Gary Rossington, the last remaining founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died March 5, 2023, at 71. The guitarist had a long history of heart issues that had caused him to take extended leave of absences from the Southern rock band. Rossington had triumphantly returned to the stage on October 23, 2021, in Atlanta, Ga., four months after he had undergone emergency heart surgery.

In their brief statement announcing his death, the band wrote, “It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today. Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.” Following the news, the guitarist was being mourned by many fellow classic rock stars, one of whom called him “the last of the breed.”

When Rossington returned to action in 2021, the band shared the news with their fans via a post on their Facebook page on Oct. 24. “It was a wonderful surprise to have Gary back on the stage in Atlanta,” it said. “Keep feeling better, bossman!”

The news of Rossington’s surgery came on July 23. The guitarist, born Dec. 4, 1951, had a history of heart issues and also underwent heart surgery as recently as 2019.

Despite Rossington’s health issues, the group continued their 2021 tour which was originally planned as a farewell. The tour resumed on Aug. 22 and continued for another dozen shows before Rossington return on Oct. 23. “We all felt playing the shows and bringing the music to y’all was a better option than cancelling the performances,” the band wrote.

They typically perform a set that’s chock-full of some of classic rock’s best known anthems: “What’s Your Name,” “Simple Man,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “You Got That Right,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and their signature song, “Free Bird.”

Watch the band, with Rossington, perform “Free Bird” at Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta, upon his return on Oct. 23, 2021

The band’s complete statement from Oct. 2021: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary Rossington as he recovers from emergency heart surgery. Gary is home resting and recovering with his family at home. He wants everyone to know he is doing good and expects a full recovery.

“After this past year, the country being shut down and everything we have all been thru, The Rossington’s encouraged the band to go perform in his absence. Music is a powerful healer! We all felt playing the shows and bringing the music to y’all was a better option than cancelling the performances.

“We wish Gary a speedy recovery and we will see the Skynyrd Nation very soon!

“Please do us a favor and say some prayers for the Rossington family and if you would like to leave him a (positive) message please do! He will look forward to reading them!”

Veteran guitarist Damon Johnson filled in for Rossington during his absence.

Watch Rossington (c), Johnny Van Zant (r) and Rickey Medlocke talk about returning to the road after the pandemic

Related: Skynyrd paid tribute to Rossington upon their return to the road

In 2019, Skynyrd revealed that Rossington had been experiencing fatigue and other symptoms related to a leaky heart valve. He underwent a procedure that summer to repair the valve.

On October 8, 2015, Rossington, then 63, suffered a heart attack. Unfortunately, heart problems are nothing new for the guitar hero, who underwent a quintuple bypass in 2003. Never one to be kept down for long, he returned to touring just seven weeks post-surgery.

He was part of every line-up of Skynyrd dating back to its origins as My Backyard in 1964.

Rossington again stepped back from the stage in 2022 due to poor health. Though it was anticipated that he would return for some concerts in 2023, he never did. “There’s a saying the music business,” he once said. “You don’t retire from it. It retires you.”

Skynyrd’s extensive catalog is available here.

Related: Musicians we lost in 2023