JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lynyrd Skynyrd, a legendary band formed in Jacksonville, is among the 2024 inductees to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced on Wednesday.
“Today, we honor the newest inductees into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, celebrating their enduring influence on our state’s vibrant cultural legacy,” Byrd said. “These individuals have not only left an indelible mark on our state’s artistic landscape but have also woven themselves into the fabric of our collective identity. Through their creativity, passion, and dedication, they have inspired countless others and helped shape our beloved Sunshine State.”
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Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed in 1964 but had its debut album in 1973. In 2023, the band celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first album called “Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd.”
On Oct. 20, 1977, three days after Lynyrd Skynyrd released its fifth album, “Street Survivors,” lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, their assistant tour manager and two pilots died and dozens of others were hurt when their twin-engine plane went down in a wooded area in Gillsburg, Mississippi.
“Despite facing adversity, including the tragic loss of band members in a plane crash in 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s legacy has endured, inspiring generations of fans worldwide,” officials wrote.
The Florida Artists Hall of Fame consists of more than 50 inductees. Other prominent figures among the 2024 inductees are author, artist, and filmmaker Roger Bansemer from St. Augustine, and Xavier Cortada, a Cuban American artist who grew up in Miami.
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