This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In a conversation with Gene Odom, the bands security manager, Van Zant told him, that Steve Gaines is the best thing to ever happen to this band., On October 13, 1977, the band departed on a tour in their old plane to support and promote their new album. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Van Zant was buried in Jacksonville, Florida, with his signature Texas Hatters hat and his favorite fishing pole (via Mental Floss). Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. Steve Gaines, Actor: A Way Back In. What is meant by the competitive environment? Gaines was cremated and his ashes were buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zants tombs on June 29, 2000. Copyright 2012 by ClickOrlando.com. Embed from Getty Images. Memorial bench for Teresa Gaines Rapp, widow of guitarist Steve Gaines and sister-in-law of backup singer, Cassie Gaines. Chris Soldt, a Boston photographer who spent much of his life in Jacksonville, recently took a tour of the citys Southern rock graves. Steve Gaines: Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines was cremated and had his ashes housed not far from the gravesite of fellow Skynyrd member Ronnie Van Zant. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. When not researching cases and sharing his findings on radio and TV, Pat Fitzhugh can be found speaking at paranormal conferences, teaching classes on paranormal research, and leading live, professional investigations of Americas most haunted locations. Once you cross this bridge heading west, you are officially in Skynyrd Country. The Lynyrd Skynyrd historic sites will begin at Green Cove Springs (a few miles past this bridge), and extend north some 20 miles into Jacksonville. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. Ronnie Van Zant, one of his sisters, and his parents, are now buried here. When Lynyrd Skynyrd wasn't busy with their music, Van Zant's go-to activity was fishing. 10 Things That Have Happened To Rock Stars' Ashes A bit of an old soul who enjoys a good hit of nostalgia! Lynyrd Skynyrd Historic Sites in and Around Jacksonville You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. In 1977, the body of Steve Gaines was cremated and his ashes buried in Orange Park, Florida. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Jacksonville's own Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. ORANGE PARK -- Nearly 23 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd rock singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines were laid to rest at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, vandals broke into a tomb and disturbed their remains yesterday morning. Next thing, her husband bolts through the front door and threatens Ronnie with his life. Gaines was born in Miami, Oklahoma. In his final days, Adrian Rogers told those gathered around him, 'I am Original grave of Steve Gaines After being driven home from the concert, he pestered his father enough to buy him his first guitar. Cassie recommended her brother, and after initial reluctance, the band allowed Steve to join them onstage for a show in Kansas City on May 11, 1976. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The original mausoleum remains in place. Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. Can a leprechaun get away if you look at him? Lynyrd Skynyrd was on tour when the accident happened, and in an interview with Orlando Sentinel, guitarist Gary Rossington recalled Allen Collins' concerns about the flames he saw coming from the plane's engine on their previous flight. Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. They also found a bag containing Gaines' cremated ashes on the ground. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". "We're really bummed," Carpenter said. Cochran said he's been trying to see the lot for a couple of months now. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Burial. Rocks Off Magazine is reader-supported. A plane that had problems the previous year. The secret was leaked through Craigslist. The plane landed in a swampy area and crashed into trees. Van Zants family decided to relocate his remains to Riverside Memorial Park cemetery in Jacksonville. The Van Zant family plot at Riverside Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida. His experience in the field spans nearly four decades. Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. The Jaxson Tragic Details Found In Leon Wilkeson's Autopsy Report - Grunge.com The group ended up recording at the well-known Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Arguably the first true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, formed following a jam at a Riverside home known as the Gray House. The Gaines siblings and Van Zant, along with three members of the group's road crew, were killed in October 1977 when their twin-engine airplane crashed into a Mississippi swamp. While Van Zants casket was not opened, the urn containing Gainess ashes was, and his ashes were spilled. This is that day. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, The Alice Cooper Fact Sheet 5 Things You Need To Know. They and their music have always played a big role in my life. Originally, he was buried at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, but due to vandalism, was moved from there to Riverside Memorial Park on Normandy Boulevard. Less than two years after the plane crash, the Gaines' mother, Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie were buried. The street will retain its former name to prevent residents from. He died along with his sister and Van Zant in the 1977 crash and was buried in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. . Steve's contributions included his co-lead vocal with Ronnie on the co-written "You've Got That Right" (a solid hit single released after the plane crash) and the rousing guitar boogie "I Know A Little" which he had written before he joined Skynyrd. 2023 The final resting places of Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmembers Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were desecrated by vandals last week at Florida's Jacksonville . Prior to the show, members of the band told the sound technician that, Cassies brother is going to come up and play with us, if he does not have the level, unplug him.. She was buried near her children. Van Zant and the Gaines siblings were originally laid to rest in nearby plots at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Florida, with Van Zant entombed in a marble mausoleum. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? A woman asked Ronnie to dance, and he obliged. The Surprising Thing Ronnie Van Zant Is Buried With. Clay County Sheriff's deputies found Van Zant's unopened casket on the ground about 3 a.m. at the rear of a marble mausoleum on the northern edge of the cemetery grounds next to the Orange Park Mall on Blanding Boulevard. Steve Gaines (1949 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in May 1976. I really wish I lived next door to this place. What were Ronnie Van Zants last words? - Sage-Answers "I hope the Lord will forgive them for what they have done.". As the astonished band members quickly drove away, no one said a word. Green Cove Springs, FL. Original grave of Steve Gaines Drummer Artimus Pyle said that it seemed Ronnie was aware of his imminent death when they were about to go down. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? It was hard for the band to hear Gaines playing onstage amid the distortions and sounds. Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Getty Images. Gary Rossington By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It happens. Van Zant was passionate about fishing, and he used it to relax and escape his busy life as a rock star. Other successful bands to emerge from Jacksonvilles fertile scene at this time included Cowboy, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and 38 Special. Sky Michele written and performed by Jake Fisher (MidniteliteCo) with a beautiful tribute and moving piece to Steve and Cassie Gaines. The crash also killedRonnie Van Zant, Steve's sisterCassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. Last week, family members established a $5,000 Van Zant and Gaines Reward Fund at Oceanside Bank in Neptune Beach for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Ronnie Van Zant often proclaimed that Whiteys Fish Camp was his favorite restaurant. Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who have died - Peoria Journal Star When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "At least preliminarily it looks like a very small amount of the cremains may have spilled out of the bag when they pulled it from the urn.". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lynyrd Skynyrd Grave Site Robbing - Ronnie Van Zant & Steve Gaines Her ashes were buried in the garden outside her bedroom window in Connecticut underneath a Japanese Maple Tree. "Their remains were moved sometime over the weekend. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. Publicly and privately,Ronnie VanZantmarveled at the vocal and instrumental skill of Skynyrd's newest member, claiming that the band would "all be in his shadow one day". This is a very lengthy, detailed post. Get even more exclusive content on my Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/RNRTrueStoriesToday we take a look at the 2000 news story. Interestingly, Ed King and Steve Gaines were both born on September 14, 1949. Theres no telling what he would have developed cause he kept progressing. Judy Jenness, Van Zant's widow, announced the decision in a statement issued through the Clay County Sheriff's Office yesterday. But for the year and a half he played with Lynyrd Skynyrd, they were simply untouchable. But their greatest achievement was playing a show in Memphis with ZZ Top. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter forsouthern rockbandLynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother ofCassie Gaines, who was a back up vocalist for the band's live performances. The listing claims the value is at $8,780, but Cochran is selling it for $4,000. "And at the family's request, the cemetery will pay off-duty officers to provide additional security as well for the next couple of weeks," she said. The Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park is on Highway 17 near Green Cove Springs, Florida. "I had never seen it," said Marsh, who was trying to snap pictures of the tomb as deputies shooed her and Carpenter away. ORANGE PARK -- Nearly 23 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd rock singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines were laid to rest at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, vandals broke into a tomb and. How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die? - Yen JACKSONVILLE, Fla. For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. Steve Gaines grave site at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. To complete the sign up process please verify your email address by clicking on the link that has been sent to you previously speficifed email. local news and culture. Van Zant was passionate about fishing, and he used it to relax and escape his busy life as a rock star. "The family is extremely upset," Justino said. Steve Gaines/Age at death. A block up Woodcrest from the Van Zant house is the former Woodcrest Grocery, where Ronnie worked as a kid and also sat out front listening to older men (including Shorty Medlocke, Rickys father) play and sing the blues. Steve Gaines. His first band, The Ravens (a local High School rock band that Steve's friends formed), made its first recording at the famousSun RecordsStudio inMemphis, Tennessee. privacy policy. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. In 1988, MCA Records released the recordings Steve Gaines had made with John Ryan (producer) in the album titled One in the . Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Copyright 2012-2022, Pat Fitzhugh; all rights reserved. The Jaxson is produced by Modern Cities in association with WJCT. Its on Doctors Lake, a tributary of the St. Johns River and where Ronnie and Gary were fishing during the 1970s Pepsi Cola Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd videos opening shots. from the fact that the carbon contained in the fish caught is released as CO 2 into the atmosphere instead of remaining buried in the seabed," the researchers said. As reported by Rolling Stone, Wilkeson was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville. It sums up Ronnies life perfectly. Ronnie Van Zant - Wikipedia Winehouse had her grandmother's name tattooed on her arm, and her ashes were mixed in with Cynthia's after cremation. He is the subject of the 2001 song "Cassie's Brother" by rock band Drive-By Truckers. This place is more than 50 years old, and figures prominently into Lynyrd Skynyrd history, both past and present. Steve Gaines brought a kind of magic to Lynyrd Skynyrd that no other member quite had He was a great songwriter and singerand an incredible guitarist. Stiv Bators: One of punk rock's most important voices was Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys and the Lords of the New Church. Steven Earl Gaines was born on the 14th of September in 1949 in Miami, Oklahoma. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". He said he used the information he received from the funeral home for Unit 1, Lot 22, spaces 3 and 4 next to a grandfather oak tree. 10. Steve Gaines (1949-1977) - Memorial Find a Grave Musician. Age of Death. Recently, I explored some of the strange things that musicians have been buried with. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? With an audience of approximately 150,000 and 200,000 people, Lynyrd Skynyrd delivered a performance that took the southern rock artiststo new heights. The Jug. In 2001, Steve Gaines was further penned down in the history of music when the band, Drive-By Truckers, wrote the song Cassies Brother about him. ", The new burial sites, Justino said, "will not be disclosed for security reasons.". Cassie began suggesting her brother for the role, but the band had hesitations. Cassie Gaines, the bands backup vocalist, was his older sister. For the fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the mystery of Van Zant's gravesite location has been solved. In 2000, nearly 23 years after Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines were laid to rest at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, vandals broke in and disturbed their remains. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? Although initially reluctant, the band relented and on May 11, 1976 Steve joined Skynyrd on stage for one song. I have placed it behind the read more link (but like most things WordPress, its probably not working right). He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. He is best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter with rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1976 until his death in the October 1977 airplane crash that claimed other band members and crew. In December of 1975, Cassie Gaines, Steves older sister, was inducted into Lynyrd Skynyrds The Honkettes, a group of female singers who sang backup vocals for the band. It's about 2 inches thick.". But as the years passed, the songs and sounds of Steve Cropper and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio served as his influence. Sammie Ketcher, a member of two of Gaines early bands recalls. Muse, Evanescence Bring Big Goth Energy to Toyota Center, Jason Roberts Keeps the Music of Bob Wills Swinging. John Lennon: After he was shot in 1980, there was no funeral for the legendary Beatle. In 1975, he recorded several songs with Crawdad atCapricornstudios inMacon, Georgiawhich were released byMCAin 1988 asOne in the Sun(when the present day Lynyrd Skynyrd band began touring) and is listed as his only official solo album. In the 1970s Steve played with bands Rio Smokehouse,DetroitwithRusty Day(formerlyThe Detroit Wheels) and Crawdad (a band that Steve had started around 1974). His family requested supporters to make contributions to the Musician's Assistance Program instead of giving flowers. Steve Gaines was born on September 14, 1949 in Miami, Oklahoma, USA. Steve Gaines (1949-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In 1977, the body of Steve Gaines was cremated and his ashes buried in Orange Park, Florida. We would be grateful if you would support our work by recording your loved ones, preserving their memory for future generations. "We are saddened that we had to do this, but we have been left no choice," Jenness said in the statement. Meanwhile, she said, auxiliary deputies will be assigned to guard the mausoleum grounds for the next two weeks from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. "should anybody get any ideas to do a copycat vandalism or anything like that.". What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? He was elected, and was then re-elected for a second one-year term at the 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Finally, on May 11, 1976, they gave Steve Gaines a chance. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". A lonesome railroad track runs through a rural area between Middleburg, Florida, and Doctors lake, in the Brickyard community, where Ronnie Van Zant started a family and spent his last years. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". With a focus on the 60s, 70s, and 80s, we aim to grow into the modern age as we grow ourselves. Train, roll on. The caller had been waiting for someone to pick him up at the mall. Unlike Kurt Cobain, though, her ashes are all in one place, just not alone. His proficiency in rock, blues, and country music, as well as his desire to widen his scope and vision, may have led to significant pieces of work in the future. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. However, they had to relocate it to a new location after his and Van Zants tombs were broken into. Download Image. Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. The mother was buried near . During surgery, it was said that his heart stopped beating twice. Leonard Skinner When the tampering was discovered, investigators found Van Zant's coffin on the ground amid broken pieces of marble from the rear wall of a mausoleum. After thirteen long years of lying dormant in the vault, the recordings became a testimony to Gaines talent and short but impactful career. When he was 15 years old, he saw the Beatles performing live in Kansas City. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The site. Ronnie Van Zant was born on January 15, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. Cassie Gaines (1948 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975 as a backup singer, one of a trio of gospel vocalists dubbed the Honkettes. Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida. On October 20, 1977, three days after the albumStreet Survivorswas released (and five dates into the band's most successful tour yet), a plane carrying the band between shows fromGreenville, South CarolinatoBaton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed outside ofGillsburg, Mississippi. However, Kevin Elson, the sound technician, had been listening intently through headphones. The rest is history. What kind of guitar did Steve Gaines play?