Ronnie Van Zant
On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ran out of fuel outside Gillsburg, Mississippi. The passengers had been informed about potential problems with the Convair CV-240 and were told to brace for a crash. Van Zant died on impact from head injuries suffered after the aircraft struck a tree. Bandmates Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, along with assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray, were also killed. The rest of the band was seriously injured. Van Zant was 29 years old.
Ronnie Cord
Ronnie Cord, born Ronald Cordovil, (Manhuaçu, January 22, 1943 - São Paulo, January 6, 1986) was a Brazilian singer. Son of conductor and composer Hervé Cordovil, he already played guitar at age six. In 1959 he auditioned for Copacabana Records, in Rio de Janeiro. In 1960, the following year, he made his first recording, released on long-playing records that brought together several other singers. His biggest hit was the song "Rua Augusta", released by RCA Victor in 1963. In 1965, he was very successful with a version of "Hopscotch Polka Dot Bikini" recorded at RCA Victor in 1964. He died in 1986, leaving three children.