Many Southern Rock musicians were in attendance, including his Skynyrd and Vision bandmates, their families, Hank Williams Jr. The music he had recorded with Vision was played exclusively at a private memorial service, and Kid Rock sang a tribute. His passing inspired countless tributes, in and out of the Southern rock community and extending across the country-music world, where he had many friends and admirers. It was during a break from Skynyrd's touring schedule that Powell suffered a fatal heart attack. On January 28, 2009, Powell died at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida. At the time of his death, he and guitarist Gary Rossington were the only members from the classic lineup who were active in the band. Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. Powell also worked with 38 Special during this time. During the concerts, Powell spoke about his newfound Christianity messages that were also delivered via two bonus tracks included on the album Mountain in The Sky. His keyboard performances were spotlighted in Vision concerts. With Vision he recorded three albums ( Mountain in The Sky, Vision, and Streetfighter), and toured extensively. He was the first to be released from the hospital, and the only member able to attend the funerals of his fallen bandmates.ĭuring the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell joined the Christian rock band Vision in 1984. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost losing his nose, but was otherwise relatively uninjured.
The remainder of the band suffered mild to severe injuries. The crash took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. Three days after the release of Street Survivors, Skynyrd's chartered Convair CV-240 crashed into a forest near McComb, Mississippi. The band enjoyed increasing popularity over the next three years, culminating in the 1977 release of Street Survivors. The band's popularity soared in 1974 with their follow-up album, Second Helping, which featured their highest-charting single, " Sweet Home Alabama". In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd was signed to MCA Records and received national exposure following the release of their first album, (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd). When the band realized their roadie's ability, he was offered the position of keyboardist. During a break at that event, Powell sat down at a piano and played a song. In 1972, Skynyrd played a show at the Bolles School prom.
After graduation in 1970, he enrolled at and briefly attended a community college, majoring in music theory.Īround 1970, Powell found work as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd and remained a member of the crew for two years, during which the band secured a support role for the band Mountain.
Powell returned to Jacksonville, where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School. When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, Florida. Powell took an interest in piano and he began taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Madalyn Brown, who claimed that Billy did not need a teacher as he was a natural and picked things up well on his own. In elementary school, Powell met Leon Wilkeson, who became a lifelong friend and the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. After his father died of cancer in 1960, the Powells returned to the United States to settle in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in a military family and spent several of his childhood years in Italy, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Powell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas.
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