1948 – Ronald Wayne “Ronnie” Van Zant, lead singer of the famous rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was born in Jacksonville on this date. Raised in Jacksonville, Ronnie Van Zant formed the band that would later become famous as Lynyrd Skynyrd with fellow classmates from Robert E. Lee High School in 1964. The band released such hits as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and “Whats Your Name” in the 1970s. Unfortunately, at the height of their success in 1977, the band was on a routine flight from South Carolina to Louisiana that crashed while attempting an emergency landing, killing six people on board including Ronnie Van Zant. In 1987 Ronnie’s younger brother Johnny Van Zant, along with surviving members of the band began touring again, and continue to this day, although the lineup has changed considerably.