Lynyrd Skynyrd: An Oral History

Lee Ballinger. Lynyrd Skynyrd: An Oral History. New York: Spike-Avon, 1999. 238 pp.

With Lynyrd Skynyrd: An Oral History, Lee Ballinger adds another chapter to the emerging literature on southern rock and roll. Ballinger has worn a number of professional hats, though he is presently West Coast Editor of Rock & Rap Confidential and co-producer of the Rock a Mole music festivals. (It's also worth mentioning that Dave Marsh served as consultant/editor to this project.) Ballinger uses the oral history format to tell the story of quintessential southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band from Jacksonville, Florida, who rose to rock and roll stardom in the '70s until three band members, most notably lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt, died in a 1974 plane crash. As Ballinger puts it: "Their goal was nothing less than to become one of the biggest and best bands in the world: This is the story of how they did it" (xii).

Lynyrd Skynyrd was a colorful and tragic band, and their story is never less than compelling. Ballinger culls quoted material from a 41-- member "cast of characters," ranging from Skynyrd members and families to producers and A&R people-and, of course, Leonard Skinner himself, the infamous Jacksonville high school gym teacher who expelled the band members...