How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die?

How did Cassie Gaines of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die?

The famous music band Lynyrd Skynyrd is considered to have one of the most gruesome band histories after losing several people in an aerial accident. Three crew members died in a plane crash just three days after the release of their 5th album. Cassie Gaines was one of the band members who boarded the ill-fated flight.

Cassie Gaines
Cassie Gaines smiling. Photo: @Skynyrd
Source: Twitter

The death of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gains of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a massive blow to many. The accident essentially destroyed one of the unique voices of American rock and roll.

Who was Cassie Gaines?

Cassie Larue Gaines was an American singer. She was famous for being part of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. She was born on 9th January 1948 in Missouri, USA. Cassie Gaines mother was LaRue, while her father was Bud.

She was brought up in Miami, Florida, alongside her brothers, Bob and Steve. Her mother passed away on 15th February 1979 in a car accident. Before joining the music band, she was an original cast member of a school play under Hairspray.

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How did Cassie Gaines get in Lynyrd Skynyrd? The singer was approached by artist JoJo Billingsley, sent by the band's head and lead vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant. She was requested to join the band as a backing vocalist. Since Cassie was not aware of the band's existence at that time, Jojo offered her a copy of Lynyrd Skynyrd's first two albums to make her acquainted with the band's work.

Cassie joined the team and became one of the three members of The Honkette's, a female gospel vocal trio of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The other two members were JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins. She performed as a backup singer in popular hits such as One More Time and That Smell.

Cassie Gaines
Members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd posing for the camera. Photo: Gems
Source: Getty Images

Cassie Gaines cause of death

The talented singer met her death at the young age of 29. On 20th October 1977, the Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after their performance in Greenville, South Carolina. They were scheduled to perform at the Louisiana State University.

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Unfortunately, their plane ran short of fuel. The pilots tried an emergency landing, but the plane crashed in the woods near Gillsburg in Mississippi. In the beginning, the singer was reluctant to board the aircraft and had already bought another commercial flight ticket.

However, other band members convinced her otherwise. She was hesitant because she had seen a small fire in one of the engines the previous day. What injuries did Cassie Gaines die from? She died from excessive bleeding as her throat had been cut from ear to ear.

Even though she survived the actual crash, she eventually bled to death before the rescue team could reach her. The singer died in the arms of the surviving band's keyboardist Billy Powell.

Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? The plane killed three band members (Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie, Steve Gaines) and Dean Kilpatrick (assistant road manager), Walter McCreary (pilot), and William Gray (co-pilot). Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains.

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Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. After the death of three of their members, the band decided to change the cover photo of the album, which initially featured a picture of the band engulfed in flames. The albums that followed featured a plain black background. The original cover was restored after the 30th anniversary of the album.

Cassie Gaines was a talented and committed backup singer for the Lynard Skynyrd music band until she died in a plane crash. Even long after she is gone, her legacy as one of the most talented singers remains.

Yen.com.gh shared an interesting piece on Bianca Lawson age, parents, husband, kids, net worth, and movies. Bianca is an American actress. She is famous for starring in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Goode Behavior, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

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Bianca is a force to be reckoned with in the American film industry. She began her career at a young age but has grown steadily over the years to become one of the best in Hollywood. The sky is the limit for the talented actress.

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Julian Mireri (SEO editor) Julian is a content creator who has been working with Yen since 2018. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Project Planning and Management in the year 2013. Think of her as a content whisperer and a gifted storyteller who never disappoints when it comes to finding the right words for her pieces. Email: julianmireri@gmail.com