The statement read: "It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today.

 

"Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does.

 

"Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time."

 

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in late 1951, Rossington co-founded LYNYRD SKYNYRD in 1964 alongside Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Allen Collins, and Larry Junstrom. The band were originally named MY BACKYARD, but became LYNYRD SKYNYRD in the early 1970s, before going on to release a string of classic albums from (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) in 1973 to Street Survivors in 1977.  

 

Just three days after the release of Street Survivors, Rossington survived the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, plus backing singing Cassie Gaines and three others.

 

Following the deaths of guitarist Allen Collins in 1990, drummer Bob Burns in 2015 and bassist Larry Junstrom in 2019, Rossington was the last surviving member of the band's original lineup.