genre donnie van zant
Lynyrd Skynyrd ( pronounced ) is an American ___MASK93___ band best known for popularizing the ___MASK36___ ___MASK63___ during the 1970s . Originally formed in 1964 as " My Backyard " in Jacksonville , Florida , the band was also known by names such as " The Noble Five " and " One Percent ", before finally deciding on " Lynyrd Skynyrd " in 1969 . The band gained worldwide recognition for its live performances and signature songs " Sweet Home Alabama " and " Free Bird ". At the peak of their success , three members died in an airplane crash in 1977 , putting an abrupt end to the band ' s most popular incarnation . The band has sold 28 million albums in the United States . Van Zant is an American ___MASK87___ duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant . Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant , former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd . Johnny became the lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 , and Donnie was also the leader and vocalist of . 38 Special . Florida ( Spanish for " land of flowers ") is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico , to the north by Alabama and Georgia , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba . Florida is the 22nd most extensive , the 3rd most populous , and the 8th most densely populated of the U . S . states . Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . The Miami metropolitan area is Florida ' s most populous ___MASK55___ area . The city of Tallahassee is the state capital . " Sweet Home Alabama " is a ___MASK76___ by ___MASK36___ band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album , " Second Helping ". Mississippi is a state in the southern region of the United States , with part of its southern border formed by the Gulf of Mexico . Its ___MASK35___ border is formed by the Mississippi River . Florida ' s First Coast , or simply the First Coast , is a region of the U . S . state of Florida , located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida . The First Coast refers to the same general area as the " directional " region of Northeast Florida . It roughly comprises the five counties surrounding Jacksonville : Duval , Baker , Clay , Nassau and St . Johns , largely corresponding to the Jacksonville metropolitan area , and may include other nearby areas such as Putnam and Flagler counties in Florida and Camden County , Georgia . The name originated in a ___MASK89___ campaign in the 1980s , and has since emerged as one of Florida ' s best known vernacular regions . The Jacksonville metropolitan area , also called Greater Jacksonville or Metro Jacksonville , is the metropolitan area centered on the principal city of Jacksonville , Florida and including the First Coast of North Florida . The U . S . Office of ___MASK99___ and Budget designates the area as the Jacksonville , Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area , a metropolitan statistical area used for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau and other government agencies . The OMB defines the metropolitan statistical area as consisting of five counties : Duval , Clay , St . Johns , Nassau , and Baker . According to the 2010 United States Census , the total population was 1 , 345 , 596 , with a 2015 estimate of 1 , 449 , 481 . The Jacksonville metropolitan area is the 40th largest in the country and the fourth largest in the state of Florida , behind the Miami , Tampa , and Orlando metropolitan areas . Ronald Wayne " Ronnie " Van Zant ( January 15 , 1948  October 20 , 1977 ) was an American lead vocalist , primary lyricist , and a founding member of the ___MASK36___ band Lynyrd Skynyrd . He was the older brother of current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant , and of the founder and vocalist of 38 Special , Donnie Van Zant . He was the father of singer Tammy Van Zant , and cousin of musician Jimmie Van Zant . ___MASK36___ is a subgenre of ___MASK53___ and a genre of Americana . It developed in the Southern United States from ___MASK93___ and roll , country music , and blues , and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals . Although the origin of the term ___MASK36___ is unknown , " many people feel that these important contributors to the development of ___MASK93___ and roll have been minimized in ___MASK93___ ' s history ." The St . Johns River is the longest river in the U . S . state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use . At long , it winds through or borders twelve counties , three of which are the state ' s largest . The drop in elevation from headwaters to mouth is less than ; like most Florida waterways , the St . Johns has a very low flow rate and is often described as " lazy ". It is notable among some that the river ' s course flows north , a relatively rare characteristic . Numerous lakes are formed by the river or flow into it , but as a river its widest point is nearly across . The narrowest point is in the headwaters , an unnavigable marsh in Indian River County . The St . Johns drainage basin of includes some of Florida ' s major wetlands . It is separated into three major basins and two associated watersheds for Lake George and the Ocklawaha River , all managed by the St . Johns River Water ___MASK99___ District . Duval County is a county located in the State of Florida . As of the 2010 census , the population was 864 , 263 , with a 2015 estimate at 913 , 010 . Its county seat is Jacksonville , with which the Duval County ___MASK21___ has been consolidated since 1968 . Duval County was established in 1822 , and is named for William Pope Duval , Governor of Florida Territory from 1822 to 1834 . Donald Newton `` Donnie '' Van Zant ( born June 11 , 1952 , in Jacksonville , Florida ) is an American ___MASK93___ vocalist / guitarist . He is best known as having been a member of the band 38 Special , from its formation in 1974 until 2013 . He is the middle of three brothers : his older brother Ronnie was the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi along with five other members and associates of the band ; his younger brother Johnny is Lynyrd Skynyrd ' s current lead singer . Donnie and Johnny also perform together from time to time as the group Van Zant . According to a posting in March 2013 on the 38 Special website , `` Donnie Van Zant has not been able to join the band ' s performances for the past 6 months . In accordance with doctor ' s strict orders and due to health issues related to inner - ear nerve damage , he will also not be able to join 38 Special onstage in the foreseeable future . Donnie will continue to write and record with the band . '' However , it was announced later in 2013 that he had officially left 38 Special , and was retiring . Van Zant is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars . He recorded a video , along with remaining members of Lynyrd Skynyrd , that is played at every Jaguars home game on the Everbank Field video board . Jacksonville is a seaport city and the seat of Duval County , Florida , United States . With an estimated 868 , 031 residents as of 2015 , Jacksonville is the most populous city in both the state of Florida and the southeastern United States . It is estimated to be the 12th most populous city in the United States and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1 , 573 , 606 and is the 40th largest in the United States and fourth largest in the state of Florida . The city is situated on the banks of the St . Johns River , in the First Coast region of North Florida , about south of the Georgia state line and north of Miami . John Roy " Johnny " Van Zant ( born February 27 , 1959 ) is an American musician and the current lead vocalist of ___MASK36___ band Lynyrd Skynyrd . He is the younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd co - founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant , and of the . 38 Special founder , Donnie Van Zant . Miami is a seaport city at the southeastern corner of the U . S . state of Florida and its Atlantic coast . As the seat of Miami - Dade County , the municipality is the principal , central , and most populous of its metropolitan area and part of the second - most populous metropolis in the southeastern United States . According to the U . S . Census Bureau , Miami ' s metro area is the eighth - most populous and fourth - largest ___MASK55___ area in the U . S ., with a population of around 5 . 5 million . " Free Bird ", or " Freebird ", is a power ___MASK80___ performed by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd . The ___MASK76___ was first featured on the band ' s debut album in 1973 and has been included on subsequent albums released by the band , including the previously unreleased , unfaded - ending version of the original recording ( featured on " Skynyrd ' s Innyrds "). Amazon . com ___MASK1___ reviewer Lorry Fleming calls it " the most - requested ___MASK76___ in the history of ___MASK53___ ."