Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of two other rock vocalists: current Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, and Donnie Van Zant, the founder and vocalist of 38 Special. He was the father of Tammy Van Zant and Melody Van Zant.
Ronnie Verrell
Ronnie Verrell was born on 21 February 1926 in Rochester, Kent in England. Initially he showed little interest in music until he saw The Benny Goodman Quartet perform in a film, "Hollywood Hotel" in 1938. Verrell was so impressed by what he saw, he stayed to watch the film a second time. He wanted to be a drummer and taught himself how to play after only one lesson. In 1940, after the outbreak of World War II, the 14-year-old Verrel was evacuated to Porthcawl in South Wales, where he made his first public appearances drumming with local bands in the area. He returned to Kent in 1943 and worked professionally for a while with the Claude Giddins band, before being conscripted to work as a Bevin Boy in the coal mines for the remainder of the war.