Ronnie Van Zant

Ronnie Van Zant
Van Zant in 1975
Background information
Birth name	Ronald Wayne Van Zant
Born	(1948-01-15)January 15, 1948 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Died	October 20, 1977(1977-10-20) (aged 29) Gillsburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres	Southern rock blues rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1964–1977
Formerly of	Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ronald Wayne Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American singer. He is known for helping make the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and also singing for it. He is the older brother of Johnny Van Zant and Donnie Van Zant, two other musicians.

On October 20, 1977, Van Zant died in a plane crash. A plane was taking the band from South Carolina to Louisiana, but it ran out of fuel. He died when the plane hit the ground because of head injuries. He was 29 years old. People spent money to make the Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park in Lake Asbury, Florida for him after he died.

Albums

Van Zant sang on six albums when he was in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

• (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)
• Second Helping (1974)
• Nuthin' Fancy (1975)
• Gimme Back My Bullets (1976)
• One More from the Road (1976)
• Street Survivors (1977)

References

1. ↑ Charlotte Dillon. "Ronnie Van Zant | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
2. ↑ "The Lynyrd Skynyrd Crash". Check Six. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
3. ↑ US National Transportation Safety Board (June 19, 1978). "Aircraft Accident Report – L & J Company, Convair 240, N55VM, Gillsburg, Mississippi, October 20, 1977" (PDF). National Technical Information Service. pp. 27 pages. Retrieved 2009-03-22.