Ed King, former guitarist for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died on Wednesday at the age of 68. King co-wrote the band’s famous song “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Ed King, a former guitarist for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died on Wednesday at the age of 68.
“It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018,” read a statement from King’s family on his Facebook page . “We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.”
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Having played with the band twice, with the first stint coming from 1972-1975 and the latter from 1987-1996, King is best known for co-writing one of the band’s most famous songs in “Sweet Home Alabama.” It’s his voice that counts the “one, two, three,” before the famous guitar riff that starts the song. King also had a part in writing other hits including “Poison Whiskey,” “Saturday Night Special,” “Mr. Banker,” “Swamp Music,” “Whiskey Rock-a-Roller,” “Railroad Song,” “I Need You” and “Workin’ For MCA.”
King was instrumental in getting the band back together in 1987, before leaving in 1996 due to congestive heart failure. King was also a founding member of psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as part of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
No funeral arrangements are known at this time.
