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Gary Rossington (2019)
Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and songwriter Gary Rossing has died at the age of 71.
The musician was the last surviving founding member of the rock band from Florida until his death.
"It is with deepest sympathy and sadness that we announce the loss of our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist Gary Rossington today," Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote on Facebook.
"Gary is in heaven now with his Skynyrd brothers and family, playing nicely as he always does."
The band from Jacksonville, Florida, celebrated success in the early 1970s with their blues and swamp-inspired rock music.
She was one of the most important representatives of southern rock.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Her biggest hits included "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird."
The line-up of the band has changed over the years.
In 1977, the band crashed on a chartered plane.
Six people died, including singer-songwriter Ronnie Van Zant.
Rossing survived the accident badly injured.
"It was a devastating affair," he told Rolling Stone in 2006. "You can't just casually talk about it and have no feelings about it."
bbr/AP