist.
Such a loss so young if he could have been treated sooner he might still be with us today as the late bob burns said " the best piano player ever period". Always wondered where his wife was that he was stricken alone?
Billy was the best piano player in the best band. I think Skynyrd is the mst popular band of rock fans based on talking to fans. We should pray for and thank the Powell and Skynyrd families for their great contributions. They have suffered so much, it's such a shame. Knowing the family you gotta believe they'll carry on well. I think Skynyrd are great people. I met Ed King and he was as real a guy as you ever will met. Thank you very much for your contributions to American culture.
RIP BILLIE POWELL You were one of kind and one hell of a piano man. Your music will live forever. You just made that giant jam session up in heaven so much better.
He will never be forgotten. His truth about the past, with Ronnie and all the rest of the '70s melee of rock and roll will always be admired. Did I misspell the word mele'. Or whatever crazy shit that was preordained when you all signed for that old MCA!! All the best Skynyrd Nation. I will always hold the Line. Permanently...
I love how despite the great loss of Powell, Johnny and Rickey still manage to look on the bright side of things. Still can't wait to see them here in the UK in a few months though.
Such a tragic loss to a great band that has already endured so many hardships. I've always felt that Billy's piano is what made Skynyrd sound so much more unique than other bands of the day. They've always had great guitarist, lead singers, and musicians in general, but Billy's piano really rounded it all up and sent the music where it needed to go. IMO.
@ Robert Forrest If you saw them in '76 you did not see the original lineup. Did you see Bob Burns ' Did you see Larry Junstrom ? No ? Didn't think so.
Billy, thank you for the music and keeping the torch lit for so long. You were a great man and amazing musician. This is the part of living that sucks, saying goodbye to our heroes. RIP, my friend.
You up there in Rock and Roll Heaven with Ronnie and the rest of them bro, you're up there rocking and rolling, God bless you and your Soul, we all will miss you brother.
Sorry to hear about Billy Powell and may my thoughts and prayers goes out to Lynyrd Skynyrd band group just hang in there friend's. May god bless you all 😊
We say Half-Ass. Well done on saying Half Hazzardly. Saw Billy Powell many times and maybe once he missed a note. And that was by choice! So good he can play it wrong and make it right. All of'em from that Outfit. Just special. God Bless every member of Lynard Skynard!
I remember where I was when I heard the news. ..I cried. .I really cried. .you are my hero, Billy. I know you are ticklin those ivories in heaven. ..I have come to the conclusion that the month of January officially sucks. ..
Billy Powell was one of the all time greats! I was fortunate enough to see the band back in their prime several times and those are musical memories I will never forget! RIP Billy...gone but never forgotten
My father was Billy’s financial advisor for a couple of years before he(my dad) retired, around 2001- 2002... Everyone in Jacksonville has a Skynyrd connection, right? ;)
this sounds way too upbeat. Billy is a truly sad loss that will live on in my memory forever. R.I.P. The Lynyrd Skynyrd band! You will be a part of my life until the day I pass on
no matter who we are, we all grow old and die. but this bands music will live on forever,or as long as the good Lord allows people to have ears. this is one of the most heart felt bands in history. even if you get burnt out on it, after some time passes, you will be right back listening in amazement again. I may have got a little burnt out on the hits,but their albums have so much better to offer anyway. when Ronnie was alive,I don't feel like they ever made a bad song...and Johny is no slouch
Totally agree there is the jam session of all time happening in heaven right now. im just gutted that ive got tickets for Sknyrd in may at the Apollo in Manchester and im not going to see Billy. But i hope they still play Sknyrd are my all time favourite band and Billys contribution to that sound will live on forever. So im raising a glass of the old JD to Billy and to guys like your good self who know where music is at and why music matters. R.I.P Billy, Your'e Free as a Bird, God Bless.CHEERS!
brothers are 4 ever !! family is 4 ever !! hard to let go of past but keep the music going !!! Johnnie is a wonderful person !! I've met him !! Be kind !! XOXOXO
We salute the orignal Lynyrd Skynyrd band members: Ronnie Van Zant, lead vocals & primary songwriter Allen Collins, guitar Gary Rossington, guitar Bob Burns, drums Larry Junstrom, bass Leon Wilkeson, bass Ed King, guitar Steve Gaines, guitar Billy Powell, keyboard Artimus Pyle, drums Cassie Gaines, JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins, background vocals
Meeks. I've been a die hard fan of lynyrd skynyrd since 5.ime.53.and still listen to there music. Every day tears come to my eyes wen I See ronie sing on utube. I feel like I no him. Poor guys. Steve Cathy and Ronnie. Did not deserve to be taken fucken sucks they were so excited to be rock star S .i don't even listen to iny of Ronnie S brothers. Music. Ronnie. Set the dam table for those guys that S the truth. There's one more guy who is left in the band and soon they will be all together again thank you so much Ronnie for ur strength and courage to do wat u did in 8.years that no one can ever do in a lifetime we love you they best ever seen or heard over iny other band in the world lynyrd skynyrd...................
So sad, just 1 more member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that was highly underrated. I don't get it but read an article abt original Skynyrd & the guy feels like fact they came from poor neighborhood in the south & their antics on the road is what kept them from the accolades they deserved. I was really happy that Billy was around for the Rock n Roll HOF induction, which is a joke that a band as talented as them had to wait 30 yrs to het there. Leon & Allen both dies before they got that recognition they deserved, & not to not add Honkettes as well is a travesty. RIP Billy, I know you are up there playin for the angels
Billy P, was the spark that turned Skynyrd from being just another Southern Rock band, his piano licks are never to be forgotten, what he brought to Skynyrd is immeasurable, afriend said without Billy, Skynyrd would have walked with a hell of a limp
he was a good soul. he saw one of my best friends had talent, but couldnt read music but played ragtime like a pro and taught him for free. a year later he had him gigs in new york city as a session player. gary ross was his name and we both honor you and miss ya billy.
tommy marsha that's true, they had a different bassist before Leon, then ed king played bass and got moved to guitar. Bob burns was the original drummer, and then Steve replaced ed.
That's true Larry Junstrom was original bassist with the band when they were the One Percent. LS since Oct. 20th 1977 has NEVER been RVZ's Lynyrd Skynyrd. I still listen to and will always love them. The sad news about Bob Burns joining RVZ, Steve. Leon, Allen, Billy, was again heartbreaking. He was so spiritually happy with his wife and family. Gary, Artimus and Ed are the only ones left of Lynyrd Skynyrd. And of course to never forget Cassie or JoJo and their good friend Dean Kilpatrick.
Yeah, 'honesty'was not one of Powell's strong suits. He spoke of Coach Skinner saying " He hated our guts and 'we' hated his. In fact Powell didn't even attend the same high school as Ronnie and Gary.. Powell went to Bishop Kenny. He never had a relationship with Coach Skinner ( in school ).... and the way he lied about Cassie Gaibes death, saying ' she bled to death in my arms " A straight out lie. Yes, he was a Yes, he was a good pianist, but there were many in Jax who could blow him away, Joe Millan being one of the best... RIP Joe
That's like George Harrison's brother getting together with Ringo and two other guys and calling themselves the Beatles. Gary Rossington said in an interview in 1987 "I started Skynyrd with Ronnie and Allen and there ain't really a Skynyrd without them. It just wouldn't feel right to me." I guess he's forgotten that. It's interesting how money can change your outlook. I saw the real band, with Ronnie twice in 1976 and I can't believe these guys today would think they're the same.
Yes. Artimus was the drummer filling in for Bob Burns sporadically in 1974 and permanently from 1975 until the plane crash in 1977. He also returned with the reformed band from 1987 thru 1991.
