Van Zant News

November 28, 2005

It was announced today, the seminal Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2006. The band was nominated seven times before being voted in this year.  Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead singer is Johnny Van Zant who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. His oldest brother, Ronnie Van Zant was the legendary singer and songwriter who was the band's original vocalist when the band was formed in the 1970s. As the band's popularity was soaring, tragedy struck when the plane in which the band was traveling ran out of fuel and crashed in October 1977.  Ronnie Van Zant, several of his band mates, as well as the pilot and copilot of the plane were killed. The other members of the band were seriously injured but survived. 

Ten years after the crash, surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed with Johnny on vocals. Best known for "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama", the band has had a profound influence on other musical groups. And as remarkable as it to have two extremely talented and successful brothers in one family, Ronnie and Johnny's brother, Donnie Van Zant is the lead singer, songwriter, and founding member of .38 Special.

A few years ago, Donnie and Johnny teamed up to put out a CD entitled "Brother to Brother" under the group named most appropriately Van Zant. What started out to be a one-time collaboration has blossomed into a few more recordings and tours which have to be strategically scheduled in between their ongoing commitments to .38 Special and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

A lengthy article about the extremely talented Florida branch of the Van Zant family is planned for publication in The Van Zandt Record in 2006.