Billy Powell

Billy Powell Birth name William Norris Powell Born 3 June 1952(1952-06-03)
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Genre(s)Southern rockOccupation(s) Musician, SongwriterYears active 1973 – current Associated acts Lynyrd Skynyrd

William Norris "Billy" Powell (born June 3, 1952) is the keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Powell began playing piano at a young age. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his family as a teenager and enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School, where he met Leon Wilkeson, the future bassist of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Powell worked as a roadie for Skynyrd beginning in 1970 after he graduated.[1] While setting up for a show one day in 1972, he began to play his own version of Skynyrd song "Free Bird". Songwriter and vocalist Ronnie Van Zant was impressed and invited him to join the band as the keyboardist.

Lynyrd Skynyrd received national exposure starting in 1973 with the release of their first album and hit single "Free Bird". They disbanded in 1977 when a plane crash killed members Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines. Powell continued to perform in various bands until Skynyrd's reunion in 1987.

Powell and guitarist Gary Rossington are the only two members from the classic lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd who continue to record and perform with the reunited band today. However, current Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke drummed briefly for the band in an early incarnation.

Powell recently checked himself into a rehab facility in Nashville after a hip replacement and quit touring with the band but has since returned.

His son Brandon Powell is a guitarist in the Jacksonville based rock band Syntenic.