Gene Odom and Ronnie Van Zant with Charlie Craig
Richmond News Leader, April 28, ~
1977
In the middle of the group’s hit song,
“Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant told the
Richmond Coliseum crowd last night. “There’s good people in Alabama.”
Well, Charlie Craig, 18, and many another of their Richmond area fans think
the Skynyrds are not a bad lot themselves. Right in the middle of the band’s rock
‘n’ roll act, Van Zant spotted Craig being held aloft in his wheelchair by some other
youths on the floor near the front of the stage so he could see over the heads of
other standing fans. Van Zant motioned them to bring Craig forward and went to
the edge of the stage to help the youth come on. The tough-looking Van Zant, who
has a reputation of a hard-drinking brawler, wheeled Craig around in front of drummer
Artimus Pyle, and Craig, who suffers from a birth defect, raised both arms in
triumph to the cheering crowd.
The rock group played without missing a lick and Van Zant got a drink for
Craig. Bass player Leon Wilkeson sauntered over and put his cowboy hat on
Craig, and the Chesterfield County youth became a brother … right there in the
middle of the concert. Lynyrd Skynyrd didn’t stop at that.

After the concert, members of the group took Craig backstage to share in
their drinks and pizza, talk with him and sign autographs on glossy pictures for
him. Pyle gave Craig a prized set of drumsticks he had used last night.
“They’ve always been my favorite rock ‘n’ roll band,” said Craig, a Meadowbrook
High School junior who lives at 2924 Dundas Road. Lvnvrd Skynyrd ended the concert by
dedicating the group’s anthem, “Free Bird,” to Craig. After it was all over, a promoter said
to Van Zant, “That was a great piece of PR work.” “I didn’t do it for PR,” said Van Zant.
“I did it from the heart.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd pause for this unforgettable photo in the highlight of their career in 1977

Gene Odom, Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977, unfortunately a tragic plane crash awaits this band on October, 20 1977