Image of Billy Powell

Billy Powell

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Powell grew up in a military family (his father was in the U.S. Navy) and spent several years of his childhood living in Italy where his father was stationed. After his father died of cancer in 1960, he moved with his family back to the United States and settled in Jacksonville, Florida. He met his lifelong friend, Leon Wilkeson in elementary school. Billy's interest in piano began to grow and he began taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Madalyn Brown. She swore he did not need her, claiming that Billy 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 in Sanford, FL. Billy returned to Jacksonville where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School. When he graduated in 1970, he enrolled briefly in a community college, majoring in Music Theory. Around this time he found work as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Billy remained a member of the Skynyrd crew for two years (which included, amongst the grittier shows, highlights such as Skynyrd landing a support slot for Leslie West's "Mountain") In his second year with them, 1972, Skynyrd played one particular gig, a show at the Bolles school prom. After his usual routine working with Kevin Elson, Billy had time to rest for a short while. In the corner he spotted a piano, so Billy went over and sat down with it. Just fooling around, Billy launches into his piano based version of Freebird for the boys in the band to listen to. Ronnie, astonished at his roadies hitherto secret ability said 'You mean to tell me, you've been playing the piano like that and you've been workin' for us for a year....'. Billy replied, "Well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life.' He was then told Skynyrd were looking for a keyboard man, and Billy was in! In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd was signed to MCA Records and received national exposure with 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". The band enjoyed great popularity over the next three years, culminating in the 1977 release of Street Survivors, which many considered to be their strongest effort to date. However, three days after the release of Street Survivors, Skynyrd's chartered plane crashed into a forest near McComb, Mississippi. The crash took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalistCassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. The remainder of the band suffered injuries ranging from mild to severe. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost completely 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 band-mates. Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. Guitarist Gary Rossington is the only member from the classic lineup who continues to record and perform with the band today .On January 28, 2009, the keyboardist died from an apparent heart attack at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida.


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
Jun 3, 1952 In Corpus Christi, Texas
Movie/TV Credits:
14
First Appeared:
In the movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Old Grey Whistle Test 1975-01-01
Latest Project:
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth '76 2021-04-09
Known For
Poster of Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in Atlantic City
Poster of Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Vicious Cycle Tour
Poster of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lyve from Steel Town
Poster of Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tribute Tour
Filmography
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Knebworth '76 Self 2021-04-09
Movie If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd Himself 2018-03-13
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live from Freedom Hall Keyboards 2008-01-01
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in Atlantic City Self 2006-06-23
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Vicious Cycle Tour Piano 2003-07-11
Series CMT Crossroads Self 2002-01-13
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lyve from Steel Town Piano 1999-09-27
Series Behind the Music Self 1997-08-17
Movie Freebird: The Movie Himself 1996-01-01
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Rockpalast Himself 1996-01-01
Movie Day of the Warrior Guitar Player 1996-02-14
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tribute Tour Piano 1987-10-01
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live at Winterland 1976 himself 1976-03-04
Movie Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Old Grey Whistle Test Himself 1975-01-01