Southern rock was born in Jacksonville within the Sixties as a brand new fusion of rock, blues progressions, and a heavy dose of Southern grit. Arguably the primary true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, shaped following a jam at a Riverside residence often known as the Grey Home. Although they shipped out for Macon, Georgia just some weeks later, their influence was immense of their metropolis of origin, with quite a lot of bands following of their footsteps over the following decade.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was subsequent up, and by 1973 had joined the Allman Brothers as commonplace bearers for the Southern rock sound. Different profitable bands to emerge from Jacksonville’s fertile scene presently included Cowboy, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and 38 Particular. The subgenre outlived each the Allman Brothers, who broke up in 1976, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, who disbanded after a airplane crash in 1977 that took the lives of three members, together with frontman Ronnie Van Zant. In truth, Southern rock is arguably as common now because it was in its heyday, and newer Jacksonville bands, together with JJ Gray and Mofro and the Tedeschi Vehicles Band, proceed to hold on its legacy.
Because the birthplace of so many bands, Jacksonville additionally has been the ultimate resting place for a lot of Southern rock musicians. Chris Soldt, a Boston photographer who spent a lot of his life in Jacksonville, just lately took a tour of the town’s Southern rock graves.
Unique tomb of Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant (1948 – 1977), born on Woodcrest Road in Westside Jacksonville, was the frontman and founding father of Lynyrd Skynyrd. His two brothers additionally grew to become notable Southern rock musicians: Donnie Van Zant was a member of fellow Jacksonville band 38 Particular, whereas Johnny grew to become lead singer for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987.
On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the band’s crew had been flying to a tour date in Baton Rouge when the airplane ran out of gasoline and crashed within the Southern Mississippi woods. Among the many six who died had been Van Zant, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and guitarist Steve Gaines. Van Zant and the Gaines siblings had been initially laid to relaxation in close by plots at Jacksonville Reminiscence Gardens in Orange Park, Florida, with Van Zant entombed in a marble mausoleum. Additionally within the space are benches bearing inscriptions about music. Ever since, the positioning has served as a shrine for followers, who usually depart flowers, guitar picks, an different tokens in tribute to the band members.
In June 2000, the graves of Van Zant and Steve Gaines had been vandalized. Van Zant’s household determined to relocate his stays to Riverside Memorial Park cemetery in Jacksonville. The unique mausoleum stays in place.
Cassie Gaines
Cassie Gaines (1948 – 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975 as a backup singer, one among a trio of gospel vocalists dubbed the Honkettes. Gaines and her fellow singers Jojo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins offered an important component to the band’s distinctive sound. Following her dying within the 1977 airplane crash, Gaines was buried simply behind her brother Steve’s grave in Jacksonville Reminiscence Gardens. Her mom, additionally named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjoining plots and memorialized on the identical gravestone.
Unique grave of Steve Gaines
Steve Gaines (1949 – 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in Could 1976. The band had been on the lookout for a brand new third guitar participant to exchange departed member Ed King, and gave Gaines an audition on the suggestion of his older sister Cassie. He died alongside along with his sister and Van Zant within the 1977 crash and was buried in Jacksonville Reminiscence Gardens. Gaines’ gravestone stands simply in entrance of the graves of his sister and oldsters, and close by different members of the Gaines household and the previous tomb of Ronnie Van Zant. After his and Van Zant’s graves had been broken by vandals in 2000, Gaines’ household reportedly eliminated his ashes to a personal location.
Subsequent web page: Extra Southern rock graves