35 years ago – October 20, 1977 – the Southern Rock world…the entire ROCK world was shocked and saddened when a small plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in Louisiana, ending the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie.

En route to Baton Rouge from Greenville, South Carolina, Skynyrd was in a charted Corvair 300 that had been plagued with engine problems from the outset of the tour. Rapidly dumping fuel and losing both of its engines, the aircraft made a nasty landing in a muddy and heavily wooded area some 50 miles shy of its destination.

The disaster that befell the outfit appeared to have marked the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd. But 10 years later, the surviving members reunited for a wildly successful tribute tour. Ronnie’s younger brother Johnny handled vocals. Founding guitarist Allen Collins couldn’t take part, having been confined to a wheelchair after a terrible car accident, the start of a series of health problems that would end up with his untimely, late 30s passing.

After 35 years, Lynyrd Skynyrd tour manager and plane crash survivor Ron Eckerman tells his story of Love, Life, and Death... Southern Style in the new book “Turn It Up” – here’s a preview video

And a fitting tribute – Lynyrd Skynyrd doing “Free Bird” live on July 4, 1977