West Coast’s Largest Motorcycle Event On The Banks Of The Colorado River

Thursday April 23rd

Friday April 24th

Saturday April 25th

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel And Casino

1650 Casino Dr
Laughlin, NV

Enjoy the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd sound of Skynnyn Lynnyrd with Special Guest Gene Odom. Gene will be on hand signing his book Lynyrd Skynyrd “Remembering The Free Birds Of Southern Rock”
Gene will also have some special Lynyrd Skynyrd memorabilia from his personal collection.


Coach Leonard Skinner, Susan Hughey, and Gene Odom

Don’t miss this great show! This will be some fabulous entertainment!! Gene Odom and Dickey Betts go back together at the beginning of the Southern Rock era. They have not seen each other since the summer of 1977. What a great time it will be.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant and Me

Chapter #1

1974

“If You want to talk Fishin, that’ll be o.k.”

The phone started ringing while it was still dark. He looked over at the alarm clock and crawled out of the perfectly warm bed. As he answered the kitchen phone, the voice on the other end said, “Are you ready to go yet?” He smiled a sleepy smile. His buddy, Ronnie Van Zant was ready to go fishing. Gene looked out the window over the sink. The street lights allowed him to see that the wind was calm and the car hoods were dry up and down the street. He grabbed a bottle of RC cola out of the refrigerator and went back to the bedroom closet to put on some jeans and a t-shirt as quietly as possible. He didn’t want to wake his wife Brenda Joe and little Melissa. He grabbed his wallet, kissed his wife on the cheek, and headed out to the car port to gather his fishing gear. He could hear the truck coming up Mull Street as he picked up his tackle box. He nearly dropped everything as he turned to leave the garage. Maybe later today would be a good time to talk to Melissa about how to use the kickstand on her bike.

The truck stopped in the middle of the street. Gene opened the truck door to be greeted by a long haired rock n’ roll star that was truly glad to see him. “How’s it going Buddy?” The radio was playing “Silver Wings” and Merle Haggard sounded like he meant every word. As the truck ambled slowly around the corner it was just like it had always been. Two young men from the same neighborhood, the same school, the same world. Yet the dreams were different. Life can sure throw some curve balls.

It seemed like yesterday that these same men were just teenagers barely 15 years old “jukin’ “at some neighborhood party trying to act cool, hoping to meet a girl. Any girl…”How is life on the road? You know you’re gettin’ pretty well known for tearing up hotels. Doesn’t that hurt the bottom line just a little bit?” Ronnie looked a little bit embarrassed. “Man, those hotels are like being put into some kind of prison. We spend day and night together and sometimes you just want to blow off a little steam, you know? The music is all that matters anyway. And maybe bad press is better than no press.” Gene just laughed and said, “You are gettin’ press, there ain’t no doubt about it. I’ll tell you one thing, when this music thing slows down, if it ever does, we ought to get you into politics. You know people hear what you’re saying in those songs. We could get you to be Governor and maybe I could be like a fishing ambassador or something.

The water was slick as glass when they dropped the boat in. There was a sliver of pink showing off in the eastern sky. It was going to be hot, but not until later in the day. Right now, all things seemed perfectly aligned to catch a fish.

“I stopped by Claude Hamner’s midway grocery store yesterday. That “Curtis Loew” song has really put some smiles on some faces around here. I’m not really used to hearing Skynyrd when I’m buying bologna for my lunch at work.” Ronnie laughed and said, “I can’t believe all of this is happening myself. Me and Gary and Allen were talking about it the other day during sound check. It seems like yesterday we were running around the block throwing rocks and sneak in’ cigarettes.” A mullet jumped out of the water making a splash 50 feet from the boat. “You know I can feel that bass swimming our way right now. One of us is going to catch a monster.” Ceremoniously, the water broke across the top as Ronnie’s pole nearly fell out of his grip. Gene! I’ve got something on the other end of this thing! It truly was a trophy and Gene had never seen his friend happier. It was May 1977…

The following poem was written by a young Gene Odom not too long after the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. He had apparently started writing as a type of self induced therapy. This poem and several others appeared in a book written by Gene titled “Lynyrd Skynyrd I’ll never forget you”. (Ten thousand copies were made and self published by Gene. While traveling with the groups The Rossington Collins, The Allen Collins Band, and finally Molly Hatchet, Gene sold the books after the shows)

The Phone Call

The bird still fly’s around my home

The fish still hangs on the wall

That old truck still runs the same

And I’m just waiting on you’re call

Those 4:30 calls we used to make

To wake each other up

Are not forgotten to this day

And probably never will be

The poles are now gathered with dust

The boat sits idle and free

Fishing trips I take these days

are not what they used to be

I lay and stare at the phone

and wait for it to ring

All of a sudden I remember

I’m only in a dream

Chapter #6

1956

“Searchin’ for soda bottles and get myself some dough”

The little boys’ feet were pedaling slowly down Mull Street. He was focused on maintaining his balance as he delivered five more soda bottles to Claude’s Midway grocery around the corner. It was early Saturday morning, the dew was still on the ground, and it was about to be a hot one.

The man in the white apron was Claude Hamner. He was the owner and was always glad to see the little boy. The wooden screen door screeched open and Claude couldn’t help but smile. Little Gene Odom was delivering his weekend recovery for pocket change. “I looked up and down all the ditches and parking lots as well as the dirt track. Maybe tomorrow morning I can find a few more.” “Not bad work for a Saturday morning Gene. Here’s your money and the moon pie and the RC is on me. A working man like you needs to keep his strength up.” The little boy just smiled as his small hands took the moon pie and ice cold drink. “Thank you, maybe I can find a few more bottles tomorrow morning.” Just as he turned for the door, a white Marita Bread delivery truck pulled up beside the little store. Gene got on his beat up bicycle and pedaled for Ronnie Van Zant’s house. Ronnie was already out near the street throwing a baseball up in the air.

“What’s going on?” “Just gettin’ rich three nickels at a time. What’s up with you?” “Not much. Do you want to head over to the trees on the third turn of Speedway Park this afternoon? We can watch the race and maybe a tire will fly over the fence. We can sell it back to one of the drivers and make some folding money instead of a pocketful of nickels.” “Sounds like a plan, but if the plan falls apart we’ll go fishin’ when it cools off at the creek o.k.?” Ronnie smiled. “I’ll see you in a few hours. When dad get’s home, I gotta help around the yard for a little while. I’ll catch up with you as soon as I can get away”.

Gene pedaled off. It would be a good day to just hang out and dream of being on that track with the great Lee Roy Yarborough and Wendell Scott…

Later that day, Ronnie and Gene found themselves fishing. No tires came over the fence that day, but the race had been exciting. The stands had been full even in the extreme Florida heat. Some guy named Bobby Allison had won the final race and had got to kiss the pretty girl with the crown and was given the trophy. That man was living the dream.

Watching the bobber in the nearly still water of Cedar River, Ronnie seemed to have something on his mind. “Gene, I’m not going to spend the rest of my life waiting for something to happen. I’m going to make something of myself one of these days.” The Cedar River kept moving gently towards the St. Johns River a few miles away. Some dreams fade away like current in a stream. Others burn like a light that won’t burn out no matter what life throws at you. That’s when a dream turns itself into a vision and a true vision won’t die.

There has been speculation of just who Ronnie was referring to when he sang about the little boy picking up bottles early in the morning in “Curtis Lowe”. Most likely, the portion of the song that was sung as in first person experience was really about Gene. This song in particular had several characters in Ronnie’s mind that he brought together to represent one little boy and one black guitarist. As a young boy, Gene has told me that Ronnie would have been too proud to be out in the community ditches picking up empty bottles to sell. Ronnie’s parents had good jobs so he probably didn’t need to worry about extra spending money. Gene on the other hand, had come from an entire litter of brothers and sisters. He had to do some extra work even at that age if he was going to have any change in his empty pockets. The Van Zant’s back porch was often one of the places Gene would find some empty bottles to redeem for a little spending money.

Tom Ferrell, one of Gene and Ronnie’s boyhood friends has been helpful in bringing the old neighborhood to life. The west side neighborhood, or shantytown as it was sometimes called, was a mix of working people. But, just because people worked hard, didn’t necessarily mean that all of life’s basics were covered. Several of the homes in that immediate area had dirt floors, and many of the homes didn’t have indoor plumbing. Gene’s grandmother for instance, lived just around the corner from his parent’s house and she didn’t have indoor plumbing. Because of the size of Gene’s family, private space was hard to come by. Fortunately, The Odom’s had an older bachelor neighbor named Gordon Hess. That gentleman liked Gene and saw the potential in the young boy. He fed Gene his supper nearly every evening and allowed Gene to take his baths there as well as wash his clothes. Like I mentioned earlier, the people in the neighborhood looked after each other.

“they pick me up when i’m feelin’ blue now how about you?”

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant and Me photos

Lynyrd Skynyrd - The One Percent 1969 www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd sound check with Allen Collins warming up www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Rossington Collins Band - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1976 www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1974 www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1976 Live at the Fox Theatre Atlanta, Georgia www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1977 Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant
Lynyrd Skynyrd www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd - The Heart and Soul Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 4 guitar attack! http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1973 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Fall Tour 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant in the studio for Street Survivors album http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tour of the Survivors 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA July 1976 recording One For From The Road http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Fox Theatre, Altanta, Georgia http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Master Guitarist Steve Gaines http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King, and Leon Wilkeson http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Back yard at Barry Fey's home in Denver, Colorado http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Front yard at Barry Fey's home in Denver, Colorado http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/
Ronnie Van Zant take a smoke break during an interview http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins the Heart and Soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant 1973 opening for The Who http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Ronnie Van Zant and Leon Wilkeson of Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant and Ed King in front of Rebel Flag http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant the absolute Rolls Royce of Southern Rock http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ronnie Van Zant Live At The Fox Atlanta, Georgia July 1976 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Ronnie Van Zant age 8 would later assembly the group that would be called Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - The gleaming smile of Ronnie Van Zant http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - The last show Greenville, South Carolina October 19, 1977 Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Ronnie Van Zant belting it out on stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant directing his band on stage http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant on stage with mic stand in hand and the Confederate flag on his chest http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant performs in front of a packed house http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant doing what he did best http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant - The Man http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant one of the greatest on all time http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, and Billy Powell http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant and Al Kooper the man who put Lynyrd Skynyrd on the map http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant and company perform before a sold out stadium http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in California 1977

Music Ranch March 21, 2009

Southern Rock’s Finest returns to the Music Ranch for a third show. The last one was sold out. For more information check out the link
Special guest Gene Odom will be on hand with his book Lynyrd Skynyrd “Remembering The Free Birds Of Southern Rock.” Gene also has just released two of his greatest interviews. Don’t miss this great show!!!

Southern Rock’s Finest

Southern Rock's Finest - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gene Odom and Ronnie Van Zant with Lynyrd Skynyrd Band 1976	Southern Rock's Finest www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com
Southern Rock's Finest - Monster Guitarist Dangerous Dan Toler Fast Fred Cole on the Harmonica www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Southern Rock's Finest - Dan Toler & Fred Cole
Southern Rock's Finest - Dan Toler tips his hat to Steve Martin and all the other fans of Southern Rock Fred Cole looks on	Southern Rock's Finest - Fast Fred Cole on solo
Southern Rock's Finest - Phil Stevens owner of the Music Ranch and another one of Southern Rock's fine guitarists	Southern Rock's Finest - Renegade Band
Southern Rock's Finest - Renegade gets the crowd going on some fine Southern Rock	Southern Rock's Finest - Fast Fred Cole on Harmonica
Southern Rock's Finest - The Music Ranch's own - Renegade	Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham, Buzzy Meekins, Phil Stokes, and Dan Toler
Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham ( formerly of The Outlaws )	Southern Rock's Finest - Phil Stokes ( formerly of Pure Prairie League )
Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham on vocals	Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham, Buzzy Meekins, Phil Stokes, and Dave Valliere
Southern Rock's Finest - 4 guitar attack!	Southern Rock's Finest - Gettin on Down!
Southern Rock's Finest - The Amazing Dan Toler	Southern Rock's Finest - Dave Valliere on vocals
Southern Rock's Finest - Dan Toler on Midnight Rider. Licks he has perfromed many times with the Allman Brothers	Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham performs some Lynyrd Skynyrd "I Know A Little"
Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham bending a few strings!	Southern Rock's Finest - Phil Stokes, Dan Toler, and Dave Valliere. 3 Master Guitarists
Southern Rock's Finest - Buzzy Meekins and Dan Toler put on a show, Phil Stokes looks on	Southern Rock's Finest - Guitar Great Steve Grisham having some fun!
Southern Rock's Finest - Buzzy Meekins performs an old Molly Hatchett tune. One he has done many times before.	Southern Rock's Finest - Gary Guzzardo (formerly of the Marshall Tucker Band ) during one of his fine solos.
Southern Rock's Finest - Dangerous Dan Toler	Southern Rock's Finest - Steve Grisham into the moment
Southern Rock's Finest - It's tough to follow the finger work of Dan Toler	Southern Rock's Finest - performs Green Grass and High Tides, made famous by the Outlaws
Southern Rock's Finest - At the State Theatre in St. Peterburg, Florida	Southern Rock's Finest - Some fine guitar work by Dave Valliere
Southern Rock's Finest - Nobody has more fun on stage than Dan Toler	Southern Rock's Finest - The one and only Dangerous Dan Toler
Southern Rock's Finest - Phil Stokes belts it out!	Southern Rock's Finest - Southern Rock Smokin'
Southern Rock's Finest - Dave Valliere and Buzzy Meekins making it look easy	Southern Rock's Finest - Makin it sound good.......
Southern Rock's Finest - Up close with Dan Toler	Southern Rock's Finest - Fast Fred Cole waiting his turn
Southern Rock's Finest - Back stage jammin'

I remember at one particular concert, I kept seeing a commotion
out in the crowd. It moved around to the side of the stage and then
disappeared behind the left of the stage. Within minutes of this, some
guy came running right behind the stage without a shirt on. A couple
of security guards came after him so the guy ran underneath the stage
and tried to come on the stage right in front of Ronnie. I ran over to
catch him, but he stabbed me in the left elbow with a knife. I kicked
him and knocked him about eight feet into the crowd. The security
guards got him then.
The band was finished playing by the time things were back to normal,
so I went with them back to the dressing room. The moment we
got inside, Billy Powell screamed out, “Don’t you think you were a little
rough?” I started laughing and said, “Not rough enough. He wasn’t
in my presence long enough.” Billy was really mad then and screamed,
“I don’t like what you did to that guy.” When he said this, I got mad too.
About this time, Ronnie noticed the blood running out the sleeve of
my shirt and said, “What’s wrong with your arm?” I said, “That guy
Billy is all upset over stabbed me with a knife.” They rolled up my sleeve
and there was about a two-inch cut on my arm. Billy’s attitude sure changed then.
He said, “Man, I didn’t know he did that. I’m sorry.” I said, “You mind your music
business and I will mind the security business.” Ronnie said, “I told you it wouldn’t
be easy. You’re just earning your pay.” He started laughing in that old Westside
laugh of his and said, “Hey, I’m sorry.” I said, “Hell, I’m tough,” and then I went
back to work to prepare for leaving the show. I didn’t have any trouble with Billy after that.

Thanks,
Gene

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Hometown rockers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, suffer another tragic loss. Keyboardist Billy Powell died Wednesday in his Orange Park home of a suspected heart attack. He was 56 years old.

The news came as a shock to family, friends, and fans. Gene Odom worked security for the band in its heyday. And like Powell, he survived the 1977 plane crash that devastated the band, killing frontman Ronnie Van Zant. Bonded from that moment on, Odom calls Powell a rock and roll rarity. “On the road, he was true blue. He was the guy that didn’t let rock and roll ,and the fame, and the women mess up his marriage. He was a great family man,” says Odom.

Odom also says Powell’s death is the end of an era, “Not only should they bury Billy Powell, they should bury the name Lynyrd Skynyrd with him, because it’s over now.”

I have 5 or 6 of my double CD Collections of Interviews(audio only). One of the interviews is from Toronto, Canada. The longest live studio interview ever hosted by John Derringer. The second one is from Monroe, NC at WIXE. If you would like one send $30.00 dollars in the form of a money order to the following

Gene Odom
10846 East Barret Lane
Inverness, FL 34450

This is a 2 Disc CD Collection

I have a very few books left for anybody that wants a personally autographed hardback copy. On January 24, 2009 I will have Coach Leonard Skinner to autograph them as well. You can purchase them next Saturday at the tribute or send a $29.00 money order. This will include handling and shipping to the following:

Gene Odom
10846 East Barret Lane
Inverness, FL 34450

This will be Coach Leonard Skinner’s last personal appearance!

Coach Leonard Skinner, Susan Hughey, and Gene Odom

Former bodyguard penning tale about
life after accident
By RYAN TRARES
DAILY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The death of a rock ‘n’ roll legend can define an era.
The death of a close friend can define a man.
No matter how many years pass, Gene Odom always will
remember the night of October 20, 1977.
Music fans will recognize the date.
Some where over Mississippi, the airplane carrying rock band Lynyrd
Skynyrd crashed, killing charismatic lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and
Four other people aboard. Odom was on that plane. As the band’s security director and Van Zant’s personal bodyguard, he helped pull his childhood friend into a plane seat and strapped in the sleeping Van Zant.
“That was probably three seconds beforethe crash,” he said.
The rest is rock ‘n’ roll history.

For Odom, the crash ended the chapter of his life with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
But his story extends further than his association with the famed band.
With the help of Franklin resident Scott Coner,he’s telling his own tale.
The two joined forces to write “Theirs Forever: The Ballad of Gene Odom,
“a retrospective of Odom’s life,complete with an accompanying album of
original music Coner wrote. Odom and Coner came together through their musical interest and while Odom was doing a favor for one of Coner’s friends. The friend, a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan who was suffering from cancer, wanted to see the band’s old neighborhood. Coner contacted Odom, who escorted the man through their old haunts. The friendship built from there. Odom has published two books about his time with the band. The first, “Lynyrd Skynyrd I’ll Never Forget You,”
was a self-published collection of memories he had growing up with Van Zant. The second, “Lynyrd Skynyrd, Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock,” follows the same formula, focusing on Odom’s time with the band. With this book, Coner felt it was time for Odom to tell his own story. “His life, the interesting portions, didn’t stop in 1977.They really started then,” he said.

For the past week, the two have been working at Coner’s Franklin home and office as Odom tells his story. While not dwelling on it, Coner knows it would be difficult to write the book without starting with the close relationship between Odom and Van Zant. The two were childhood friends. They grew up in the same poor neighborhood in
Jacksonville, Fla., and spent time fishing and hanging out, often wreaking havoc. They stayed friends after Van Zant started playing music. When Lynyrd Skynyrd started its meteoric rise, Van Zant asked Odom to be his bodyguard. Despite all of the tales that come from living with a rock band, Coner was fascinated by the parts that came after the plane crash. He wanted to delve into Odom’s rehabilitation from that wreck, which severely burned him and cost him his left eye. After two years spent recovering, Odom went to work as an ironworker. But a work accident in 1990,combined with the injuries sustained in the plane crash, made it too difficult to work. He has been living on disability since then. The book will touch on Odom’s divorce in 1989,an event he calls horrendous. He also will write about his two daughters and grandchildren, who are referenced in the title “Theirs Forever.” To go with the book, Coner, his musician friend Johnny Burbrink and Odom have been working on an album of original songs.

The lead track is “The Ballad of Gene Odom,” a haunting song detailing the fateful plane crash and legal troubles that arose in the 1980s with the surviving band members. Odom still holds some resentment for the current version of the band, which he refers to as “second-class Skynyrd” and “that clown act.” Their touring under the Lynyrd Skynyrd name and playing the old songs without Van Zant violates an agreement they all signed after the crash. But Odom tries not to dwell on that. He instead
wants to honor his friend while also saying something about his own life.
Coner hopes they appeal to Lynyrd Skynyrd fans while opening up new veins of music to their ears. The plan is to have the package ready to go by fall. Coner said they hope to have some music available on Odom’s Website, www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com as well as perhaps a sample chapter. “We’re going to try and coerce them into taking a step out here in faith and saying maybe there’s something outside of Freebird’ and ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’” he said.