Ronald
Wayne
(Ronnie)
Van Zant
Born in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States
Ancestors 
Son of Lacy Van Zant
and Marion Virginia (Hicks) Van Zant
Brother of
Unknown Van Zant [half], [private brother (1950s - unknown)] and [private brother (1950s - unknown)]
Husband of
[private wife (1940s - unknown)]
Father of
[private daughter (1970s - unknown)]
Died
at age 29
in Gillsburg, Amite, Mississippi, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 23 Oct 2014
This page has been accessed 11,036 times.
Biography
Ronnie Van Zant is Notable.
Ronnie Van Zant (1948-1977) was an American singer and musician, member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, of which he was a founding member, lead vocalist, and primary lyricist.
Ronald "Ronnie" Wayne Van Zant was born on 15 Jan 1948 [1] [2] in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA and his parents were Marion Virginia (Hicks) and Lacy Van Zant. [3] He had several siblings including two younger brothers who also became noted rock vocalists.
He attended Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA. [4]
In the summer of 1964 he and four friends including Allen Collins and Bob Burns, formed a band initially called "My Backyard", later "The Noble Five" and "One Percent". [5] Ronnie was the lead singer and co-wrote many of the band's songs.
About 1970 the band finally took the name "Lynyrd Skynyrd" as a mock tribute to Leonard Skinner, a Physical Education teacher at Robert E. Lee High School who reportedly hassled the boys on account of their long hair. [6] The band's first gig was in December 1964 and earned them $10 ($2 each). The gigs slowly increased and by 1970, "Lynyrd Skynyrd was a top band" in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA. [5]
After 1970 Lynyrd Skynyrd experienced several lineup changes, but Ronnie Van Zant remained as lead vocalist and lyricist of the band until 1977. Among the songs he co-wrote with guitarist Allen Collins were the signature hits...
- "The Ballad of Curtis Loew"
- "Sweet Home Alabama"
- "Saturday Night Special"
- "Freebird".
On 21 Mar 1975, Ronnie Van Zant was appointed to the personal military staff of Gov. George C. Wallace as Aide-de-Camp with the rank of Hon. Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama State Militia.[7][8][9]
On October 20, 1977, the band's chartered flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA experienced mechanical problems and crashed in west Mississippi, USA. Several band members were seriously injured. Those killed instantly on 20 Oct 1977 in Gillsburg, Amite County, Mississippi, USA included the pilot and co-pilot, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, band members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant who was 29.[1] [2]
Ronnie Van Zant was buried at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA. [10] Following the vandalization of his original grave site, he was reinterred at Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. [11] [12] [13]
Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the crash, but was reformed in 1987 with Ronnie's younger brother taking over as lead singer.
Ronnie Van Zant was married three times:
- in 1967 (divorced 1969) [14] [15]
- from 1971/11/30 to 1972/Nov/08 [16] [17]
- from 1972 until his death.
He had two daughters. [18]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "United States Social Security Death Index" on FamilySearch database (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J14J-42X : 25 Nov 2020) for Ronald Van Zant, d: Oct 1977
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S., Social Security Death Index on ancestry.com for Ronald Van Zant, b=15 Jan 1948 ss#263-88-9535 issued: 1963 FL d: Oct 1977
- ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries 1980-2014" on FamilySearch database with images (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKP2-WF8T : accessed 28 Nov 2020) from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977-Today)" on GenealogyBank.com database citing Florida "Times-Union" digital text; with Ronnie Van-Zant in entry for father, Lacy Van-Zant, d: 06 Aug 2004 Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- ↑ Class of 1968 alumni, Robert E. Lee High School. Retrieved Nov 28, 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lynyrd Skynyrd History, retrieved 2020/Nov/28.
- ↑ Wikipedia: Leonard Skinner
- ↑ Long, Kristi S., and Matthew Nadelhaft. America Under Construction: Boundaries and Identities in Popular Culture. Oxfordshire, England: Routledge, 2016.
- ↑ Ribowsky, Mark. Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars: The Fast Life and Sudden Death of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press, 2015.
- ↑ Cobb, Mark Hughes. "Lynyrd Skynyrd brings farewell show to Tuscaloosa." Tuscaloosa News. May 09, 2019. https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190509/lynyrd-skynyrd-brings-farewell-show-to-tuscaloosa (accessed Aug 04, 2022).
- ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #1057 for Ronnie Van Zant b: 15 Jan 1948; d: 20 Oct 1977; buried: Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA
- ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #6742069 for Ronnie Van Zant, b: 15 Jan 1948; d: 20 Oct 1977; buried: Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA
- ↑ Find A Grave Virtual Cametery Find A Grave: Memorial #1057 for Ronnie Van Zant
- ↑ Burial Index on BillionGraves.com for Ronald Wayne Van Zant
- ↑ "Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001" on FamilySearch database (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK48-84Z : 25 Dec 2014) from "Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001" on ancestry.com citing Florida Department of Health in Jacksonville, Florida; v1382; divorce: certificate #23727; divorced: Aug 1969 Duval, Florida for Nadine & Ronald W. Vanzant
- ↑ Florida Divorce Index on ancestry.com citing divorce certificate#23727; divorced: Aug 1969 FL,Duval Co for Nadine & Ronald W. VanZant
- ↑ Florida Marriage Collection & Index compiled by Florida Department of Health v3142 certificate #073233; m: 30 Nov 1971 FL,Polk-Co for Ronnie VanZant & Peggy Anita Hardee
- ↑ "Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001" on FamilySearch database (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKCX-Q66 : 25 Dec 2014) from "Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001" on ancestry.com citing Florida Department of Health in Jacksonville, Florida; v1662; divorce certificate #46855; divorced: 08 Nov 1972 Polk, Florida for Peggy & Ronnie Vanzant
- ↑ Wikipedia: Ronnie Van Zant
- U.S. Public Records Index v2 available at Ancestry.com for Ronald VanZant, b: 15 Jan 1948 res: 5419 Woodcrest Road in Jacksonville, FL, 32205-6329
- Ancestry.com Family Tree
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Ronnie:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Ronnie:
-
~1.17%
Kate Haslam
:
AncestryDNA, GEDmatch A914206 [compare], Ancestry member KathleenMurray62
+
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch A914206 [compare], FTDNA kit #B7721
-
~0.78%
Brenda (Sherritt) Mitchiner :
23andMe
Featured Eurovision connections: Ronnie is 32 degrees from Agnetha Fältskog, 27 degrees from Anni-Frid Synni Reuß, 26 degrees from Corry Brokken, 22 degrees from Céline Dion, 27 degrees from Françoise Dorin, 28 degrees from France Gall, 28 degrees from Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, 26 degrees from Lill-Babs Svensson, 20 degrees from Olivia Newton-John, 35 degrees from Henriette Nanette Paërl, 33 degrees from Annie Schmidt and 20 degrees from Moira Kennedy on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
V > Van Zant > Ronald Wayne Van Zant
Categories: Singers | Alabama Aides-de-Camp | Jacksonville, Florida | Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Florida | Rock Musicians | Recording Artists | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Aviation Accidents | Featured Connections Archive 2020 | Florida, Notables | Notables
We plan on featuring Ronnie alongside Eddie van Halen, the Example Profile of the Week, in the Connection finder on December 2nd. Between now and then is a good time to take a look at the sources and biography to see if there are updates and improvements that need made, especially those that will bring it up to WikiTree Style Guide standards. We know it's short notice, so don't fret too much. Just do what you can. A Team member will check on the profile Tuesday and make changes as necessary.
Thanks! Abby