Ronnie Van Zant’s “Simple Man” Vocal Track Surfaces, And It’s An Absolute Masterpiece

Ronnie Van Zant’s “Simple Man” Vocal Track Surfaces, And It’s An Absolute Masterpiece | Society Of Rock Videos

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Studio One | Doraville, Georgia

Late Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant was a force to be reckoned with in all that he did. Whether it was dominating the baseball diamond as a youth or crafting some of the greatest songs in the history of American rock and roll with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie’s brand of excellence extended far into his lifelong love of music and was never more apparent than when he gifted us with “Simple Man”.

Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd during Lynyrd Skynyrd Recording at Studio I – August 12, 1977 at Studio I in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)

The product of a lengthy conversation with guitarist Gary Rossington following the deaths of their respective grandmother and mother about the advice their matriarchs had passed on to them about how to live a life worth being proud of, “Simple Man” came to life in Doraville’s Studio One and saw Ronnie in one of the greatest studio performances of his career as heard in the rock legend’s vocal track, located in the audio below.

Fun Fact: Since “Simple Man” became available for digital download, it has become Lynyrd Skynyrd’s third best-selling digital song after “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”.

ATLANTA, GA – August 12: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Lynyrd Skynyrd members Steve Gaines, Artimus Pyle and Ronnie Van Zant work on “Street Survivors” at Studio I on August 12, 1977 in Doraville-Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/Getty Images)

For nearly 5 minutes, we get to hear “Simple Man” in all its raw and open honesty as Ronnie is heard without his band behind him, voice rising and falling and cracking in all the right places and never once tempted to falsify or fake his way through any part of his performance; this was Ronnie Van Zant at his most open and vulnerable, passing on the lessons that molded him into the man we knew and loved in the best way he knew how. Check it out in the audio below!

Lynyrd Skynyrd is hitting the road one last time and coming to a city near you – don’t miss your chance to say goodbye! Tickets WILL sell out fast for this legendary final tour, get yours now by clicking here!

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