Gary Rossington, founding member and guitarist with Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies at 71

Gary Rossington and future bandmates. Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins and Bob Burns met at a Little League game in Jacksonville, Florida, and jammed later that day. Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines died in a 1977 plane crash. Rossington survived but had two broken arms, a broken leg and a punctured stomach and liver. (AP Photos)

Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last surviving original member who also helped to found the group, died Sunday at the age of 71. No cause of death was given.

“It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today,” the band wrote on Facebook. “Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”