Cassie Gaines
Encyclopedia
Cassie LaRue Gaines was an American
singer. She was a member of the female gospel
vocal trio The Honkettes
, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
.
When Lynyrd Skynyrd was in need of a guitar player to replace recently departed Ed King
, Cassie recommended her brother, Steve
, who joined the band soon after.
On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina
to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
, crashed
outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi
. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant
, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray.
Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida
. They are the subject of 2001 song "Cassie's Brother
" by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers
.
Less than two years after the plane crash, the Gaines' mother, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie were buried. She was buried near her children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer. She was a member of the female gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
vocal trio The Honkettes
The Honkettes
The Honkettes was the name given to the female backing singers of the Southern Rock and Roll band Lynyrd Skynyrd. These members were Cassie Gaines JoJo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins...
, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
.
When Lynyrd Skynyrd was in need of a guitar player to replace recently departed Ed King
Ed King
Edward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
, Cassie recommended her brother, Steve
Steve Gaines
Steven Earl Gaines was an American musician. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter for southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother of Cassie Gaines, who was also a member of the band...
, who joined the band soon after.
On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, crashed
1977 Convair 240 crash
On Thursday, October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-300 chartered by the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from L&J Company of Addision, TX ran out of fuel and crashed near the end of its flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi
Gillsburg, Mississippi
Gillsburg is an unincorporated community in Amite County, Mississippi, United States. The community is part of the McComb, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray.
Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida
Orange Park, Florida
Orange Park is a town in Clay County, Florida, USA, and a suburb of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island, Lakeside, and...
. They are the subject of 2001 song "Cassie's Brother
Cassie's Brother
"Cassie's Brother" is a song written and performed by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers. It appeared on the band's 2001 album Southern Rock Opera, the song is about Steve Gaines. His sister, Cassie Gaines, was a back-up singer in Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975. Both died in the plane crash on October 20,...
" by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
.
Less than two years after the plane crash, the Gaines' mother, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie were buried. She was buried near her children.