Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced ) is an American
rock band best known for popularizing the
southern rock genre during the 1970s. Originally formed in 1964 as My Backyard in
Jacksonville, Florida, the band used various names such as The Noble Five and One Percent, before coming up with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969. The band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its live performances and signature tunes "
Sweet Home Alabama" and "
Free Bird". At the peak of their success, three members died in an
airplane crash in 1977, putting an abrupt end to the band's most popular incarnation.