Lynyrd Skynyrd is a pioneer of the Southern Rock genre. Formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964, the band performed for a decade before releasing its debut studio album "(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)" in 1974. It included the songs "Free Bird," "Simple Man," "Gimme Three Steps," and "Tuesday's Gone." Later that year, the band released its second album, "Second Helping," which featured the single "Sweet Home Alabama," written in response to Neil Young's "Southern Man." On October 20, 1977, the band's plane crashed en route to Baton Rouge from Greenville, South Carolina. Three members died including founder and frontman Ronne Van Zant. The band subsequently broke up but reunited in 1987 with Ronnie's younger brother Johnny taking over as lead singer and songwriter. Gary Rossington, the band's last surviving founding member, died on March 5, 2023.