# Lynyrd Skynyrd's Keyboardist Billy Powell died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417 "2009-01-28T19:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/1 "2009-01-28T19:13:53Z")
See here: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896221/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28896221/) Suspected heart attack; history of problems. Very solid boogie-woogie player. Sad to see him go too early. I am sure it is cold comfort, but at least LS was inducted in the RRHoF before he passed - it was a big issue for them… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/2 "2009-01-28T20:02:08Z")
Geez, Gary Rossington’s the only one left! I have a short anecdote about Billy Powell. I was a young lad, and saw them play when tagging along with my older brother and his friends. I must have been 13 or so. Billy Powell was playing a keyboard that was a bit shaky, and kept knocking his drink off. He was drinking screwdrivers, it appeared, and after he knocked one off, a roadie would pour him another. This must have happened a dozen times during the show. RIP, Billy. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/3 "2009-01-28T20:51:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Geez, Gary Rossington’s the only one left! I read an article a long time ago saying that they had initially agreed to only use the name if there were at least three of the original members in the band. They apparently either dropped or ignored that rule, since they were still touring as LS with only Powell and Rossington. I wonder what they’ll do now. I was a big fan of Powell’s work back when I was playing the piano a lot. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/4 "2009-01-28T22:22:09Z")
I’ll be sad if LS doesn’t continue. Many fans may disagree, but Johnny Van Zant has been a solid successor to brother Ronnie, as both a vocalist and songwriter. Give him credit for reviving the band and to keep it going all these years. I won’t be that sad if Johnny continues to record with his brother Donnie of .38 Special. But so many are gone from the original LS, either in the airplane crash or as an indirect result. They captured lightning in a bottle during the heyday of the early to mid-70’s. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/5 "2009-01-29T02:21:53Z")
So sad, such a loss. He was so young! It must be very hard for his family. May they mourn in peace. This part in the story confuses me: > [@](#): > > Powell, 56, reportedly had a history of heart problems, and a heart attack is the suspected cause of death. _No autopsy will be performed because Powell’s cardiologist will sign the death certificate_, [Orange Park Police Lieutenant Mark] Cornett said. Is it at the family’s request that no autopsy be performed, and allowable because of the cardiologist’s signature on the death certificate? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/6 "2009-01-29T02:47:55Z")
Man, what a shame. A very under-rated piano player. I just loved his solo in [I Know a Little](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2HRrjpiM7Y). (Youtube link) ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/7 "2009-01-29T03:08:14Z")
Aw, man. ☹ I first saw Lynyrd Skynyrd when I was 17, at the Summit in Houston. Circa 1975. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/8 "2009-01-29T03:08:59Z")
Damn. RIP. _holdin’ up my lighter_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lynyrd-skynyrds-keyboardist-billy-powell-died/483417/9 "2009-01-29T04:17:57Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > I read an article a long time ago saying that they had initially agreed to only use the name if there were at least three of the original members in the band. They apparently either dropped or ignored that rule, since they were still touring as LS with only Powell and Rossington. I wonder what they’ll do now. > > I was a big fan of Powell’s work back when I was playing the piano a lot. According to [Wikipedia,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynyrd_skynyrd#Reunion_years_.281987.E2.80.93present.29) the widows of Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant hold a proviso that any band touring with the “Lynyrd Skynyrd” name must have two of the pre-crash members in its lineup. Rossington and Powell made up the necessary two. As Ed King is currently in bad health, and Artimus Pyle left in 1991 on bad terms, and is unlikely to return, Rossington is the only surviving member of the original lineup.