Gary Rossington

Gary Rossington

1951-12-04

Biography

Rossington formed the band "The Noble Five" as a teenager with friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns in the summer of 1964. They would later change the name of the band to "The One Percent" before becoming Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skynyrd gained national exposure starting in 1973 with the release of their first album (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) and hit single "Free Bird". Rossington's instrument of choice was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul that he purchased from a woman whose boyfriend had left her and left behind his guitar. He named it "Berneice" in honor of his mother whom he was close to. Rossington has played lead guitar on "Tuesday's Gone" and the slide guitar for "Free Bird". Along with Collins, Rossington also provided the guitar work for "Simple Man". Rossington co-founded The Rossington-Collins Band with Collins in 1980. The band released two albums, but disbanded in 1982 after the death of Collins' wife, Kathy. Rossington still plays in the current Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. With the death of keyboardist, Billy Powell, on January 28, 2009, Rossington is now the only original band member left in the reformed band.

Also appears in

If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd

If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd

7.8

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird, The Movie & Tribute Tour

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird, The Movie & Tribute Tour

7.4

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth ’76

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth ’76

8.5

Gone with the Wind: The Remarkable Rise and Tragic Fall of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gone with the Wind: The Remarkable Rise and Tragic Fall of Lynyrd Skynyrd

10.0

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tribute Tour

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tribute Tour

8.0

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lyve from Steel Town

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lyve from Steel Town

3.8

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in Atlantic City

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in Atlantic City

8.0

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Soundstage

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Soundstage

Not yet rated

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Hellfest 2019

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Hellfest 2019

Not yet rated

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Austin City Limits

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Austin City Limits

Not yet rated