13 Facts About Billy Powell

William Norris Powell was an American musician and the keyboardist of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009.

Billy Powell grew up in a military family and spent several of his childhood years in Italy, where his father was stationed with the US Navy.

In elementary school, Billy Powell met Leon Wilkeson, who became a lifelong friend and the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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.

Billy Powell returned to Jacksonville, where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School.

Around 1970, Billy 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.

Billy Powell played a prominent piano solo toward the end of the song.

Billy Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost losing his nose, but was otherwise relatively uninjured.

Billy Powell was the first to be released from the hospital, and the only member able to attend the funerals of his fallen bandmates.

Billy Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death.

On January 28,2009, Billy Powell died at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida.

Billy Powell's death 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.

Billy Powell was survived by his wife Ellen, sons Brandon and Joel, daughters Layla, Ashley, and Maggie, brother Rick, and sister Donna.