21 Facts About Gary Rossington

Gary Robert Rossington was an American musician best known as a founding guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, with whom he performed until his death.

Gary Rossington was the last surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the only original member left in the band at the time of his death.

Gary Rossington's mother recalled that he had a strong childhood interest in baseball and aspired as a child to one day play for the New York Yankees.

Gary Rossington recalled that he was a "good ball player" but upon hearing the Rolling Stones in his early teens he became interested in music and ultimately gave up on his baseball aspirations.

Gary Rossington became acquainted with Ronnie Van Zant and Bob Burns while playing on rival Jacksonville baseball teams and the trio decided to jam together one afternoon after Burns was injured by a ball hit by Van Zant.

Gary Rossington grew up in a single-parent household and said that early in their relationship, Van Zant became something of a father figure to him.

Gary Rossington credited Van Zant, who was three years his senior, with teaching him and his bandmates how to drive a car, as well as introducing them to "all that stuff you learn when you're 14,15,16".

Gary Rossington's instrument of choice was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul which he had purchased from a woman whose boyfriend had left her and left behind his guitar.

Gary Rossington named it "Berniece" in honor of his mother, whom he was extremely close to after the death of his father.

Gary Rossington played lead guitar on "Tuesday's Gone" and the slide guitar for "Free Bird".

Gary Rossington had just bought a new Ford Torino and hit an oak tree while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.

The band was forced to postpone a tour scheduled to begin a few days later, and Gary Rossington was fined US$5,000 for the delay his actions caused to the band's schedule.

Gary Rossington was one of 20 passengers who survived the October 20,1977, plane crash near McComb, Mississippi, that claimed the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others.

The sound got louder and louder until Gary Rossington was knocked unconscious; he awoke some time later on the ground with the plane's door on top of him.

Days later, Gary Rossington was informed in the hospital by his mother that Van Zant and the others had been killed.

Gary Rossington recovered from his injuries and played on stage again, with steel rods in his right arm and right leg.

Until his death in 2023, Gary Rossington still played with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Gary Rossington became the only member of the US rock band to appear on all of its albums.

Gary Rossington married singer Dale Krantz in 1982 and they had two daughters.

Gary Rossington suffered a heart attack on October 8,2015, after which two Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts had to be canceled.

Gary Rossington died at his home in Milton, Georgia, on March 5,2023, at age 71.