Johnny Van Zant
Encyclopedia
John Roy "Johnny" Van Zant (born February 27, 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida
) is an American
musician
and the current lead vocalist
of Southern rock
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
. He is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant
and .38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant
.
Van Zant performed during the 1970s with his 1st band, The Austin Nickels Band. They later changed their name to The Johnny Van Zant Band releasing their debut solo album, No More Dirty Deals
, in 1980
. Original members of The Johnny Van Zant Band consisted of Johnny Van Zant on lead vocals, Robbie Gaye, on guitar, Danny Clausman, on bass, Eric Lundgren, lead-guitar, Robbie Morris, drums and Joan Hecht
(previously Joan Cusumano) and Nancy Henderson on background vocals. Johnny Van Zant released three more solo albums between 1981
and 1985
, before taking a break from the music business.
He became lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, and continues to record and perform with them today. He released another solo album, Brickyard Road, in 1990
, which featured the popular title track, which was a #1 hit on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart for three weeks. He also records and performs with his brother Donnie as Van Zant
since 1998.
In May 2006, less than 1 day before he was to perform at KSAN-FM
107.7 The Bone's Bone Bash 7, Van Zant underwent emergency surgery
to have his appendix
removed. Treated at Stanford University Medical Center
in Palo Alto, California
, after reporting pain to a doctor earlier in the day. The incident forced the band to cancel three US shows.
Van Zant is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars
. He recorded a video, along with remaining members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, that is played at every Jaguars home game on the Everbank Field video board.
According to Skynyrd's website, Van Zant was again hospitalized on August 6, 2011 at the Hennepin County Medical Center
in Minneapolis, Minnesota due to complications from a previous surgery. According to the website, Van Zant had a "surgical site" infected with cellulitus which required both hospitalization and IV/Antibiotic Treatment. He began displaying signs of a staph infection and other symptoms related to the infection. The subesquent illness went on to cancel numerous shows the band had scheduled.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and the current lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
of 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...
. He is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist 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...
and .38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant
Donnie Van Zant
Donald "Donnie" Van Zant is an American rock vocalist/guitarist. He is best known as a member of the band 38 Special, which he formed in 1975...
.
Van Zant performed during the 1970s with his 1st band, The Austin Nickels Band. They later changed their name to The Johnny Van Zant Band releasing their debut solo album, No More Dirty Deals
No More Dirty Deals
-Track listing:# "No More Dirty Deals" – 5:25# "Coming Home" - 4:08# "634-5789" – 2:43# "Put My Trust in You" – 2:44...
, in 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
. Original members of The Johnny Van Zant Band consisted of Johnny Van Zant on lead vocals, Robbie Gaye, on guitar, Danny Clausman, on bass, Eric Lundgren, lead-guitar, Robbie Morris, drums and Joan Hecht
Joan Hecht
Joan Hecht is an American humanitarian and award winning author of the book The Journey of the Lost Boys. She is also the founder and President of the 501 c-3 non-profit Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan, an organization that assists with the health and educational needs of Lost Boys and their...
(previously Joan Cusumano) and Nancy Henderson on background vocals. Johnny Van Zant released three more solo albums between 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
and 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
, before taking a break from the music business.
He became lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, and continues to record and perform with them today. He released another solo album, Brickyard Road, in 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
, which featured the popular title track, which was a #1 hit on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart for three weeks. He also records and performs with his brother Donnie as Van Zant
Van Zant
Van Zant is an American musical duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant. Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
since 1998.
In May 2006, less than 1 day before he was to perform at KSAN-FM
KSAN-FM
KSAN is a commercial radio station licensed to San Mateo, California, with its transmitter located on San Bruno Mountain. It broadcasts to the San Francisco Bay Area...
107.7 The Bone's Bone Bash 7, Van Zant underwent emergency surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
to have his appendix
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
removed. Treated at Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center represents the Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is located at 300 Pasteur Drive in Stanford, California. Stanford Hospital provides both general acute care services and tertiary medical care for patients locally, nationally and...
in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, after reporting pain to a doctor earlier in the day. The incident forced the band to cancel three US shows.
Van Zant is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He recorded a video, along with remaining members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, that is played at every Jaguars home game on the Everbank Field video board.
According to Skynyrd's website, Van Zant was again hospitalized on August 6, 2011 at the Hennepin County Medical Center
Hennepin County Medical Center
Hennepin County Medical Center is a Level I trauma center based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the county seat of Hennepin County. The primary 422-bed facility is located on five city blocks across the street from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, with satellite clinics in Minneapolis, Brooklyn...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota due to complications from a previous surgery. According to the website, Van Zant had a "surgical site" infected with cellulitus which required both hospitalization and IV/Antibiotic Treatment. He began displaying signs of a staph infection and other symptoms related to the infection. The subesquent illness went on to cancel numerous shows the band had scheduled.
Discography
| Title | Release | Band |
|---|---|---|
| No More Dirty Deals No More Dirty Deals -Track listing:# "No More Dirty Deals" – 5:25# "Coming Home" - 4:08# "634-5789" – 2:43# "Put My Trust in You" – 2:44... |
1980 | Solo |
| Round Two | 1981 | |
| The Last of the Wild Ones | 1982 | |
| Van Zant | 1985 | Van Zant Van Zant Van Zant is an American musical duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant. Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd... |
| Brickyard Road | 1990 | Solo |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 is the sixth studio album by American Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is the first album with the new members of the band - Johnny Van Zant, Ed King, and Randall Hall - who replaced the three who had died since the band's last release - Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines... |
1991 | 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... |
| The Last Rebel The Last Rebel The Last Rebel is the seventh studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Good Lovin's Hard to Find" – 3:55... |
1993 | |
| Twenty | 1997 | |
| Edge of Forever Edge of Forever Edge of Forever is the tenth studio album from Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1999.-Track listing:All tracks by Rick Medlocke, Gary Rossington, Hughie Thomasson & Johnny Van Zant except were noted#"Workin'" - 4:53#"Full Moon Night" - 3:44... |
1998 | |
| Brother to Brother | Van Zant Van Zant Van Zant is an American musical duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant. Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd... |
|
| Van Zant II Van Zant II Van Zant II is an album released by American musical duo Van Zant. It was released in 2001 by Sanctuary Records. The single "Get What You Got Comin'" achieved chart success.... |
2001 | |
| Vicious Cycle Vicious Cycle (album) Vicious Cycle is the eleventh studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 2003. It was the first album by the band following the death of original bassist Leon Wilkeson, the song Mad Hatter being a tribute in memory to him. He died during recording, but does appear on two songs, "The Way" and... |
2003 | 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... |
| Get Right with the Man Get Right with the Man -Personnel:Taken from liner notes.*Bekka Bramlett - background vocals*Tom Bukovac - electric guitar*Perry Coleman - background vocals*Eric Darken - percussion*Glen Duncan - fiddle*Kenny Greenberg - electric guitar*Greg Morrow - drums, percussion... |
2005 | Van Zant Van Zant Van Zant is an American musical duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant. Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd... |
| My Kind Of Country My Kind of Country (Van Zant album) -Album:-Singles:... |
2007 | |
| God & Guns God & Guns -Personnel:*Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals*Daniel Maguire - guitars*Gary Rossington – guitars*Rickey Medlocke – guitars, backing vocals*Mark Matejka – guitars, backing vocals*Ean Evans – bass, backing vocals*Robert Kearns – bass, backing vocals... |
2009 | 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... |