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The Daily Insight

Who was Gary Rossington? Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist dies at 71

Author

Henry Morales

Published Jan 12, 2026

Guitarist Gary Rossington died at 71 years old
Rossington was the final individual from US musical crew Lynyrd Skynyrd
No reason for death has been uncovered

Gary Rossington, the last enduring establishing individual from the American music bunch Lynyrd Skynyrd, died at 71 years old.

He co-composed the 1974 hit tune Sweet Home Alabama.

“It is with our most profound compassion and misery that we need to prompt, that we lost our brother, companion, relative, musician and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today. Gary is presently with his Skynyrd brothers and family in paradise and playing it pretty, similar to he generally does,” the band’s Facebook account expressed. Rossington had been performing up until February in spite of having heart issues lately.

Who was Gary Rossington? Born on December 4, 1951 Gary Robert Rossington was an American performer and lyricist. He was the last unique individual from the Southern musical gang Lynyrd Skynyrd, where he played lead and mood guitar. Also, Rossington and his old bandmate Allen Collins were among the establishing individuals from the Rossington Collins Band.

Rossington was born in the city of Jacksonville, Florida. His mom recollected that he fostered a strong fascination with baseball as a youth and held onto fantasies about joining the New York Yankees. Rossington recalled that he was a “great competitor,” however that his advantage in baseball was ultimately deserted in the wake of hearing the Drifters in his initial youngsters.

Rossington’s enthusiasm for baseball was a consider the band Lynyrd Skynyrd being made in the late spring of 1964. He met Sway Consumes, Ronnie Van Zant, and different players while seeking rival ball clubs in Jacksonville, and the gathering consented to get together one evening after Consumes was wounded by a ball hit by Van Zant. The Drifters’ “Things are looking up for me” was played as they set up for business in the carport of Consumes’ folks’ home. When they heard it, they decided they enjoyed it and would begin a band.

Gary Rossington, guitarist and last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died at age 71.
He played on all 14 Skynyrd studio albums and co-wrote some of their biggest songs, including “Simple Man,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Back My Bullets” and “What’s Your Name.”

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) March 6, 2023

The band initially went by the name The Respectable Five (with guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Larry Junstrom), yet in this manner changed its name to The One Percent prior to choosing Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969.

The October 20, 1977 plane mishap close to McComb, Mississippi, that killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others left 20 survivors, including Rossington. Rossington heard what seemed like many polished ash raising a ruckus around town’s fuselage as it began hitting trees as the travelers arranged for influence.

Rossington was struck out by the commotion, which became increasingly loud until he blacked out. He later came to while lying on the ground with the plane’s entryway on top of him. A couple of days after the fact, Rossington’s mom let him know in the hospital that Van Zant and the others had died.

Yet again rossington performed in front of an audience in the wake of breaking his pelvis, the two arms, the two legs, the two wrists, and the two lower legs.

Rossington wedded Dale Krantz-Rossington in 1982 and they have two little girls.

Rossington experienced a respiratory failure on October 8, 2015, requiring the undoing of two Lynyrd Skynyrd shows.