In the October 20, 1977, an airplane crash killed several members of the band and road crew, but Billingsley was the only band member not on the flight. In 2007, JoJo appeared at Jam-A-Que (a southern rock get-together) with members of the Play It Again Jam in Pleasantview Tennessee. He was replaced by their friend and original Lynyrd Skynyrd member Larry Junstrom, who had contributed to one track of their debut. The band had three female backup singers, informally known as 'The Honkettes'. Lynyrd Skynyrd is the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger. Apr 5, 2012 - Lynyrd Skynyrd's back-up singers, The Honkettes ~ Leslie Hawkins, Cassie Gaines, and JoJo Billingsley In the crash, Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick along with the two pilots, lost their lives. There are also interviews with The Honkettes, the female backing singers who worked with Skynyrd. She was 58. And, she sang "Sweet Home Alabama" at Lynyrd Skynyrd's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida.Formed in 1964, the group … Billingsley did not perform with a re-formed Lynyrd Skynyrd after the 1977 plane crash at Charlie Daniels' 1979 Volunteer Jam, because she was not invited. She performed as a backup singer in famous songs like ‘That Smell’ and ‘One More Time’. The original backup singers were called "The Honkettes" Cassie Gaines & JoJo Billingsly, and Leslie Hawkins. Skynyrd never relied on the jazzy improvisations of the Allman Brothers.Instead, they were a hard-living, hard-driving rock & roll band. Billingsley died in Cullman on June 24, 2010 after a battle with cancer at the age of 58. By 1974, Lynyrd Skynyrd had already been a band for well over a decade. Also in 1977, the band decided to add two female backup singers, Carol Bristow and Dale Krantz (before she left in 1979 to front Rossington Collins Band and eventually marry Skynyrd's Gary Rossington). Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant knows death. When Lynyrd Skynyrd was in need of a guitar player to replace recently departed Ed King, Cassie recommended her younger brother, Steve Gaines, who joined the band soon after. Carol can also be heard singing back-up vocals on recordings by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Etta James, Keith Whitley, George Jones, Hank Wm. She was best known for her work with The Honkettes, backing vocalists for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The plane was flying from Greenville, SC to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and crashed into the woods in Mississippi. Skynyrd never relied on the jazzy improvisations of the Allman Brothers. Backup guitarist Steve Gaines was killed in the crash. Billingsley lived with her husband, Tim, and her daughter, Destiny, in Cullman, Alabama where they attended Spirit Life Church. Billingsley also made many television and radio appearances, appeared in several movies and DVDs, and traveled extensively. 3) They established their trademark three guitar attack on their first big hit Free Bird which was a tribute to the recently deceased Allman Brothers guitarist Duane Allman. Editor’s Note: The following if from a 2003 Lynyrd Skynyrd … In 1987 Lynyrd Skynyrd would reform for a “reunion” tour featuring Rossington, Powell, Pyle, Wilkeson and King, with Ronnie’s brother Johnny Van Zant on vocals and Randell Hall added on guitar. Little known facts: Cassie was a member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Skynyrd. Cassie Gaines, one of the singers, and older sister of Steve, was killed in the crash. [3] Her hesitation was due to a small fire on one of the engines the previous day. She stated that she had a dream two nights before the plane crashed, foreseeing the event. In January 1976, backup singers Leslie Hawkins, Cassie Gaines, and JoJo Billingsley (collectively known as The Honkettes) were added, although they were not considered official members. [4], Gaines survived the initial accident but bled to death while rescuers attempted to reach the accident site and remove victims for medical treatment. Billingsley was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Doc and Hazel Billingsley. RIP In 2005, she performed several times as "The Honkettes" in an alternative version of Lynyrd Skynyrd called "The Saturday Night Special Band" that included former Skynyrd members Ed King, Artimus Pyle and Leslie Hawkins, which helped raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour 2021:Lynyrd Skynyrd concert tickets are on sale.You can find the list of Lynyrd Skynyrd 2021 tour dates on this site. Saved by Shelly Baril. It was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first song to chart . When Lynyrd Skynyrd was in need of a guitar player to replace recently departed Ed King, Cassie recommended her younger brother, Steve, who joined the band soon after. In December 1975 she was hired, along with Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins, as backing singers for the Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose leader, Ronnie Van Zant, dubbed them "The Honkettes". According to Billingsley, this experience led her to become a born-again Christian.[2]. She had never heard of the band at the time, so Billingsley lent her a copy of the band's first two albums: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Second Helping. Cassie was aa member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1976 became the backup singers for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. These members were Cassie Gaines JoJo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins. They are buried next to each other in Florida. In late 1975, Gaines, Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins formed The Honkettes, a female gospel vocal trio for Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd's back-up singers, The Honkettes ~ Leslie Hawkins, Cassie Gaines, and JoJo Billingsley. They said no & that plane crashed on October 20, 1977", Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour, Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album, 20th Century Masters: The Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cassie_Gaines&oldid=995828511, Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States, Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1977, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 December 2020, at 02:47. [2] Gaines had initially refused to board the flight and was convinced by other members against her better judgment. In December 1975, she was hired, along with Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins, to be a backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.The group’s leader Ronnie Van Zant dubbed them “The Honkettes“.. Since then, the band tragically lost Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson, yet Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with original member Gary Rossington joined by Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Johnny Colt, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase. Deborah Jo Billingsley (May 28, 1952 – June 24, 2010) was an American singer, soloist, songwriter and recording artist. She was a member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida. Cassie LaRue Gaines (January 9, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American singer, best known for her work with Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Her final CD was titled I Will Obey. 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. The principal members were Ronnie Van Zant (b. January 15, 1949, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.—d.October 20, 1977, Gillsburg, Mississippi), Gary Rossington (b. . Cassie Gaines was part of Lynyrd Skynyrd's backup singers called The Honkettes. When he was a teenager, his older brother Ronnie, then the lead singer and chief lyricist of Skynyrd, died in a fiery plane crash at age 29 in 1977. Instead, they were a hard-living, hard-driving rock & roll band. Composed of three vocalists, their flawless harmonies were as important as Aug 20, 2012 - Cassie LaRue Gaines (January 9, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American singer. Jr., Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, Lee Greenwood, and the list goes on. Deborah Jo Billingsley (May 28, 1952[1] – June 24, 2010) was an American singer, soloist, songwriter and recording artist. Gaines was invited by JoJo Billingsley and Ronnie Van Zant to join Lynyrd Skynyrd as a backup singer. 74. Lynyrd Skynyrd (formed in 1966) is an American southern hard-rock, country and blues band hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, in the U.S.. Three of the original members died in a plane crash in 1977. Two female backup singers, their tour manager, and both pilots also died. "» Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Cassie Gaines / Lynyrd Skynyrd The Music's Over", "Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash site draws a pilgrimage", "Killing three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Apparently in 1977, Aerosmith's flight crew inspected an aircraft for the band. Lynyrd Skynyrd , American rock band that rose to prominence during the Southern rock boom of the 1970s on the strength of its triple-guitar attack and gritty working-class attitude. Jun 28, 2017 - Cassie Gaines, backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd died 36 years ago today in the plane crash. Killed in plane crash She was at the opening of Freebird The Movie at Atlanta's Fox Theatre in 1995. Her friend Jane Van Zant was also there. CULLMAN -- Former Lynyrd Skynyrd backup singer Deborah Jo White, who performed under her maiden name " Jo Jo Billingsley," has died at her Cullman home after a bout with cancer. Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd have lost another family member - former singer Deborah Jo White has lost her battle with cancer.. An October 20, 1977 airplane crash killed several members of the band and road crew, but Billingsley was the only band member not on the flight. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. In late 1975, Gaines, Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins formed The Honkettes, a female gospel vocal trio for Skynyrd.[1]. On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. She attempted to warn the other band members not to get on the plane. She … She was best known for her work with The Honkettes, backing vocalists for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd . The Honkettes was the name given to the female backing singers of the Southern Rock and Roll band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Feb 11, 2013 - Dale Krantz-Rossington -- Backup singer to legendary Southern Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Lead Singer of the band that bridged between the original Skynyrd and the resurrected Skynyrd, the Rossington-Collins Band, Dale is also the wife of guitarist Gary Rossington. Lynyrd Skynyrd's fourth album Gimme Back My Bullets was released, but did not achieve the Divas Street Survivors Gary Rossington Ronnie Van Zant Life Of Crime Pop Hits E Street Band Bob Seger Lynyrd Skynyrd. A Critical Part Of Skynyrd Hystory Added to the roster in 1976 and originally featuring the talents of Cassie Gaines, Jojo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins, The Honkettes are more than just backup singers – with their flawless harmonies and quiet strength supporting their bandmates on every song, they’re as crucial to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s sound as the band’s three guitar attack and one of a kind rhythm section. [3], Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Read recent and archived obituaries and memorial notices from The Cullman Times", Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour, Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album, 20th Century Masters: The Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=JoJo_Billingsley&oldid=883429841, People from Lafayette County, Mississippi, Articles needing additional references from August 2008, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 February 2019, at 10:23. Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour 2021. Gaines was invited by JoJo Billingsley and Ronnie Van Zant to join Lynyrd Skynyrd as a backup singer. Clydie King, Merry Clayton, and Sherlie Matthews were the three female background vocalists on the original recording of Sweet Home Alabama. Lynyrd Skynyrd is the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger. On October 20th, returning from a show in Greensville, South Carolina, Skynyrd’s chartered plane ran short of fuel and crashed in the Mississippi woods. In the New Skynyrd Dale Krantz/Rossington and Carole Chase Cassie joined the band and teamed up with JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins to form ‘The Honkettes’ which was a female gospel vocal trio of ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’ in late 1975. Her son, Justin, is in the US Navy. She was buried near her children. She’s worked with a variety of talented artists, sharing the stage as a back-up singer with the likes of George Jones, Olivia Newton John, Shania Twain, Engelbert Humperdinck and many more. December 4, 1951, Jacksonville), Allen Collins 6. The family soon moved to Senatobia, Mississippi from Harmontown, Mississippi, where she was raised. She also performed with members of the group at occasional charity or memorial events [1]. [5] According to controversial claims by survivor Billy Powell, Gaines bled to death after the accident in Powell's arms from deep lacerations.[6]. Pyle would leave after the 1991 album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 with no real permanent replacement for the time being. She intended to travel in the tour trucks but boarded the flight due to Van Zant's persuasion. She had never heard of the band at the time, so Billingsley lent her a copy of the band's first two albums: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Second Helping.