Ronnie Van Zant net worth is $2 Million. Also know about Ronnie Van Zant bio, salary, height, age weight, relationship and more …

Ronnie Van Zant Wiki Biography

Ronald Wayne Van Zant was born on 15 January 1948, in Jacksonville, Florida USA, to Lacy and Marion Van Zant. He was a singer, best known as the lead vocalist, primary lyricist and a co-founder of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was killed in a plane crash in 1977.

A famous singer, how rich was Ronnie Van Zant? According to sources, Van Zant had established a net worth of over $2 million, his wealth having been earned during his music career.

Van Zant grew up in Jacksonville, along with five siblings including musicians Johnny and Donnie Van Zant. He attended Jacksonville’s Lee High School, excelling in baseball and dreaming of becoming a professional baseball player one day. However, his passion for music was stronger, which led him to learn to play piano and guitar while still a child.

In 1964 being aged 16, Van Zant became the lead singer of a group called Us. Shortly after, he formed a band of his own, with his teenage friends Bob Burns, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Larry Junstrom. Initially named My Backyard, the bad changed its name to Noble Five and went on to land gigs at local dances. Several name changes followed, and by 1970 the band went by the name Lynyrd Skynyrd, which stuck. They performed at bars, held local concerts and opened a number of national acts, gaining popularity by creating a distinctive southern sound.

After a lineup change, Lynyrd Skynyrd was discovered by the legendary Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1972, who signed them to his Sounds of the South label under MCA Records, and produced their first album “(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd)” in 1973; the album sold more than a million copies and was certified gold. Its single “Free Bird” became an instant hit, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Van Zant’s net worth started to rise.

Their next album called “Second Helping” came out in 1974, reaching #12 on the Billboard album chart. The gold and multi-platinum album contained what has been considered the band’s most popular song, “Sweet Home Alabama”, a reply to the two Neil Young songs, “Alabama” and “Southern Man”, which dominated the charts and boosted the band’s popularity. Van Zant’s wealth was significantly improved and he was on his way into rock history.

Two more albums followed, the 1975 “Nuthin’ Fancy” and the 1976 “Gimme Back My Bullets”, but failed to reach the success of their predecessors. Around this time the band’s lineup changed again, and with new third guitarist Steve Gaines, and a trio of female backup singers, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fifth album, “Street Survivors” in 1977. It was their first top five album, containing the hit singles “What’s Your Name” and “That Smell”. Only three days after the album’s release, the band arranged a flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to perform at LSU; however, the plane crashed, killing Van Zant, backup singers and siblings Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and two pilots, and causing the other band members and staff serious injuries. Van Zant was only 29 at the time he died.

Following the accident, Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded, although some members later went on with their musical careers, and in the late 80s the band reunited, and Van Zant’s brother Johnny has since been the lead singer and primary songwriter.

When it comes to his private life, Van Zant married Nadine Inscoe in 1967, and they had one child, singer Tammy Van Zant. After their divorce in 1969, he married Judy Seymour in 1972, with whom he also had one child, and with whom he remained in marriage until his death in 1977. The legendary singer was often involved in controversies, mostly due to his uncontrolled drinking. He was arrested many times, mainly for brawling and misconduct, such as throwing a table out of a hotel room window.

IMDB Wikipedia “38 Special” “Lynyrd Skynyrd” (1964) “Noble Five” $2 million 1948 1977 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Al Kooper of Blood Allen Collins Bob Burns Cassie Gaines Darlene Grant Dean Kilpatrick Donnie Van Zant Florida Gary Rossington Gillsburg Jacksonville January 15 Joanne Morris Van Zant Johnny Van Zant Judy Seymour Judy Seymour (m. 1972–1977) Larry Junstrom Marlene Hodge MCA Records Mississippi Musician My Backyard Nadine Inscoe Nadine Inscoe (m. 1967–1969) October 20 Rock Stars Ronald Wayne Van Zant Ronnie Ronnie Van Zant Ronnie Van Zant Net Worth Singer Songwriter Steve Gaines Sweat & Tears Tammy Van Zant The Band “U.S” United States United States of America Van Zant

Ronnie Van Zant Quick Info

Ronnie Van Zant Trademarks

1. Long hair
2. Black cowboy hat
3. Soulful voice

Ronnie Van Zant Important Facts

• Was the subject of the 2001 Southern Rock Opera album by The Drive-by Truckers.
• Planned to produce the debut album for fellow southern rockers Molly Hatchet, but was tragically killed in the plane crash before he could do so.
• A character in the supernatural thriller called The Coffin (2010) was named after him, in his honor. One of the writers is a big Lynyrd Skynyrd fan.
• The song “Free Bird” was written as a simple love song, but later came to be dedicated in concert to guitarist Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, who died in a motorcycle crash October 1971.
• Brother Donnie was a founding member of rock band .38 Special. After Ronnie’s death, his brother Johnny was hired to replace him in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• The first pressing of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s final album “Street Survivors” showed a photo of the band members engulfed in flames on the cover. It had been on the market for only 3 days at the time of the band’s plane crash, so it was recalled and replaced with a photo that originally appeared on the back cover. In both of the photos, Van Zant is wearing a Neil Young “Tonight’s the Night” t-shirt (an album which thematically explores premature rock star death). “Street Survivors” was released on Monday October 17 1977, Ronnie died on Thursday October 20 1977, about 18.52 Central Daylight Time, according to the N.T.S.B. crash report.
• His body has been moved to Riverside Memorial Park, however his original Memorial Mausoleum is still located at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.
• One of his biggest sources of support was his father Lacy Van Zant. The elder Van Zant died on August 3, 2004 in Jacksonville, Florida of pulmonary problems. He was 89 years old.
• Had a closed casket funeral. Many thought this to be because he was horribly disfigured or even decapitated during the 1977 plane crash. That is not true. Ronnie had a bruise about the size of a quarter on his temple (which was the cause of death – blunt head trauma). His wife, Judy, remembered that Ronnie once said he did not wish to have people “gawking” at his body, so she made it a closed casket funeral.
• The song “I Take A lot Of Pride In What I Am” was played as Ronnie was laid to rest.
• Ronnie was buried with his fishing pole and his trademark black hat.
• Was buried next to Steve and Cassie Gaines at Jacksonville Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida
• 2 brothers: Johnny Van Zant and Donnie Van Zant.
• The song “Freebird” is now played as a musical tribute in Ronnie’s memory.
• On June 29 2000, his grave was vandalized, this prompted his family to move his remains to an unknown location.
• His grand-daughter is named after him.
• Had 2 daughters: Tammy and Melody

Ronnie Van Zant Filmography

Ronnie Van Zant Awards