Jacksonville, Florida-based Lynyrd Skynyrd plays Southern rock music. The band’s first lineup in 1964 was drummer Bob Burns, bassist Larry Junstrom, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, and singer Ronnie Van Zant.

Rickey Medlocke (from 1971 to 1972 and since 1996), lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant (from 1987), Michael Cartellone (since 1999), Mark Matejka (since 2006), Peter Keys (since 2009), and Keith Christopher (since bassist) make up the current band (since 2017).

Moreover, the group includes two backup singers on tour, currently Dale Krantz-Rossington (since 1987) and Carol Chase (since 1996).

How many original members does Lynyrd Skynyrd have?

My Backyard, subsequently known as The Noble Five, then One Percent, was the original moniker under which Lynyrd Skynyrd was founded in 1964.

Originally, the band consisted of Robert E. Lee High School students Larry Junstrom on bass, Ronnie Van Zant on vocals, Gary Rossington and Allen Collins on guitars, Bob Burns on drums, and Larry Junstrom on bass. After playing live for several years, the band recorded for the first time in 1971 when Greg T. Walker and Rickey Medlocke, respectively, took the place of Junstrom and Burns.

The next year, Burns returned to play the drums, and Walker was replaced by the group’s initial pick for a bassist, Leon Wilkeson.

Medlocke was then promoted to third guitarist. At the end of the year, Medlocke had departed. Billy Powell, a roadie since 1970, had also been added as the group’s first keyboardist.