Lynyrd Skynyrd and Gene Odom in the Class room

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Dear Billy and Gene,
I can hardly express my gratitude for your gift of the DVDï¿½s about Lynyrd Skynyrd and Gene Odom. I was absolutely blown-away by your generosity and kindness. I was especially pleased to receive not only the Pepsi Tribute and Geneï¿½s interview along with Coach Skinnerï¿½s, but the added bonus of the ï¿½Whistle Testï¿½ from 1975. These DVDï¿½s are treasures beyond what I had expected.
Let me share with you my use of the DVDï¿½s yesterday within the classroom. I was called in to substitute once again in a Civics and World History classroom. While I continue to seek a teaching contract, I manage to make ends meet by being on-call to several schools for a meager per-day payment. Most days that I spend with the students are so rewarding that I often feel as though it is I who should pay the school for the privilege of being there. I have never felt quite so richly rewarded as I felt yesterday when I presented your DVDï¿½s for the students viewing.
This Friday was the last day of school before a week of school vacation. It is a notorious day for accomplishing very little academically in the classroom as all eyes are looking forward to vacation plans. Many teachers simply throw in the academic towel and use the class time for showing a movie, such as ï¿½National Treasureï¿½ or perhaps allowing the students to play some games during the period. As a substitute, I am duty bound to implement the absent teacherï¿½s lesson plan without deviation. I realized first thing upon arrival that the dayï¿½s lesson of reviewing a 3-page, single-spaced article with 4 essay questions utilizing complete sentences, was not going to be met by much joy from the students longing for an easy day. Thankfully, I had a secret weapon at my disposal. I had the original Lynyrd Skynyrd; Ronnie Van Zant and fellow band members, along with Coach Skinner and Gene Odom on my team for the day.
There were six 45-minute classes scheduled through the day. I warmed the class up by being upbeat and positive about the assignment. To the moans and groans of; ï¿½Why canï¿½t WE watch a movie?ï¿½ I told the students that I did indeed have something special for them to watch but that they could only see it if they promised to work on the writing assignment during the filmï¿½s presentation. ï¿½What is it?ï¿½ they asked fearing a biography of Winston Churchill or some other boring documentary.
ï¿½Ah, I have something very special that you might like to see. Last night, I received in the mail a package of DVDï¿½s directly from Gene Odom who was Ronnie Van Zantï¿½s friend and bodyguard. Yï¿½all know who Ronnie Van Zant is right? [Many did but to the few puzzled faces I added: ] The original Lynyrd Skynyrd, before the plane crash, the daysï¿½ they were at their peak. You know: ï¿½Free Birdï¿½ and ï¿½Sweet Home Alabamaï¿½.ï¿½
Yes, they knew but most had never seen original footage of the band performing. Youth, currently, are most familiar with ï¿½Free Birdï¿½ as being the final hurtle, the last challenge to the video game ï¿½Guitar Heroï¿½. It is in a manner of speaking, the Holy Grail quest of gamers. I knew quickly that I had their attention.
Class by I class, I introduced the assignment with the added special bonus of watching ï¿½Free Birdï¿½ performed live by the original Skynyrd. I decided to begin with the Whistle Testï¿½s cuts of ï¿½Sweet Home Alabamaï¿½ and ï¿½Free Birdï¿½ knowing that no one could resist the power of the music and I then followed up with either the Pepsi Tribute or the Gene and Coach interview. Each and every class got down to work as the video ran, each student working on answering the questions for ï¿½What are we currently thankful for?ï¿½ assignment, each student listening and looking towards the screen intermittently to catch a view of the legendary band.
From the back of the room, I looked on in silent pride as the assignment was completed in itï¿½s entirety but also completed with skill and academic effort. Even the students who were traditional non-achievers completed the assignment. No grumbling, no complaining, no noise other than the scratching of pens upon paper and the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrdï¿½s RVZï¿½s voice backed by the fabulous guitar riffs and thundering drums. The students were mesmerized and wanted more. ï¿½Who is that?ï¿½ ï¿½OOoooo look at his hair!ï¿½ ï¿½Thatï¿½s a Fender.ï¿½ ï¿½I think itï¿½s a Gibson.ï¿½ ï¿½Oh WOW! This is awesome!ï¿½
They loved Coach Skinnerï¿½s story of the bandï¿½s name and played off with teacherï¿½s names within the building. I became ï¿½Syndyrsynï¿½, perhaps the name of a future band as yet un-formed. The students listened to Geneï¿½s words, wide-eyed and with reverence as they understood the tragedy of the sad loss.
Word spread throughout the school at lunchtime that I was showing the Skynyrd films. The afternoon classes arrived anticipating and wanting to see ï¿½Free Birdï¿½. I found myself in the rare situation of being the classroom that was envied. Those students who had thought they had it made in other classrooms with the movie ï¿½National Treasureï¿½ and no classroom assignment, were jealous of my kids! The students actually remained seated and focused all the way up to the ending bell, wanting to watch more. This simply never happens as the kids are usually watching the clock and ready to leave 5-minutes before the bell! I watched in amazement. This was a special day in my teaching career. A silent young male student, who never says a word in class and is withdrawn and often alone, stayed behind. “I have a Lynyrd Skynyrd story to share with you” he said. His face broke into the first smile I have ever seen on him as he related his father’s love for Skynyrd and of the treasures his Dad had collected over the years. I was truly touched by this student’s sharing and obvious pride. To reach a student is my goal, my “Free Bird”.
Billy and Gene, I know I have written quite a bit but I wanted to share the full experience of the day with you. Perhaps you can understand how special it was to see yet another generation awaken to Lynyrd Skynyrd and know that we are ï¿½Keeping it ALIVEï¿½. Thank-you for the DVDï¿½s and Bless You for your kindness.
Cheers, Annie from www.AllSouthernRock.com

LYNYRD SKYNYRD DOCUMENTARY WITH GENE ODOM
Experience this Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary as if you were there, because I was and you will be too. This exciting Documentary covers the complete Lynyrd Skynyrd Bus Tour 2008 with all the stories. For all the true Lynyrd Skynyrd Fans. I have shared some behind the scenes stories never before told. The Ballad Of Gene Odom DVD is also included. This DVD Collection is available at the prices listed below. Inside USA $29.99. Outside USA $39.99. All shipping and handling is included.
Thanks!!! Gene Odom

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Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant and Me

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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 youï¿½re 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 youï¿½re 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 Hamnerï¿½s 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 Ronnieï¿½s 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 1977ï¿½

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 ï¿½Lynyrd Skynyrd Iï¿½ll never forget youï¿½. (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 flyï¿½s around my home

The fish still hangs on the wall

That old truck still runs the same

And Iï¿½m just waiting on youï¿½re 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

Iï¿½m only in a dream

Chapter #6

1956

ï¿½Searchinï¿½ for soda bottles and get myself some doughï¿½

The little boysï¿½ feet were pedaling slowly down Mull Street. He was focused on maintaining his balance as he delivered five more soda bottles to Claudeï¿½s 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 couldnï¿½t help but smile. Little Gene Odom was delivering his weekend recovery for pocket change. ï¿½I 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.ï¿½ ï¿½Not bad work for a Saturday morning Gene. Hereï¿½s your money and the moon pie and the RC is on me. A working man like you needs to keep his strength up.ï¿½ The little boy just smiled as his small hands took the moon pie and ice cold drink. ï¿½Thank you, maybe I can find a few more bottles tomorrow morning.ï¿½ 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 Zantï¿½s house. Ronnie was already out near the street throwing a baseball up in the air.

ï¿½Whatï¿½s going on?ï¿½ ï¿½Just gettinï¿½ rich three nickels at a time. Whatï¿½s up with you?ï¿½ ï¿½Not 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.ï¿½ ï¿½Sounds like a plan, but if the plan falls apart weï¿½ll go fishinï¿½ when it cools off at the creek o.k.?ï¿½ Ronnie smiled. ï¿½Iï¿½ll see you in a few hours. When dad getï¿½s home, I gotta help around the yard for a little while. Iï¿½ll catch up with you as soon as I can get awayï¿½.

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 Scottï¿½

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. ï¿½Gene, Iï¿½m not going to spend the rest of my life waiting for something to happen. Iï¿½m going to make something of myself one of these days.ï¿½ 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 wonï¿½t burn out no matter what life throws at you. Thatï¿½s when a dream turns itself into a vision and a true vision wonï¿½t 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 ï¿½Curtis Loweï¿½. 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 Ronnieï¿½s 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. Ronnieï¿½s parents had good jobs so he probably didnï¿½t 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 Zantï¿½s 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 Ronnieï¿½s 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, didnï¿½t necessarily mean that all of lifeï¿½s basics were covered. Several of the homes in that immediate area had dirt floors, and many of the homes didnï¿½t have indoor plumbing. Geneï¿½s grandmother for instance, lived just around the corner from his parentï¿½s house and she didnï¿½t have indoor plumbing. Because of the size of Geneï¿½s family, private space was hard to come by. Fortunately, The Odomï¿½s 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 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/about/	Lynyrd Skynyrd sound check with Allen Collins warming up http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Rossington Collins Band - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington www.LynyrdSkynyrdDixie.com	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1976 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1974 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/	Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1976 Live at the Fox Theatre Atlanta, Georgia http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1977 Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/
Lynyrd Skynyrd http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - The Heart and Soul Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - 4 guitar attack! http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1973 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/about/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Fall Tour 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant in the studio for Street Survivors album http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/about/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tour of the Survivors 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA July 1976 recording One For From The Road http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Fox Theatre, Altanta, Georgia http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Master Guitarist Steve Gaines http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King, and Leon Wilkeson http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Back yard at Barry Fey's home in Denver, Colorado http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/news-articles/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Front yard at Barry Fey's home in Denver, Colorado http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
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, Ronnie Van Zant, & Gene Odom http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live in California 1977 http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/category/blog/stories/	Lynyrd Skynyrd "A Day on the Green" http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/about/
Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary with Gene Odom http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/lynyrd-skynyrd-products/	Lynyrd Skynyrd - Rare Studio Interviews 5 Disc CD Collection