Ronnie Van Zant was born on January 15, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the oldest son of six children (3 sisters and 2 brothers - musicians Donnie and Johnny). Ronnie attended Lee High School in Jacksonville with fellow band members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. At the height of their fame, on October 20, 1977, their chartered plane crashed. Ronnie was killed along with band members Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie. His signature songs are "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama".
Significant Facts about Lynyrd Skynyrd:
* Group disbanded for ten years after three band members were killed in a 1977 plane crash
* Band's name came from a gym teacher who once told Rossington and Burns they were "never gonna amount to nothin'."
* Original band recorded five studio albums; the present version of the group, seven
