Former Lynrd Skynrd guitarist who co-wrote one of the bands biggest singles ‘Sweet Home Alabama‘ Ed King has died at the age of 68.
The news was announced on King’s Facebook page which stated he died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee.
No cause of death had been announced however Rolling Stone reported that King had been battling lung cancer.
King, who was born in California, joined the Skynrd in 1972 appearing on three albums before leaving the band after a fight with Ronnie Van Zant. Unfortunately the group ended up disbanding entirely after a plane crash in 1977 that killed three members of the band one of which was Van Zant himself.
However King’s time in Skynrd was rekindled in 1987 when he rejoined the group for a reunion tour that featured Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny taking his spot on vocals.
King also appeared with the other surviving members of the band before the crash when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. This came 10 years after King originally had to retire from playing when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 1996. He eventually though was able to get a heart transplant in 2011.
His counterpart on the guitar Gary Rossington said he was ‘shocked’ and ‘saddened’ by the news of King’s death adding “Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player,” and that “I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
