Gary Rossington
Gary Robert Rossington (December 4, 1951 – March 5, 2023) was an American musician best known as a founding guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, with whom he performed until his death. Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins.
Also recorded as Gary Robert Rossington
Gary Rossington

jayuzi · IMG_1382 · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Born
- 1951. · Jacksonville.
- Died
- 2023. · Milton.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- guitarist, composer and songwriter.
- Fields
- Southern rock.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Gary Robert Rossington (December 4, 1951 – March 5, 2023) was an American musician best known as a founding guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, with whom he performed until his death. Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins.
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Gary Rossington (1951–2023) was a composer, guitarist and songwriter, of American nationality. The composer was born in Jacksonville and died in Milton.
Gary Rossington was a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington and Rossington Collins Band and was affiliated with The Rossington Band.
The work spans Southern rock. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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museum · 15a5032b-70f2-4c00-bab9-5072b6fbba02 · wikidata · Q445448 · wikipedia · Gary Rossington
In this article
Early life
Early life
Rossington was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 4, 1951. His 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. 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. It was Rossington's love of baseball that indirectly led to the formation of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the summer of 1964. He 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. They set up their equipment in the carport of Burns' parents' house and played The Rolling Stones' then-current hit "Time Is on My Side". Liking what they heard, they immediately decided to form a band. Naming themselves The Noble Five, with the additions of guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Larry Junstrom, they later changed the name of the band to The One Percent before eventually settling on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969. 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. He 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". According to a New York Times article, Lacy Van Zant, patriarch of the Van Zant family, once went to West Jacksonville's Robert E. Lee High School to plead Rossington's case to school administrators after the fatherless Rossington was suspended for having long hair. Lacy Van Zant explained to the assistant principal that Rossington's father, who died shortly after Rossington was born, had died in the Army and that Rossington's mother needed the money Rossington made playing in his band. Lacy Van Zant further explained that, like his own sons, they were working men and long hair was part of the job. It is not known if the elder Van Zant's efforts were successful, but Rossington later dropped out of high school to focus on Lynyrd Skynyrd full-time.
Career
Career
In 1976, Rossington and fellow Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins were both involved in separate car accidents in their hometown of Jacksonville. 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 Rossington was fined US$5,000 for the delay his actions caused to the band's schedule. The song "That Smell", written by Van Zant and Collins, was based on the wreck and Rossington's state of influence from drugs and alcohol that caused it. 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. As the passengers braced for impact, Rossington recalls hearing what sounded like hundreds of baseball bats hitting the plane's fuselage as it began striking trees. The sound got louder and louder until Rossington was knocked unconscious; he awoke some time later on the ground with the plane's door on top of him. Days later, Rossington was informed in the hospital by his mother that Van Zant and the others had been killed. Rossington recovered from his injuries and played on stage again, with steel rods in his right arm and right leg. Though in time Rossington fully recovered from the severe injuries sustained in the crash, he battled serious drug addiction for several years, largely the result of his heavy dependence on pain medication taken during his recovery. Rossington and Collins founded the Rossington Collins Band in 1980. The band released two albums, but disbanded in 1982 after the death of Collins' wife, Kathy. Along with his wife, Dale Krantz-Rossington, he then formed The Rossington Band, which released two albums in 1986 and 1988. Rossington continued to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd prior to his death in 2023 and by 2019, he became the last surviving original member of the band.
Equipment
Equipment
Rossington mostly played Les Pauls. His main guitar was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul which he had purchased from a woman whose boyfriend had left her and left behind his guitar. He named it "Bernice" in honor of his mother, whom he was extremely close to after the death of his father. Rossington played lead guitar on "Tuesday's Gone" and "Gimme Three Steps." Along with Collins, Rossington also provided the guitar work for "Simple Man". Besides Les Pauls, he used Gibson SGs. He played the slide guitar on "Free Bird" with a 1961 Gibson SG Les Paul Standard. The Gibson Custom Shop released a Gary Rossington Les Paul and a Gary Rossington SG Les Paul Standard. For most of his career, he played through Marshall and Peavey amplifiers.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
Rossington married singer Dale Krantz in 1982 and they have two daughters. Rossington suffered a heart attack on October 8, 2015, after which two Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts had to be canceled. In July 2021, he underwent emergency heart surgery. Rossington died at his home in Milton, Georgia, on March 5, 2023, at the age of 71.

Gary Rossington guitarrist of Lynyrd Skynyrd performing live at Simpleman (2011).
Jon Callas
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2023
Gary Rossington died at Milton.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Jacksonville.
Birth place
Milton.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q445448: Gary Rossington
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Gary Rossington”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Gary Rossington
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.The Official Lynyrd Skynyrd History Website – History Lessons. Lynyrd Skynyrd History.
- 2.History of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd.
- 3.Baseball, Concussions, And More: The Hilarious Story Behind The Birth Of Lynyrd Skynyrd – Society Of Rock. Society of Rock. March 19, 2016.
- 4.When All Is Said And Done, This Is What Johnny Van Zant Wants Fans To Remember About Lynyrd Skynyrd. bear104.7. July 19, 2017.
- 5.If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd, Passion Pictures, Directed by Stephen Kijak, 2018
- 6.Walfisz, Jonny. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Which bands have no surviving members left?. Euronews. March 6, 2023.
- 7.Dewan, Shaila K. Southern Man. The New York Times. December 26, 2004.
- 8.Gary Rossington, last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dead at 71. CBC. March 6, 2023.
- 9.Giles, Jeff. When Lynyrd Skynyrd's Allen Collins Was Paralyzed in a Car Crash. Ultimate Classic Rock. January 29, 2016.
- 10.Vitagliano, Joe. Behind the Song Lyrics: "That Smell," Lynyrd Skynyrd. American Songwriter. December 21, 2021.
- 11.Lynyrd Skynyrd's last surviving member, Gary Rossington, dies aged 71. Yahoo Movies. March 6, 2023.
- 12.That Smell: inspiration sole survivor from other days music died. The Australian. January 5, 2016.
- 13.Cain, Sian. Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and founding member, dies aged 71. The Guardian. March 6, 2023. 0261-3077.
- 14.Runtagh, Jordan. Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd's Deadly 1977 Plane Crash. Rolling Stone. October 20, 2017.
- 15.Gary Rossington, Last Original Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dies at 71. Yahoo News. March 6, 2023.
- 16.Twaalf platen, dertien ongevallen: Lynyrd Skynyrds laatste originele lid overleden. De Standaard.
- 17.Romano, Nick. Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd's last original member, dies at 71. EW.com.
- 18.Gary Rossington, last founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dead at 71. Washington Post. 0190-8286.
- 19.Bernstein, Scott. Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist & Last Original Member, Dies At Age 71. JamBase. March 6, 2023.
- 20.Gary Rossington, guitarist and last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies at 71. KSHE 95. March 6, 2023.
- 21.Hipes, Erik Pedersen, Patrick. Gary Rossington Dies: Guitarist And Last Surviving Original Member Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Was 71. Deadline. March 6, 2023.
- 22.Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71. BBC News. March 6, 2023.
- 23.Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member Gary Rossington dies aged 71. ABC News. March 6, 2023.
- 24.Savage, Mark. Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71. BBC News. March 6, 2023.
- 25.Seah, Daniel. Gary Rossington, guitarist and last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies at 71. Guitar.com. March 6, 2023.
- 26.Fitzgerald, Michael Ray. Jacksonville Was a Hotbed of Music. The Jitney. June 27, 2022.
- 27.Pipper, von Heinz Rebellius / Udo. G&B-Classics: Gibson SG – Die Geschichte eines Klassikers. GITARRE & BASS. April 14, 2021.
- 28.Gibson Custom Shop Gary Rossington '59 Les Paul Standard (Murphy Aged) 2002 | Reverb. Reverb.com.
- 29.Gary Rossington Signature SG. www.rockexplorer.com.
- 30.Weiss, Arlene R. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Vintage Guitar magazine. 2003.
- 31.Charupakorn, Joe. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington: Simple Man, Big Tone – Premier Guitar. Premier Guitar. January 15, 2017.
- 32.Nichols, Jake. Don't Ask Me No Questions. Buckrail.com. August 27, 2014.
- 33.Sharp, Ken. Life Beyond Skynyrd: Guitarist Gary Rossington and Wife Dale 'Take It On Faith' (Interview). RockCellarMagazine.com. Rock Cellar Magazine. December 9, 2016.
- 34.Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington Suffers Heart Attack. Ultimate Classic Rock. October 13, 2015.
- 35.Dakin Andone. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist recovering following emergency heart surgery. CNN. July 24, 2021.
- 36.Gary Robert Rossington obituary
- 37.Sweeting, Adam. Gary Rossington obituary. The Guardian. 7 March 2023.
- 38.Hudak, Joseph. Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Last Original Member, Dead at 71. Rolling Stone. March 5, 2023.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Gary RossingtonMetaBrainz Foundation
Verifiedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q445448: Gary RossingtonWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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