Hey Gene,

My name is Big Jim,and I just finished reading your book about "The Skynyrd Boys". And let me just say it was a great read. I am not one to sit down and read a book but I could not put this one down. I was finished in two weekends.

I have to tell you why I’m writing this note to you. I was reading the passage in the book that told about the time Skynyrd was playing two nights at the Beacon Theater in N.Y.City In 1976 and Leon threw his guitar into the crowd. Well, I was in that crowd… We were in the 2nd row on the right-center isle. I guess that would be stage left. And at the end of Freebird, Leon smashed his guitar a couple times until it broke in two, held together by the strings he wirld it over his head and let it go into the crowd. There were four of us there but only three of us ducked. My friend Bob caught the guitar by the strings, While the rest of the guitar landed in the fourth row. The guys in the fourth row pulled the guitar so hard that my friend had to let go of the strings. And when he did, they got wrapped around a girls neck in the third row. I’ll never forget that. She turned all kinds of colors before her boyfriend got her loose. Her neck was cut up pretty good. And so were my friends fingers….

That was just an incredible night, and I can’t believe I read about that in a book thirty two years later.. I was 17 at that time, Now I’m 49 and I still go to see Skynyrd every time they come to New Jersey.

Please let me know that you get this,
Big Jim

Gene..Just finished your book “Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock”

Having seen the band around 15 times 1973-77..You conveyed their short time on the Planet Perfectly. What a great read.. My favorite time is when they opened for the Who at the Atlanta Omni
I was 20 and they totally blew my mind.. when the Who came on, we sat for 3 songs and had to split

Skynyrd was by far the best live band I ever saw.. and I saw them all.. Thanks Again for the wonderful story

I wish I could of heard them just one more time. What friends you had and have….Peace.. Whaler (David Matteson)

Hi Billy!
I hope this finds you and Gene well!

Bill and I want to thank both of you for the great weekend we had in JAX on the tour! It was something we will never forget! Especially the train!! We could not have timed that one better if we tried to!!! You guys did an excellent job planning everything….

We are counting down the days for the cruise now, mainly to see all of the friends we met last year….and even though we know there are issues there, we still look forward to the music.. because at the end of the day we all know where the it came from and the meaning and the history behind that is priceless and we will continue to honor that as long as we can..

If you guys are ever in Atlanta please give us a call.

Oh yeah one more thing… I read on the board yesterday where one of the guys from the UK asked where the picture for Pronounced was taken. Well I was going thru a divorce a while back and my lawyer is on Main Street in Jonesboro, GA… I went into his office for the first time and he had the album framed and hanging on his wall… I asked if he was a fan and he said not really but the picture was taken outside his window and given to him by a client… I was amazed and could not believe it.. I thought it was some kind of a crazy sign… I mean what are the chances with all of the lawyers around I pick this one where the guys were sitting????…. I was taken back quite a bit! Another funny story is about 2 months ago I had to get a rental car while mine was being repaired and the car I rented I liked.. so I was looking around in the back of the car and where the space tire goes I noticed a CD laying face down… so I picked it up and guess what… it was about the only Skynyrd CD that Bill and I do not have!!!! I almost passed out!!! I could not believe it Billy!!!

Anyway you guys take care and we hope our paths cross again someday soon!

Thanks again, Bill and Robin

Dear Coach Skinner,

Just wanted to send you a little thank you for the autographs you signed for me on Saturday 10/20/07. I am the guy that had the coat with all the autographs on it. I consider it an honor and a privledge to meet the man who gave the name to the greatest rock band that ever was. May God bless you na once again Thank you.

Jim Lecara

Gene,
Just turned 47 today. I was remembering most of the birthdays I could remember. Some were good some not so good. Tuesday Oct.18, 1977 was the day I was given Street Survivors as a birthday gift from my parents. My Dad never could understand why I listened to Skynyrd. I told him that day if he would just listen to the music it wasn’t all about drugs, sex, and the devil. I told him their music was for people like him and me. So we listened in my room. He had a beer in his hand, and I had a bottle of Pepsi. After side one was finished, I looked at my Dad and he got up without saying a word. I asked him where he was going and he answered “To get another damn beer so I can listen to side two”. To this day he says the cover of Haggard’s “Honky Tonk Night Time Man” was the best he’s ever heard. Two days later my heroes were gone. My grief didn’t match yours after you found out you had lost a friend but it was pretty hard for a 17 year old to take that Thursday evening, Oct. 20.

The man was born to write music and wasn’t meant to be on this earth very long. His gift is our gift and we were damn lucky to be affected by his life.

Sincerely,

Jim Lalumondier
Lenexa, KS

I just thought you might find this of some interest. I was a drummer through the 60’s to early 70’s. During school at Okla State Univ I was invited to go up to a farmhouse in far NE Oklahoma outside of the small town of Vinita, OK. My friend who played Hammond organ introduced me to a guitar player named Steve Gaines and a bass player (can’t remember his name). This was approx 1972. Steve and the bass player were awsome. We would play all day. It was wonderful. Eventually, Steve asked me to go to Joplin, Missouri with them. I declined, after much thought, so as to finish college. I suppose they went to Jacksonville, FL after Joplin. At least that’s what I heard. I mever heard from Max ___ (can’t remember) the organ player again.

There are a couple of stories, if you care.

– Reed

Gene Odom inverview on VLS

Gene,

My name is Carl Lunsted… At the Vacaville Art, Wine, and Brew festival you refered to me as "The luckiest white man on the earth," and I do believe you are right!

I wanted to write you and say thank you. Thank you for sharing your day with me in Vacaville, and thank you for sharing your book and DVD’s. I have watched the DVD’s, and I have nearly finished the book. I now have a much clearer understanding of who Ronnie and the band is and was, and I am greatful for you for that. It was an honor to meet and spend time with you, I hope I get the chance to do it again.

Again, thank you so much,

Carl.

New York Times

Southern Man
The truck driver who taught his sons Ronnie, Donnie, and Johnny how to rock.

by Shaila K. Dewan

Click the images below to view a full size scan of the article:

Gene,

Warmest of greetings.

I appreciate the time that it must take to keep up a site as well kept as yours so I’ll be brief.

I’ve been a member for a good while, I just enjoy reading other peoples posts.

I have a fair amount of personal photos of Leon that , with your permission, I can send them to you and you can look at them first and decide whether or not to post them. I just want them to be available to you for your site. no strings attached.

I also have a bunch of photos from Leon’s memorial. A couple of you. My brother in law took a bunch of photos with my camera and a good amount of them captured the mood of the gathering.

I will attach a sample for your perusal.. in the photo……left to right.

Will Arnold, Buzzy Deloach, Leon , and your’s truly on the right.

Somewhere I have a full program of the Wolfson ball park concert.

We four were the final chapter of The King James Version. We found out later that there was a Silverman after the King James part. Leon left us in St. Pete to play with LS for the first time. Buzzy died a long time ago with cerocis of the liver.

Coincidentally, Will Arnold is still kicking and lives here in Dalton. We reminisce every time that we are together.

Well I will bid you goonight.

Best regards,
Butch Lanham