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Billy Powell | |
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 Powell in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | William Norris Powell (1952-06-03)June 3, 1952 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 2009(2009-01-28) (aged 56) Orange Park, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboards |
| Years active |
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| Formerly of | Lynyrd Skynyrd |
William Norris Powell (June 3, 1952 – January 28, 2009) was an American musician and the keyboardist ofsouthern rock bandLynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009.
Powell was born inCorpus Christi, Texas. He grew up in a military family and spent several of his childhood years in Italy, where his father was stationed with theU.S. Navy. After his father died of cancer in 1960, the Powells returned to the United States to settle inJacksonville, Florida.[2] In elementary school, Powell metLeon Wilkeson, who became a lifelong friend and the bassist forLynyrd 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. When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy inSanford, Florida. Powell returned to Jacksonville, where he enrolled atBishop Kenny High School. After graduation in 1970, he enrolled at and briefly attended a community college, majoring inmusic theory.
Around 1970, Powell found work as aroadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd and remained a member of the crew for two years, during which the band secured a support role for the bandMountain. In 1972, Skynyrd played a show at theBolles School prom. During a break at that event, Powell sat down at a piano and played a song. When the band realized their roadie's ability, he was offered the position of keyboardist.[3]
In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd was signed toMCA Records and received national exposure following the release of their first album,(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd). The band's popularity soared in 1974 with their follow-up album,Second Helping, which featured their highest-charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama". Powell played a prominent piano solo toward the end of the song. The band enjoyed increasing popularity over the next three years, culminating in the 1977 release ofStreet Survivors.
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Three days after the release ofStreet Survivors, Skynyrd'schartered Convair CV-240 crashed into a forest nearMcComb, Mississippi. The crash took the lives of singerRonnie Van Zant, guitaristSteve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalistCassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. The remainder of the band suffered mild to severe injuries. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost losing his nose, but was otherwise relatively uninjured. He was the first to be released from the hospital, and the only member able to attend the funerals of his fallen bandmates.
During the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell joined the Christian rock band Vision in 1984. With Vision he recorded three albums (Mountain in The Sky,Vision, andStreetfighter), and toured extensively. His keyboard performances were spotlighted in Vision concerts. During the concerts, Powell spoke about his newfound Christianity; messages that were also delivered via two bonus tracks included on the albumMountain in the Sky. Powell also worked with38 Special during this time.
Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. At the time of his death, he and guitaristGary Rossington were the only members from the classic lineup who were active in the band.
On January 28, 2009, Powell died at the age of 56 at his home inOrange Park, Florida.[4][5][6][7] It was during a break from Skynyrd's touring schedule that Powell suffered a fatalheart attack. His 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. The music he had recorded with Vision was played exclusively at a private memorial service, andKid Rock sang a tribute. Many Southern Rock musicians were in attendance, including his Skynyrd and Vision bandmates, their families,Hank Williams Jr. and others.
Powell was survived by his wife Ellen; sons Brandon and Joel; daughters Layla, Ashley and Maggie; brother Rick; and sister Donna.
The song "Gifted Hands" was later written and recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd as a tribute to Powell.[8][9]
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