Ronnie Van Zant(1948-1977)

Composer
Music Department
Soundtrack

This authorized documentary will explore the music and backstory of the legendary American band. With the songs from the first six Skynyrd albums driving the narration, the film focuses on the story of frontman Ronnie Van Zant - his upbringing, his roots, his work ethic and his contradictory persona as both as a mythic Southern rock poet and notorious boozed-up brawler, as well as the relationships between his friends and fellow founding members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, along with later bandmates Ed King and Artimus Pyle.

Play trailer0:58

If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd (2018)

Ronnie Van Zant was born on January 15, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the oldest son of six children (3 sisters and 2 brothers - musicians Donnie and Johnny). Ronnie attended Lee High School in Jacksonville with fellow band members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. At the height of their fame, on October 20, 1977, their chartered plane crashed. Ronnie was killed along with band members Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie. His signature songs are "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama".

IMDbProStarmeter See rank

Awards
- 1 win total

Photos1

Known for

Boss Level

6.8

Soundtrack("Workin' for MCA")

2020

Kingsman: The Secret Service

7.7

Soundtrack("Free Bird")

2014

Crimson Tide

7.4

Soundtrack("Sweet Home Alabama")

1995

Con Air

6.9

Soundtrack("Sweet Home Alabama")

1997

Credits

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IMDbPro

Composer

Kid Rock: All Summer Long
6.5
Music Video
- Composer
- 2008
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live from Austin, TX
7.6
Video
- Composer
- 2006

Music Department

Soundtrack

Viki ja Köpi Show
7.4
TV Series
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2024
Will Trent
7.7
TV Series
- writer: "Gimme Three Steps"
- 2024
Reacher
8.0
TV Series
- writer: "Simple Man"
- 2024
Popeda: Ratinasta poikki
TV Special
- writer: "Soittomatkalla" (The Needle and the Spoon)
- 2024
Jules
6.8
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2023
CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley
7.8
TV Series
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2023
Family Guy
8.1
TV Series
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2017–2022
Bandit
6.4
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2022
Outsiders
2.4
TV Series
- writer: "Sweet Home Alabama"
- 2021–2022
Young Sheldon
7.7
TV Series
- writer: "What's Your Name"
- 2021
The Premise
6.7
TV Series
- writer: "Tuesday's Gone" (uncredited)
- 2021
Encounter
5.9
- writer: "Simple Man"
- 2021
America: The Motion Picture
5.6
- writer: "Free Bird"
- 2021
Willy's Wonderland
5.5
- lyrics: "Free Bird"
- music: "Free Bird"
- 2021
Hillbilly Elegy
6.7
- writer: "Tuesday's Gone"
- 2020

Videos1

Trailer 0:58

Teaser Trailer

Personal details

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Official site
- Official Site
Alternative name
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Height
- 5′ 7½″ (1.71 m)
Born
- January 15, 1948
- Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Died
- October 20, 1977
- Gillsburg, Mississippi, USA(plane crash)
Spouses
Relatives
Publicity listings
- 1 Portrayal
- 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

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Trivia
Had a closed casket funeral. Many thought this to be because he was horribly disfigured or even decapitated during the 1977 plane crash. That is not true. Ronnie had a bruise about the size of a quarter on his temple (which was the cause of death - blunt head trauma). His wife, Judy, remembered that Ronnie once said he did not wish to have people "gawking" at his body, so she made it a closed casket funeral.