Billy Powell died this morning from a heart ailment.
Powell, keyboardist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Lynyrd Skynyrd, was seriously injured in the Oct. 20, 1977 plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and others.
During the band's hiatus in the 80s, Powell briefly joined a Christian rock band named Vision and spoke during the concerts about his newly found faith in Jesus Christ.
Guitarist Gary Rossington's wife, Dale, said in the Florida Times Union that the band members had long been worried about Powell's health, adding, "But he had such a big huge heart of gold, such a huge abiding faith in God and his savior Jesus."
