Band namesake dies in Florida

Have you ever wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd came up with the name of their band? I have. Unfortunately, someone had to die in order for me to satisfy my curiousity. Life is cruel, but here’s the scoop.

Leonard Skinner was a basketball coach and hardass gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Fla., in the late 1960s. Back in the day, he sent a group of students to the principal’s office because their hair was too long and they refused to cut it. Those rebellious teens would later form a band using a twist on Skinner’s name as their own. He even let them use a photograph of his later business, Leonard Skinner Realty, for the inside art of their third album, Nuthin’ Fancy.

On the band’s official website, Gary Rossington had this to say about the passing of Skinner,” Coach Skinner had such a profound impact on our youth that ultimately led us to naming the band, which you know as Lynyrd Skynyrd, after him. Looking back, I cannot imagine it any other way. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

Leonard Skinner died peacefully in his sleep on September 20th in Jacksonville. He was 77.

Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm by michelle

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