Dolly Parton will play Freebird on the new Lynyrd Skynyrd album that also features Billy Ray Cyrus… 46 years after the singer died in a plane crash
Dolly Parton takes on a classic rock song from the 1970s.
On Thursday it was announced that 77-year-old country crooner Freebird will sing from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
It will be featured on surviving band member Artimus Pyle’s new Lynyrd Skynyrd album. The title is Anthems – Honoring The Music Of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Pyle’s upcoming Get Joe Records studio album honors the music that propelled him to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The album, which contains thirteen songs, will be released on February 2, 2024 and distributed by BFD/Orchard.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Sammy Hagar will also be featured on the album.
She can do it: Dolly Parton takes over a classic rock song from the 1970s. On Thursday it was announced that country crooner Freebird will sing from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It will be featured on surviving band member Artimus Pyle’s new Lynyrd Skynyrd album
Lynyrd Skynyrd: L-R Ed King, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zandt and Gary Rossington pose for a portrait in January 1975
A song that will be released digitally on October 20, the day that coincides with the 46th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that killed several members of the band.
Pyle was injured but survived the band’s horrific plane crash in 1977, which abruptly ended the lives of six people, including bandmates Steve and Cassie Gaines, and especially frontman and musical visionary Ronnie Van Zant.
“This project has been a year in the making, but when fans hear it, they will understand why it took so long,” said Len Snow, president of Get Joe Records.
“Artimus is legendary within the Southern Rock space.
‘The music that Lynyrd Skynyrd made will always be part of rock history.
“This album honors that music and gives Artimus a way to honor his former bandmates.”
Music lovers can pre-order the physical CD at ArtimusPyle.com.
Long considered Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “wild man,” Pyle’s powerful and distinctive double bass drumming helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound.
He’ll be croonin’ too. The title is Anthems – Honoring The Music Of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Billy Ray Cyrus (pictured) and Sammy Hagar will also appear on the album.
Artimus got his first real break during the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam.
His first recording lists – Artimus Pyle, percussion.
With other work for the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus became known as a powerful session drummer.
Using his connections with Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker, both acts who frequently toured with Skynyrd, Artimus met Ronnie Van Zant and Ed King at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia.
The results of that meeting – Saturday Night Special – made a big impression on Ronnie.
Artimus’ live debut with the band took place at Jacksonville’s Sgt Pepper’s Club in October 1974.
He would replace their original drummer (Bob Burns) after the release of the group’s second album, Second Helping, and performed with the band and on Skynyrd’s next four albums, Nuthin’ Fancy, Gimme Back My Bullets, Street Survivors and their live album. , One more for the road.
After serving as a sergeant in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1971 and a brief stint with the Spartanburg, SC band Thickwood Lick, Pyle was recommended by the late Charlie Daniels and joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974.
He would replace their original drummer (Bob Burns) after the release of the group’s second album, Second Helping, and performed with the band and on Skynyrd’s subsequent four albums, Nuthin’ Fancy, Gimme Back My Bullets, Street Survivors and their live album. , One more for the road.
Pyle was injured but survived.
In 1979, the band began to reunite, first for the 5th annual Charlie Daniel’s Volunteer Jam, and eventually as the Rossington Collins Band (which included all remaining band members and Pyle, plus Dale Krantz on vocals and Barry Lee Harwood on guitar). ).
Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle takes a break from work on Street Survivors at Studio I in 1977 in Doraville-Atlanta, Georgia
Now: Pyle visits SiriusXM Studios in New York City in 2022
Shortly afterwards, however, Pyle was in a car accident that broke his leg in 21 places and dashed his hopes of staying with the group.
Pyle spent the next three years healing, both physically and emotionally, before returning to the United States and forming the Artimus Pyle Band (APB) in honor of the music and legacy of Ronnie Van Zant.
In 1987, Pyle rejoined his former bandmates to tour and eventually record as Lynyrd Skynyrd (1991), but the experience left him flat.
Although he loved them deeply, he no longer felt the magic he once had with Van Zant at the helm nor was he interested in returning to the party lifestyle the band was known for and permanently left the group, only to return in 2006 during Lynyrd Skynyrd’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (where he played alongside Bob Burns).
Now in his 70s, Pyle continues to honor Van Zant’s musical legacy by recording and touring with the Artimus Pyle Band, now consisting of Pyle (drums), Scott Raines (guitar/vocals), Jerry Lyda (guitar) Brad Durden (keyboards/vocals) and Dave Fowler (bass).