( CNN ) -- Billy Powell , keyboardist with the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd , died of a heart ailment at his condo in the Jacksonville , Florida , suburb of Orange Park , police said Thursday . He was 56 . Billy Powell , center , poses with other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2006 . Powell , who died early Wednesday , had survived the band 's October 1977 plane crash in Mississippi that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant ; guitarist Steve Gaines ; Gaines 's sister , vocalist Cassie Gaines ; an assistant road manager ; and the pilot and copilot . Powell was seriously injured in the crash . More than 40 fans left messages on a fan Web site . `` Billy , you are truely free now . Rock on with Ronnie and the gang . You also will be forever missed , '' read a note signed by traceyspruill . `` I can not believe the hurt that I have felt from being a Skynyrd fan , but I realize that it only hurts so much because I love the members of this band like my own family . We will always miss you , Billy . I can hear your fingertips rolling off those ivory keys right now . Thanks for being you . Rest in peace and may God bless you , '' another fan wrote . According to Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett , Powell called 911 around midnight Tuesday from his condo at the Club Continental , complaining about chest pains . `` When paramedics and police arrived , they found him unresponsive on the bed , '' Cornett said . Powell was pronounced dead at the scene , and his cardiologist signed the death certificate at 1:52 a.m . ET Wednesday . According to the officer , Powell missed an appointment with the same doctor on Tuesday . Powell joined the original Skynyrd band in 1972 , but he worked for the Jacksonville , Florida-based band for several years before that as a crew member . Among the Southern rock band 's acclaimed songs are `` What 's Your Name , '' `` Freebird '' and `` Sweet Home Alabama , '' all released in the 1970s . `` Sweet Home Alabama '' reached the top 10 in 1974 . The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 . Two years after the plane crash , Powell , Allen Collins , Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkeson formed the Rossington-Collins Band . It broke up in 1982 . A new Lynyrd Skynyrd band formed in 1987 and included Johnny Van Zant , Ronnie 's brother . It began a tour in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , where the plane was headed when it crashed . The band 's last album , `` Vicious Cycle , '' came out in 2003 .
Billy Powell called 911 that night complaining of chest pains , police responded . They found him unresponsive and he was pronounced dead at the scene . Powell , 56 , survived 1977 plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and 5 others . ` ` Thanks for being you , '' one mourning fan writes on Lynyrd Skynyrd Web site .