Steven Earl " Steve " Gaines ( September 14 , 1949 – October 20 , 1977 ) was an American musician . He is best known as a guitarist , vocalist and songwriter with rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1976 until his death in the October 1977 airplane crash that claimed other band members and crew . He was the younger brother of Cassie Gaines , a backup vocalist with the band
October 1977 airplane crash
1977 Mississippi CV-240 crash
Steve Gaines