NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) Ed King, 68, former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and “Sweet Home Alabama” co-writer, died at his Nashville home Aug. 22.
King played guitar in the band from 1972-75 and 1987-1996. It is his voice that is heard counting off the famous song.
“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t “know” the intro lick to ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ guitarist Andrew Michael Sovine told the Tennessean. “If that was all (King) was known for I think that would be worth remembering, but all of his work with Skynyrd was just amazing…as a guitarist I don’t think he ever got the credit he was due. The music he wrote really was the soundtrack of a generation or two.”
King is a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock, known for “Incense and Peppermints.” He originally joined Lynyrd Skynyrd as a bass player before switching to guitar. He left the band in 1975 to reunite with them at Charlie Daniels’ 1987 Volunteer jam in 1987, retiring in 1996, the paper said.
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2006.
#BREAKING: Legendary guitarist Ed King passed away yesterday at the age of 68. King was a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, responsible for co-writing “Sweet Home Alabama,” & a member of Strawberry Alarm Clock. King lived in Nashville & was a influential figure in the guitar community. pic.twitter.com/wMrGC0GIS7
— Jesse Knutson (@JesseKnutsonNC5) August 23, 2018
