Arguably, it can be said that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the quintessential American rock band. The epitome of Southern rock music, Skynyrd does not offer high-concept gloss. Instead, since its emergence from the Jacksonville, Fla. music scene, Skynyrd has consistently spoken about the harsh humanity facing the American everyman. "We saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan like everybody else in our generation, and freaked out and wanted to start a rock'n'roll band," Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington told Billboard. "But then we got serious, and we really had this dream to become something, to make a mark. We just worked and sweated our way to it. We had that fire in our eyes."

After over 30 years in the business and 26 million records sold worldwide, the fire has yet to burn out. Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame last March. It was a moment of recognition long-overdue. Original Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell told reporters upon receiving the honor, “Obviously this proves that the music is here to stay. It certainly completes a lifetime accomplishment for me.”