Another Freebird Falls

I heard on the way home last night, that Billy Powell, keyboardist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away.

Powell's story was an interesting one. He had been classically trained as a pianist. In high school, he befriended Leon Wilkeson, future bassist for Skynyrd. Ultimately, he began working for the band as a roadie, setting up and taking down equipment, etc. No one in the band really knew that he even played an instrument, let alone that he was good.

One night in 1972 after the band had played at a prom (can you see Skynyrd playing a prom???) Billy had a few minutes and he sat down at a piano, and began playing "Freebird." Ronnie Van Zant was blown away. "Man, you mean you've been working with us for two years, and you can play like that??? We've been wanting to add a keyboardist. You're in the band."

The rest is history. Other members of the band have joked about Billy's playing. The problem is in holding him back. He does not know when to not play. he plays constantly, throughout the song. Although classically trained, Billy's work with Skynyrd produced more of a 'honky tonk' piano style.

This band (a favorite of my youth, and one that still holds a special place in my heart and mind) has had perhaps the most tragic history of any band. Everyone, of course, knows about the plane crash of October 20, 1977. That crash killed the heart and soul of Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant, as well as the most recent addition - Steve Gaines, who had replaced Ed King as third guitarist.

In subsequent years, guitarist Allen Collins was seriously injured (and his girlfriend killed) in an alcohol related auto accident. Collins was left permanently crippled.

In 1987, the band reunited and embarked on a reunion tour. On October 20, the ten year anniversary of the plane crash, they played the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. Your's truly was present, about 15 rows back from the stage. It was a great show. Included were Gary Rossington, Powell, Leon Wilkeson, and Ed King (original 3rd Guitarist). I'm thinking Artimus Pyle may have manned the drums that night, but I am not sure. Of course Johnny replaced his brother Ronnie on vocals. A touching moment was when Allen Collins came onto the stage in his wheelchair and praised the band, and encouraged everyone to not drink and drive.

The show was great and the band has been playing with varying lineups ever since. However, most of what they have done is insignificant tripe compared to the old days.

Since that night, however, Allen Collins subsequently passed away (I think around 1990) from further complications going back to his accident. A falling out occured amongst many of the old members. Ed King was kicked out (he claims that as a Californian, he was never accepted by the other members, even in the old days - even though he is responsible for the licks on Sweet Home Alabama, their biggest hit) Artimus Pyle has had major legal battles and is no longer welcome ni the band. Many of the old timers speak ill of Rossington.

In 2001, Leon Wilkeson died of liver problems, likely related to years of not living right.

Now, Powell dies at 56. He had a history of heart problems, and was significantly overweight in later years. I am sure that he had had substance abuse issues in his life too, but I have no idea if that was a demon he had conquered or if he still dealt with it.

During the original years of Skynyrd fame (1973-1977) the band had 6 or 7 members at any one time on any one album. With some rotation, this included a total of nine people. Of these, at least five are now dead (unless there are others I am unaware of.) Of these, Powell lived the longest, and that only to 56. The only ones still living are original drummer Bob Burns, replacement drummer Pyle, Original 3rd guitarist (and sometimes bassman) Ed King, and Gary Rossington. Of the current Skynyrd recording/touring group, only Rossington is present. King has had major heart problems. Pyle has had major legal problems. I don't know much about what has happened to Burns.

I got into Skynyrd after the plane crash - probably first latching on to their music around 1980. During my high school years, all of music could be divided into two categories. There was Lynyrd Skynyrd, then there was everything else. I've grown a great deal since then, thankfully. But the original Skynyrd will always have a place in my heart. Powell was an incredible talent, and, from what I could tell seemed to be a nice, soft spoken gentleman. He will be missed and remembered fondly.

Incidently, the childhood friend/neighbor I grew up with - his birthday was October 20, the day the plane went down. Now Powell dies on January 28 - my son's 19th birthday. Weird.

Who Needs Radio?

Some time back, I read an ad for a web site called www.slacker.com. It seems you can go there, tell it artists you like, and listen to them all the time. What a concept!

I have been using this for awhile now. My computer speakers are not exactly hi-end, but they sound good enough. I have multiple Slacker stations - including one country, one soft rock, one classic rock, one r&b, one with a bit of everything, and several others. And, it is all free.! Of course there are upgrades you can buy, but even at the free level, it is great. This gives me enough exposure to the music I like, that I do not have to buy anything else!

It has also allowed me to find out there is music out there that I like and others that I don't that I would not have been able to know about before. I have found out that I like Gov't Mule, The Derek Trucks Band, Ray Wiley Hubbard, and others. I don't much care for Warren Zevon (I figure actually being able to sing would be a plus!)

I wish I could have a little bit more control. I wish I could list Chicago and only get stuff from the sixties and seventies, and leave all that eighties garbagio alone. I have listed Fleetwood Mac, and as you might expect, I get a great deal more of the Buckingham/Nicks era Mac than I do the Peter Green (which I love) or Bob Welch eras. On the plus side, when I put in Skynyrd, I get mostly the old original and not the current stuff. Another plus is that with the Allman's I get mostly pre 1975 and post 1990, and not much of the stuff in between. So, all in all it is a mixed bag but did I mention it is free? I guess if I got off the wallet I might be able to control it a little more, but for free it is great!

RIP Snowman

A small, ok maybe very small, part of my childhood/teen years has now passed. On 9/1Jerry Reed passed away at 71. He was part of my life for various reasons.

I remember seeing him as a kid on television alot, and remember some of his big hits from the early 1970s. These were mostly 'novelty' type songs such as "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," and so forth.

I specifically remember my mother, who was a smoker, buying his record "Another Puff," - an excessively silly rant about his trying to quit smoking.

As the 70s wore on, Reed became something of a movie actor, most notably on the "Smokey and the Bandit" Series with Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason. EVERYONE of my age group saw that movie. It is one of those that a lot of people can quote from line for line. And of course, the theme song "East Bound and Down" was a big hit for Reed.

As the eighties rolled in, he continued to have a few hits, including the No. 1 hit novelty song "She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft."

Another memory of mine is on weekend mornings watching outdoor shows - notably Bill Dance. That theme song from Bill Dance, "Today is Mine" - that was Reed.

Finally, in the early 1990s, Mrs. Philosopher and I took a trip to the Dallas - Ft. Worth area to visit some friends. We went to Billy Bob's one night to see the ol' Snowman in concert. We were all fairly sure that he was about the drunkest guy in Billy Bob's that night. He came on stage holding a bottle of beer. As the crowd cheered, he walked up to the mic and, looking at his bottle mumbled "What...in....the....hayull....is....."Lone....Star....Beer?"

He spent about ten minutes or more rambling before he started playing music. When he did play, he was actually pretty good, but he talked waaaaayyyy too much. We have all kidded since then that the Jerry Reed Concert was the best we've ever been to.

However, in all this what is lost, in fact unknown to many people, is that Jerry Reed was a phenominal talent. He was one of the most incredible guitarists to ever grace the stage. He was something of a protege of Chet Atkins. In my opinion, as a guitarist, Chet Atkins wouldn't hold a candle to him. Amidst all the B grade acting, all the silly, senseless hit songs, lied a man of rare, all too rare, musical ability.

Jerry wrote and recorded "Guitar Man" - which became a huge hit for Elvis. He also wrote tons of songs that Chet Atkins himself actually recorded. Go to Youtube, do a search. Look for "The Claw", "Jerry's Breakdown" or others.

I have saved you the trouble and placed a few representative cuts here. Some of the sillies, along with some of the unbelievable playing. Their not labeled, so you just click and see what you get.

I last heard Reed on the Rick and Bubba Show about a year or so ago. His previously wild, fast talking was now slow and deliberate. He sadly told how he could not longer play the guitar due to arthritis. He talked about how he worked with some sort of group recognizing and honoring our war veterens. He hilariously spoke about "Smokey", Burt Reynolds, Jackie gleason, etc. Overall, though, he seemed contented, blessed, fairly serious, and reverent. It was good to hear.



RIP Snowman!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOGiW-y-Vhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ1Ggt5f28o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN8dP4CoFaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04RJyFCg7ks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcoeGjrL-r8