1964
Ronnie Van Zant hits a line drive that strikes Bob Burns in the head, who was watching the game with Gary Rossington. Burns is knocked unconscious but the three became friends and have a common interest in music. They soon form a band along with Allen Collins and Larry Junstrom.
That fall "The Noble Five" plays their first gig for $10.

1965
The core of Lynyrd Skynyrd- singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Gary Rossington, guitarist Allen Collins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, and drummer Bob Burns- is formed at a high school in Jacksonville, FL, initially as the group, "My Backyard." The name is later changed to Lynyrd Skynyrd to immortalize school gym teacher Leonard Skinner, a legendary antagonist of longhaired students.

Ronnie Van Zant enters into a brief marriage with Nadine.

1966
Ronnie and Nadine's daughter, Tammy Michelle is born.

1968
Lynyrd Skynyrd records "Michelle" and "Need All My Friends." The latter is released as their debut single on Shade Tree Records, a label based in their hometown.

1969
Lynyrd Skynyrd wins a battle of the bands contest in Hemming Park located in Jacksonville, FL. Lacy Van Zant (Ronnie's father) drives the band to Atlanta to record two songs as the prize. They record "Spoonful" and "Michelle." Lacy also gives them $120 for a Bogan PA for vocals.





1970
Allen Collins marries Kathy Johns.

The band starts rehearsing at Hell House.

By this time all the members have dropped out of Robert E. Lee High School. Before a gig at Jay's Forest Inn, Ronnie Van Zant introduces the band as Leonard Skinner, a high school gym teacher who tormented them for their long hair. They later change the spelling to Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Roadie Billy Powell joins the band as keyboardist.

The band asks to be let out of their contract with Shade Tree Records.

1971
Bob Burns leaves the band and is replaced by Rickey Medlocke. In January Lynyrd Skynyrd record their demo album at Quinvy Studios in Muscle Shoals.

Larry Junstrom leaves the band.

1972
On November 18th Ronnie Van Zant marries Judy Seymour

Rickey Medlocke leaves the band and Bob Burns returns.

Leon Wilkeson replaces Larry Junstrom.

1973
The debut album "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd" is released and goes gold. In November they open for The Who on their "Quadrophenia" tour.

At Funochios, an Atlanta club, Al Kooper notices Lynyrd Skynyrd and signs them to his Sounds Of The South label.

Rickey Medlocke rejoins the band giving them two drummers, but leaves the band soon after.

Leon Wilkeson leaves the band but soon rejoins.

Ed King joins the band as bass player but later switches to guitar.

1974
The band releases their second effort, "Second Helping," which spawns their first charting U.S. single "Sweet Home Alabama." The song is seen as a southerner's response to Neil Young's 1971 song "Southern Man." The single reaches #8 on the charts, with the album itself hitting #12 (earning yet another gold disc)

1975
The band releases their third album, "Nuthin Fancy," and it goes gold. The single from the album is "Saturday Night Special."

"Freebird" is re-released as a single, and garners notable national airplay, reaching the top 20 in the charts.

The band embarks on "The Torture Tour."

Bob Burns leaves the band.

Ed King leaves the band.

Artimus Pyle joins the band.

The Honkettes, comprised of Leslie Hawkins, JoJo Billingsley and Cassie Gaines become a part of the band

The band tours the UK for the first time in support of the group Golden Earring.

1976
In September, Gary Rossington is injured in a car accident in Jacksonville, which inspires "That Smell."

Steve Gaines joins the band.

The new effort, "Gimme Back My Bullets"- produced by Tom Dowd- will reach Top 20 and become the band's fourth consecutive gold record.

"One More For The Road" release becomes the group's largest-selling album of their career thus far with over a million copies sold. The live