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Last Original Member of Jacksonville’s Lynyrd Skynyrd Undergoes Heart Valve Procedure

Jacksonville's Lynyrd Skynyrd performed a farewell concert in September at TIAA Bank Field in front of an estimated 40,000 fans.
Bill Bortzfield
/
WJCT NEWS
Jacksonville's Lynyrd Skynyrd performed a farewell concert in September at TIAA Bank Field in front of an estimated 40,000 fans.

Jacksonville's Lynyrd Skynyrd has put its “Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour” on hold while guitarist Gary Rossington recovers.

The band posted on its Facebook page that Rossington has been experiencing fatigue and other symptoms related to a leaky heart valve.

Rossington underwent a procedure on July 31 to repair the valve. 

"We all appreciate the well wishes for Gary and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," Johnny Van Zant, the band's lead vocalist, said on Facebook. "But he can’t wait to come back and perform at 100% for the fans. We will see you all soon!"

So far concerts in Las Vegas and Wheatland, Calif., were postponed to October.

The band’s “Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour” has been billed as the final time Lynyrd Skynyrd is expected to tour together.

They performed a farewell stadium concert at TIAA Bank Field last September in front of an estimated 40,000 fans in what was expected to be their final Jacksonville concert.

The band, which got its start in Jacksonville, will be a focus of a planned PBS miniseries that will look at the roots of southern rock.

Jacksonville is considered by many as the birthplace of southern rock.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

Bill joined WJCT News in September of 2017 from The Florida Times-Union, where he served in a variety of multimedia journalism positions.