Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Robert Burns Jr. Dead at 64

Pictured third from right

Robert Burns Jr., the original drummer of Southern rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died. Billboard reports that he was killed in a car crash last night in Georgia. He was 64.

Burns was one of the founding members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and played with the band on their first two albums, 1973′s (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd) and 1974′s Second Helping. He played on the recordings of some of the band’s most iconic songs, including “Free Bird”, “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Gimme Three Steps”, and “Simple Man”. He left the band in 1974.

Gary Rossington, the founding guitarist of the band, wrote on Facebook:

Well, today I’m at a loss for words, but I just remember Bob being a funny guy. He was just so funny, he used to do skits for us and make us laugh all the time, he was hilarious! … My heart goes out to his family and God bless him and them in this sad time. He was a great great drummer.

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