Gary Robert Rossington was an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd known for its single Sweet Home Alabama and was also the lead guitar player. Growing up Rossington wanted to be a baseball player, instead he was inspired by the Rolling Stones to pursue a career in music. During the summer of 1964 Rossington met and became acquainted with Ronnie Van Zant and Bob Burns whilst playing baseball on rival Jacksonville baseball teams. Th... moreGary Robert Rossington was an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd known for its single Sweet Home Alabama and was also the lead guitar player. Growing up Rossington wanted to be a baseball player, instead he was inspired by the Rolling Stones to pursue a career in music. During the summer of 1964 Rossington met and became acquainted with Ronnie Van Zant and Bob Burns whilst playing baseball on rival Jacksonville baseball teams. They went on to play music together and forming the band The Noble Five, which was later renamed Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was one of 20 passengers who survived the October 20, 1977, plane crash that took the lives of fellow band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others. He later formed the Rossington Collins Band with his fellow Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins, but they split in 1982 after Collins’ wife died. In 1987 he rebuilt Lynyrd Skynyrd with Ronnie’s brother Johnny Van Zant on lead vocals. The band went on making albums and touring for the next three decades and had a 22-city tour with ZZ Top in July 2023. Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
