Media thruout the world are observing a “Moment of Silence” Oct. 20, 6:45pm CST - Ronnie Van Zan

Sept. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- “Sweet Home Alablama”, written 40 years ago by Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King, and Gary Rossington, is known by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world, yet few know who wrote it.  Ronnie Van Zant, lyricist, wrote dozens of hits including Free Bird, Gimme Three Steps, Simple Man, and countless others in a career that spanned only four short years.  It is time this overlooked lyricist, one of the greatest in rock history, is recognized for his body of work and claims his rightful place in music history.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the most iconic bands in American Rock Music, defining a whole genre of rock and roll - Southern Rock.  As leaders in the industry they acclaimed international acclaim in the last two years of the original band's existence, utnil a tragic plane crash claimed the lives of lead singer/songwriter Ronnie Ban Zant, singer songwriter/guitarist Steve Gaines, back-up singer Cassie Gaines, and asst road mgr Dean Kilpatrick.

We ask for all stations and all people to observe this date by going silent for 20 seconds, and follow that with the airing of Freebird, the most requested song in history.

Ron Eckerman was with them two of the four years Lynyrd Skynyrd was on the map, and both witnessed and assisted in their climb to the top of the music industry.  Now, after 35 years of silence, Eckerman recounts his experiences with the band and the horror of the plane crash in his book, Turn It Up!