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Lynyrd Skynyrd

September 21, 2010 by · Comments Off on Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Part of the rock ‘n roll history has become just that – history – with the passing of Leonard Skinner, the eponymous inspiration for the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. At a little Southern Rock mythology, musicologists will recall that Mr. Skinner was a former gym teacher who sent one of his students, Rossington Gary (pictured), the principle’s office to have long hair. It was against school rules. But Rossington was just a troublemaker – was also an aspiring guitarist.

According to the Florida Times-Union newspaper, years later, around 1973, son of Mr. Skinner – also Leonard – was listening to the debut album by a rock band’s then-upcoming, Lynyrd Skynyrd, when his father asked him why he was listening to such noise. The name of the album? “Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd.”

Soon after, he learned the guitar Skinner One of its former students, in fact it was making fun naming the band after him. Shortly imagine that anyone would become a household name for generations to come. Although the original intention may have been a humorous and harmless way of enacting revenge – and while Skinner was reportedly never completely comfortable with the odd tribute – there was no ill will between the belt and namesake.

In fact, Skinner also took the association of the names of several bars he owned himself (and, uh, the band). For its part, in a concert in his hometown group of Jacksonville, Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrd was invited on stage to advertise. Moreover, with your permission, Leonard Skinner used his Realty sign on the sleeve of his third album, 1975 “Nuthin ‘Fancy”, and Skynyrd fans in general, embraced him. Not a few of them even had to call the number on the sign of the real estate only to be surprised when Skinner answered his own reality. So what started as a joke became a permanent partnership and an unexpected – albeit a bit awkward – relationship between a former gym teacher and one of his rowdy students.

Skinner died peacefully in his sleep on Monday morning at the age of 77. Our thoughts, as well as Skynyrd Lynyrd community are with his family during this time. And while the fake version of his name live on through the band, man has become a permanent part of rock ‘n’ roll and popular knowledge, therefore, history of music.

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