Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977. From left to right: Leon Wilkeson, Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle, Steve Gaines, and Billy Powell.
Background information
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Southern rock blues rock country rock hard rock[1]
Works	Discography
Years active	1964 (1964)–1977 (1977) 1979 1987 (1987)–present
Labels	MCA Atlantic Capricorn CMC International Sanctuary Universal Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Frontiers Music
Spinoffs	Alias Allen Collins Band Artimus Pyle Band Rossington The Rossington Band Rossington Collins Band Vision
Members	Johnny Van Zant Rickey Medlocke Michael Cartellone Mark Matejka Peter Keys Damon Johnson Robbie Harrington Carol Chase Stacey Michelle
Past members	See band members section and members list article
Website	lynyrdskynyrd.com

Lynyrd Skynyrd (/lɛnərd skɪnərd/ LEH-nerd SKIN-nerd)^[2] is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent four years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1968. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), in 1973. By then, they had settled on a lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". After releasing five studio albums and one live album, the band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed, killing Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, and seriously injuring the rest of the band.

Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Ronnie's brother, Johnny Van Zant, as lead vocalist. They continued to tour and record with Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke, who first wrote and recorded with the band from 1971 to 1972 before his return in 1996. Over the years, other founding members of the band have died either during or after their time in the band. In January 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced what was intended to be its farewell tour,^[3] though they have continued to tour since then. Members were still working on the band's fifteenth album at the time of Rossington's death in 2023,^[4] after which no founding members remained in the band.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd No. 95 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".^[5][6] Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.^[7] As of 2023, the band has sold more than 38 million records in the United States. AllMusic called them "the definitive Southern rock band".^[1]