Billy Powell

Born: 1952-06-03

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Powell grew up in a military family (his father was in the U.S. Navy) and spent several years of his childhood living in Italy where his father was stationed. After his father died of cancer in 1960, he moved with his family back to the United States and settled in Jacksonville, Florida. He met his lifelong friend, Leon Wilkeson in elementary school. Billy's interest in piano began to grow and he began taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Madalyn Brown. She swore he did not need her, claiming that Billy was a natural and picked things up well on his own. When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother, Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, FL. Billy returned to Jacksonville where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School. When he graduated in 1970, he enrolled briefly in a community college, majoring in Music Theory. Around this time he found work as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Billy remained a member of the Skynyrd crew for two years (which included, amongst the grittier shows, highlights such as Skynyrd landing a support slot for Leslie West's "Mountain") In his second year with them, 1972, Skynyrd played one particular gig, a show at the Bolles school prom. After his usual routine working with Kevin Elson, Billy had time to rest for a short while. In the corner he spotted a piano, so Billy went over and sat down with it. Just fooling around, Billy launches into his piano based version of Freebird for the boys in the band to listen to. Ronnie, astonished at his roadies hitherto secret ability said 'You mean to tell me, you've been playing the piano like that and you've been workin' for us for a year....'. Billy replied, "Well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life.' He was then told Skynyrd were looking for a keyboard man, and Billy was in! In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd was signed to MCA Records and received national exposure with the release of their first album,(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd). The band's popularity soared in 1974 with their follow-up album, Second Helping, which featured their highest-charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama". The band enjoyed great popularity over the next three years, culminating in the 1977 release of Street Survivors, which many considered to be their strongest effort to date. However, three days after the release of Street Survivors, Skynyrd's chartered plane crashed into a forest near McComb, Mississippi. The crash took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalistCassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. The remainder of the band suffered injuries ranging from mild to severe. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost completely losing his nose but was otherwise relatively uninjured. He was the first to be released from the hospital, and the only member able to attend the funerals of his fallen band-mates. Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. Guitarist Gary Rossington is the only member from the classic lineup who continues to record and perform with the band today .On January 28, 2009, the keyboardist died from an apparent heart attack at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida.


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If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd

as Himself
Released: 2018-03-13

The story of Lynyrd Skynyrd; The Greatest American Rock Band Ever. We fly beyond Free Bird to...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Vicious Cycle Tour

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Released: 2003-07-11

The Vicious Cycle Tour was a live tour celebrating Lynyrd Skynyrd's 30 years of being a group....

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird, The Movie & Tribute Tour

as Himself
Released: 1996-01-01

See classic live performances, interviews and vintage footage of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tribute Tour

as Piano
Released: 1987-10-01

The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour was a tour that was undertaken to pay tribute to the original...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth '76

as Self
Released: 2021-04-09

On August 21st, 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd took the stage at Knebworth Park in England as part of a...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lyve from Steel Town

as Piano
Released: 1999-09-27

Recorded and filmed on July 15, 1997, at Star Lake Coca-Cola Amphitheatre, Burgettstown, PA...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Winterland 1976

as himself
Released: 1976-03-04

Lynyrd Skynyrd took to the stage at Winterland Arena in San Francisco, CA on March 7th, 1976,...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in Atlantic City

as Self
Released: 2006-06-23

Newly mixed and mastered, Live in Atlantic City celebrates the legend that is Lynyrd Skynyrd in...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live from Freedom Hall

as Keyboards
Released: 2008-01-01

One of the last concerts to be recorded with longtime members Billy Powell and Ean Evans, both...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Old Grey Whistle Test

as Himself
Released: 1975-01-01

Bob Harris presents a concert by the southern rockers, recorded in Shepherd's Bush, London for...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Rockpalast

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Released: 1996-01-01

A concert shot for the Rockpalast show on the Loreley Festival on June 23, 1996. As a special...

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Behind the Music

as Self
First aired: 1997-08-17

An intimate look into the personal lives of pop music's greatest and most influential artists.

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CMT Crossroads

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First aired: 2002-01-13

Country music stars collaborate with performers from other musical genres and exchange stories...

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