- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRonald Wayne Van Zant
- Height5′ 7½″ (1.71 m)
- Ronnie Van Zant was born on January 15, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the oldest son of six children (3 sisters and 2 brothers - musicians Donnie and Johnny). Ronnie attended Lee High School in Jacksonville with fellow band members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. At the height of their fame, on October 20, 1977, their chartered plane crashed. Ronnie was killed along with band members Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie. His signature songs are "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama".
- IMDb mini biography by: ronnie's biggest fan
- SpousesJudy Van Zant Jenness(November 18, 1972 - October 20, 1977) (his death, 1 child)Nadine Inscoe(January 2, 1967 - August 12, 1969) (divorced, 1 child)
- RelativesJohnny Van Zant(Sibling)Donnie Van Zant(Sibling)
- Soulful voice
- Black cowboy hat
- Long hair
- Had a closed casket funeral. Many thought this to be because he was horribly disfigured or even decapitated during the 1977 plane crash. That is not true. Ronnie had a bruise about the size of a quarter on his temple (which was the cause of death - blunt head trauma). His wife, Judy, remembered that Ronnie once said he did not wish to have people "gawking" at his body, so she made it a closed casket funeral.
- The song "Freebird" is now played as a musical tribute in Ronnie's memory.
- Brother Donnie was a founding member of rock band .38 Special. After Ronnie's death, his brother Johnny was hired to replace him in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
- Ronnie was buried with his fishing pole and his trademark black hat.
- On June 29 2000, his grave was vandalized, this prompted his family to move his remains to an unknown location.
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