Ronnie Van Zant Death
Ronnie passed away on October 20, 1977 at the age of 29 in Gillsburg, Mississippi, USA. Ronnie's cause of death was airplane crash.
When did Ronnie Van Zant die?
October 20, 1977How did Ronnie Van Zant die? What was the cause of death?
Airplane crashHow old was Ronnie Van Zant when died?
29Where did Ronnie Van Zant die? What was the location of death?
Gillsburg, Mississippi, USA
Ronnie Van Zant Birthday and Date of Death
Ronnie Van Zant was born on January 15, 1948 and died on October 20, 1977. Ronnie was 29 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: January 15, 1948
Date of Death: October 20, 1977
Age at Death: 29
Is Ronnie Van Zant's father, Marion Van Zant, dead or alive?
Marion Van Zant's information is not available now.
Is Ronnie Van Zant's mother, Lacy Van Zant, dead or alive?
Lacy Van Zant's information is not available now.
Ronnie Van Zant's brothers :
Ronnie has 2 brothers:Ronnie Van Zant's brother, Johnny Van Zant, is still alive and kicking at the age of 65. He is American and has had a career as a singer, musician.
Ronnie Van Zant's brother, Donnie Van Zant, is still alive and kicking at the age of 72. He is American and has had a career as a singer.
Ronnie Van Zant - Biography
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, and of the founder and vocalist of 38 Special, Donnie Van Zant. He is the father of singer Tammy Van Zant, and cousin of musician Jimmie Van Zant.
Van Zant married Nadine Inscoe on January 2, 1967. Around this time, Van Zant also worked at his brother-in-law's auto parts store, Morris Auto Parts in Jacksonville. It was said that Van Zant was a virtual catalog of automotive parts, he had a near photographic memory for them. The couple had a daughter named Tammy, before divorcing in 1969; Tammy would become a musician. He married Judy Seymour in 1972 after meeting her at The Comic Book Club through Gary Rossington in 1969. (The club closed in 1975 and is now a parking garage.)
They remained married up until his death in 1977. They had one daughter, Melody, born in 1976. Judy Van Zant-Jenness founded the Freebird Live in 1999, a music venue located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. It features Lynyrd Skynyrd memorabilia and is co-owned by Melody Van Zant. Judy married Jim Jenness and founded and ran The Freebird Foundation until its dissolution in 2001.
On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ran out of fuel outside Gillsburg, Mississippi. The passengers had been informed about potential problems with the Convair CV-240 and were told to brace for a crash.
Van Zant died on impact from head injuries suffered after the aircraft struck a tree. Bandmates Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, along with assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray, were also killed. The rest of the band was seriously injured. Van Zant was 29 years old.