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

Here are a few photos of the Nuthin’ Fancy that will be performing on October 19, 2007 at the Pastime (The Jug).

Your ticket for the 30 Year Anniversary Bus Tour with Gene Odom and Coach Leonard Skinner gets you in for free!

Dear Gene:

Thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort it took for you to write your book "Remembering the Free Birds…:" I have just finished it, and couldn’t put it down. I am a pain management physician (and anesthesiologist) in Mobile and found myself reading it in between seeing patients in the office!  

I’m also a guitar player and with my local band here, we play a few Synyrd songs of course, which is quite fun. I’ve got tickets to see the band with Johnnie in Gulf Shores, Al. this Memorial Day weekend. Can’t wait. I’ve got a couple of my patients who are musicians , rockers (and also LS fans) whom I’m gonna purchase a couple of copies of your book for as gifts, as well. I’ve been a fan since I was an 10 year old kid in 1975 growing up in Atlanta. I remember the fall of ‘77 as being a depresing time for me, as Elvis passed in August and then the accident with you guys in October. I told my brother David, the other day,  who is an attorney now in Atlanta, that I couldn’t believe it’s coming up on 30 years.

Thanks again,

J. Patrick Couch, MD
(rockindoc)

Dear Billy,

I tried to respond to your bulletin, but silly myspace wouldn’t let me. Anyway I just wanted to write you and thank you for keeping them alive through your page and through your friendship. Your page means a lot to me and I am proud to have you on my Friend’s list. My friend and I were on our way to school the morning that the news of the crash was broadcast over the radio. They followed up the news by playing "Free Bird", and to this day I cannot make it all the way through that song without busting out in tears. They were more than just a great band to me. They were like family. I was proud to say they were from my home town and they made me proud I was from the south. They really are legends to me and there will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad and step sister knew the family and said they were really awesome people. I will keep you and all the families in my prayers. And once again Thank you.

Your Myspace Friend,
Dixie Darlin

Hi Gene,

I thought you might be interested in this painting of Ronnie that my friend did for me.

I live in England and have lived in a Lynyrd Skynyrd fantasy land for about twenty four years now.

To me they are the finest group of people that ever made music, and I can only imagine what it was like to know them or hang around them. You are a very lucky man to have had that privelige! Ronnie, Allen, and Gary between them wrote some astounding music. I listen almost every day to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd and never grow tired of it. It is like my only religion, and has influenced my life so much.

When I hear Ronnie’s voice and Allen’s blistering guitar, everything is ok.

I am half way through reading your book for the second time, and it’s hard sometimes to grasp the sheer tragedy of it all, ‘cos that’s what it is isn’t it? It’s a heart-breaking story. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Write back if you know anyone who would be interested in paintings of Ronnie. My friend is good and he’s nearly finished one of Allen playing his flying V. Can’t wait to get that on my wall as well!

Best wishes to you Gene.
Cat