The Honkettes
Encyclopedia
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. It was on Cassie's recommendation that her brother, Steve
auditioned for and eventually got the band's third guitar slot in May 1976, replacing the departed Ed King
.
Cassie Gaines was killed in the October 20, 1977 plane crash near Gillsburg, Mississippi that also took the lives of her brother Steve Gaines, Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant
and three others. Leslie Hawkins survived the crash but was seriously injured; her musical career was impaired as a result. Billingsley was home due to an illness, and had warned other band members that she thought the plane unsafe. Billingsley and Hawkins reunited with Lynyrd Skynyrd to perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Billingsley died on June 24, 2010 after a battle with cancer.
Since Lynyrd Skynyrd's reunion in 1987, Gary Rossington
's wife Dale Krantz-Rossington has been a Honkette with the band.3 other singers have been Dale's singing partners at various time periods. Carol Chase joined the band, along with Rickey Medlocke and Hughie Thommason in the summer of 1996. She and Dale are still the Honkettes today.
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...
. These members were Cassie Gaines
Cassie Gaines
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....
JoJo Billingsley
JoJo Billingsley
Deborah Jo "JoJo" Billingsley was an American singer, soloist, songwriter and recording artist. As a backing vocalist, Billingsley was best known for her work with the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
, and Leslie Hawkins. It was on Cassie's recommendation that 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...
auditioned for and eventually got the band's third guitar slot in May 1976, replacing the 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 Gaines was killed in the October 20, 1977 plane crash near Gillsburg, Mississippi that also took the lives of her brother Steve Gaines, Skynyrd 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 three others. Leslie Hawkins survived the crash but was seriously injured; her musical career was impaired as a result. Billingsley was home due to an illness, and had warned other band members that she thought the plane unsafe. Billingsley and Hawkins reunited with Lynyrd Skynyrd to perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Billingsley died on June 24, 2010 after a battle with cancer.
Since Lynyrd Skynyrd's reunion in 1987, Gary Rossington
Gary Rossington
Gary Robert Rossington is a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, the late Allen Collins...
's wife Dale Krantz-Rossington has been a Honkette with the band.3 other singers have been Dale's singing partners at various time periods. Carol Chase joined the band, along with Rickey Medlocke and Hughie Thommason in the summer of 1996. She and Dale are still the Honkettes today.