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William Norris "Billy" Powell (June 3, 1952 – January 28, 2009) was an American musician. He was the longtime keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, from 1970 until his death in 2009.

Biography[link]

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Powell grew up in a military family (his father was in the U.S. Navy) and spent several years of his childhood living in Italy where his father was stationed. After his father died of cancer in 1960, he moved with his family back to the United States and settled in Jacksonville, Florida. He met his lifelong friend, Leon Wilkeson in elementary school. Billy's interest in piano began to grow and he began taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Madeleine Brown. She swore he did not need her, claiming that Billy was a natural and picked things up well on his own. When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother, Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, FL.

Musical career[link]

Billy returned to Jacksonville where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School. When he graduated in 1970, he enrolled briefly in a community college, majoring in Music Theory. Around this time he found work as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Billy remained a member of the Skynyrd crew for two years (which included, amongst the grittier shows, highlights such as Skynyrd landing a support slot for Leslie West's "Mountain") In his second year with them, 1972, Skynyrd played one particular gig, a show at the Bolles school prom. After his usual routine working with Kevin Elson, Billy had time to rest for a short while. In the corner he spotted a piano, so Billy went over and sat down with it. Just fooling around, Billy launches into his piano based version of Freebird for the boys in the band to listen to. Ronnie, astonished at his roadies hitherto secret ability said 'You mean to tell me, you've been playing the piano like that and you've been workin' for us for a year....'. Billy replied, "Well, you know, I've been classically trained most of my life.' He was then told Skynyrd were looking for a keyboard man, and Billy was in!^[1]

In 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd was signed to MCA Records and received national exposure with the release of their first album, (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd). The band's popularity soared in 1974 with their follow-up album, Second Helping, which featured their highest-charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama". The band enjoyed great popularity over the next three years, culminating in the 1977 release of Street Survivors, which many considered to be their strongest effort to date.

However, three days after the release of Street Survivors, Skynyrd's chartered plane crashed into a forest near McComb, Mississippi. The crash took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. The remainder of the band suffered injuries ranging from mild to severe. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost completely losing his nose but was otherwise relatively uninjured. He was the first to be released from the hospital, and the only member able to attend the funerals of his fallen band-mates.

During the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell joined a Christian rock band named Vision in 1984..during this time he recorded 3 albums and toured extensively.."Mountain in The Sky"/self titled "Vision" and soon to be released(previously unreleased).."Streetfighter" His keyboard playing was spotlighted in Vision concerts. Powell also spoke during the concerts about his new found Christianity...as is featured on 2 bonus tracks..("Mountain in The Sky") where Skynyrd/Vision bandmate Leon Wilkeson and he give testimony of their conversions.

Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. Guitarist Gary Rossington is the only member from the classic lineup who continues to record and perform with the band today.

In 2007, two years before his death, Powell played piano on Kid Rock's summer anthem "All Summer Long" (which samples "Sweet Home Alabama").

Death[link]

On January 28, 2009, the keyboardist died at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida. Powell called 911 at 12:55 a.m., complaining of shortness of breath. He missed his appointment with the doctor on the day before his death; the appointment was for a checkup on his heart.^[2] The EMS responders found Powell unconscious and unresponsive, with the telephone still in his hand. Rescue crews performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 am. A heart attack was the suspected cause of death, but an autopsy was not performed. A private memorial service for Billy Powell was held on Saturday, January 31 with Billy's friend, Dr. Bob Winstead officiating. The music he had recorded with Vision was played exclusively and Kid Rock sang a tribute song to Billy at the service. Many southern rock musicians were in attendance, including the Skynyrd and Vision bandmates, their families, Hank Williams Jr. and others. He leaves behind his family; wife, Ellen, sons Brandon and Joel, daughters Layla, Ashley, and Maggie, brother, Rick, and sister, Donna.

The song 'Gifted Hands' was later written and recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd as a tribute to Powell.^[3]

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Swampland: GRITZ Billy Powell Obit
• Swampland: GRITZ Billy Powell Memorial Page
• Billy Powell at Find a Grave
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash

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Frank Hannon[link]

Born October 3, 1966 in Sacramento, California, Hannon is best known as the guitarist, songwriter and a co-founder of the multi-platinum band TESLA, and is now established as a solo singer / songwriter with his album "GYPSY HIGHWAY". Drawing on his early childhood influences of American Folk artists such as Bob Dylan, John Denver, and Willie Nelson, Frank Hannon has showcased his lyrical, vocal, and "acoustic" storytelling song writing abilities on the self produced album. Apart from recent TESLA concerts, Frank Hannon has been performing solo "acoustic" shows, one in particular was the KGGO "Summer Jam" in Des Moines Iowa where he performed throughout the day in between artist such as John Waite, 38 special, and BTO in front of 10,000 fans singing by himself with an acoustic guitar, and recently performing with Aaron Lewis who is also known for such solo acoustic performances. Frank has recently formed the independent label RedHawk Records.

Biography[link]

Hannon started playing guitar and writing songs when he was 10 (1976). He joined/started the band Tesla at age 19 but had also played with and produced many artists. He uses guitars such as Gibsons preferably his '96 Cherry SG, ES 335, Les Paul Goldtops, Doubleneck 12/6 strings and acoustics and he uses a Dove, J50. Hannon later learned to play piano from his mother at a young age. He also played the B3 organ, Bass Guitar and Drums. As the years rolled when Tesla started he and other band mates met Jeff Keith on a local radio station.

He has recorded and performed with many musicians over the last 20 years. He formed the Frank Hannon Band with Robbie Furiosi, Joel Krueger, and Billy Raney. Others that he has played with include Dickey Betts, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Moe, Def Leppard, Roger Fisher, Gary Hoey, Steve Morse, Jeff Watson, Night Ranger, Eric Martin, Y&T, Jon Anthony, Jackyl, Skid Row, Scott West, Cortney Daugustine, Rogue, Pat Travers, and Kevin Hampton.

Hannon formed a band called Moon Dog Mane, who released one album in 1998.

In 2005 Hannon released his first solo effort Guitarz from Marz, released exclusively through his website frankhannon.com

Frank recently played at Coaches in Rocklin for the Wounded Warriors Project (a benefit fund raiser for wounded soldiers) on Dec 31, New Year's Eve of 2010-2011.

Discography[link]

Frank Hannon[link]

• Gypsy Highway (2010)
• 100 Proof Live!-Live At Constable Jack's (2010)
• Guitarz From Marz (2005)

Tesla[link]

• Mechanical Resonance (1986)
• The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
• Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990, live)
• Psychotic Supper (1991)
• Bust a Nut (1994)
• Times Makin' Changes - The Best of Tesla (1995, best of 1986-1994)
• 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla (2001)
• Replugged Live (2001, 2-CD Live Set)
• Into the Now (2004)
• Standing Room Only (2005, Live)
• Real to Reel (2007)
• Real to Reel 2 (2007)
• Forever More (2008)

Moon Dog Mane[link]

• Turn It Up (1998)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official web site
• Official Frank Hannon MySpace Page

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Skylar Thomas
Skylar Thomas performing with the band Izzy Ozborne opening for George Lynch at Monster Fest [1] - October 2, 2010 in Merced, CA
Background information
Birth name	Skylar Thomas
Born	(1994-08-28) August 28, 1994 (age 17)
Origin	U.S.
Genres	Classical Hard rock Blues rock Heavy metal
Occupations	Keyboardist, Pianist, Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Keyboard, Piano, Synth, Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Associated acts	Skylar Thomas Band Frank Hannon Band Izzy Ozborne
Website	www.skylarthomas.com

Skylar Thomas (born August 28, 1994) is an American pianist from Sacramento, California.^[2]

Early life and education[link]

Skylar began learning piano from her father at age of four. At the age of 7, she found that she was able to play many songs by ear. In 2002, Skylar began private training and her first classical performance. From then on, she has studied rock and classical music.

By her early teens Skylar had developed a great interest in keyboards and synthesizers. After her research studies of keyboards, she began collecting and programming synthesizers. Her collection consists of new keyboards and vintage rare analog synthesizers.

From the age of thirteen on Skylar has studied with Juilliard graduates, Natsuki Fukasawa and Richard Cionco.

Performances[link]

At the age of 12, Skylar began writing songs with rock bands. She was the youngest member of the band Ember. She later became the keyboardist of the band, Aldershot, which won 3rd place in Stairway to Stardom^[3]: Skip's Music band competition in 2008. The following year, Skylar was entered into the MTAC Sacramento 2010 Baroque Music Festival, playing J.S. Bach Inventions and receiving Superior awards for her performances. Skylar was also highlighted as the 1st featured article, MAJORminor,^[4] in Keyboard Magazine's February 2010 issue.

She routinely performs classical recitals at California state colleges and occasionally plays live with The Frank Hannon Band (Tesla's lead guitarist), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger's guitarist), the Lenny Dean Band, and Izzy Ozborne (an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band).

In December 2009, Skylar helped raise about $12,000 with other musicians and Sacramento's radio station, KRXQ 98 Rock, for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society at the All Star Jam.^[5]

Skylar recently played at Coaches in Rocklin, CA for the Wounded Warrior Project (a benefit fund raiser for wounded soldiers) on Jan 1, New Year's Day of 2011.

Skylar started the Skylar Thomas Band in mid 2010, performing popular new era music and classic rock. In April 2011, she signed an endorsement deal with Kurzweil Music Systems.^[6][7]

References[link]

• http://www.kurzweil.com/ArtistLounge.php
• http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/09/06/skylar-thomas-rocks-frankenstein/
• http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/09/frank-hannon-band-frankenstein.html
• http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/126519
• http://www.philbrodieband.com/muso_solos_rock_keyboardists.htm

External links[link]

• Official Skylar Thomas website.
• Official Skylar Thomas Facebook page