Ultimate Jacksonville Playlist
Jacksonville: The Birthplace of Southern Rock
Jacksonville is often credited as being the birthplace of Southern Rock music, and this title is celebrated through music festivals such as Springing the Blues and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. But, did you know that Jacksonville actually got its reputation in music because it was the home of many famous artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, 38 Special, and Limp Bizkit? Let’s take a look at the beginnings of some of the music industry’s icons.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
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In 1964, Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed with members Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Larry Junstrom, and Bob Burns. They originally began playing music with the name My Backyard, and then The Noble Five, before finally settling on Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band’s name was inspired by the former teacher of two of the band’s members. Leonard Skinner, a teacher at Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School gave his students-turned-band members a hard time about their long hair. Ironically, this inspired them to name their band after him.
The band had played at thousands of local spots by the 1970s, and eventually moved to Atlanta to continue their careers by recording demos.
The Allman Brothers
Image courtesy of thebighousemuseum.com
The Allman Brothers band was formed in 1969 in Jacksonville, when brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman teamed up with friends Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks, and Jaiome to begin creating music. In January 1969, Duana Allman signed a recording contract with Capricorn Records, and soon the band relocated to Macon, Georgia to start recording their music.
38 Special
Image courtesy of soundandvision.com
Guitarist Don Barnes and lead singer Donnie Van Zant came together in 1975 to form 38 Special in Jacksonville. They began as a Southern rock band, but eventually moved into the commercial rock genre to find success. Two of the band’s early songs, “Caught Up in You” and “Hold on Loosely” were picked up by radio stations and even caught the attention of people at MTV.
Limp Bizkit
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Limp Bizkit’s lineup consists of Fred Durst, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and Wes Borland. In 1994, the band formed in Jacksonville and began creating rock music, experimenting with vocal delivery. Fred Durst liked the idea of forming a band that combined elements of both rock and hip hop, which is where Limp Bizkit’s unique sound originated. The band performed throughout Jacksonville’s underground music scene and became known for their elaborate performances. They soon signed with Flip Records and released their first album. Eventually, the band earned nominations for three Grammy Awards.
Timoti’s Seafood Shak
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