Music history is filled with tragedies. Jefferson Starship riot of 1978 had no casualties, but it was traumatizing for the band. Bon Jovi struggled with his daughter’s substance abuse, Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger lost his girlfriend to suicide, and Julian Lennon suffered from his father’s absence.
Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell lost their lives to suicide. Buddy Holly and Patsy Cline died in plane crashes, and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant shared their fates. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s future seemed bright as the band’s debut album was a commercial success. Ronnie’s plane crashed while his career was at its peak.
We won’t talk about Ronnie’s tragic fate, though. Instead, we will focus on the sad tale of Van Zant’s eldest daughter, Tammy.
Ronnie’s Accident Shaped Tammy’s Life
The calls started to come in on October 20, 1977. It seemed like just any other day, but Tammy didn’t realize it would change her forever. The news confirmed that Ronnie Van Zant lost his life due to a plane crash. The news shocked many, but its effect was eventually gone. Tammy was ten at the time of her father’s death, and the tragedy left its mark on her.
Her mother, Nadine Inscoe, suffered from prescription drug addiction. She couldn’t take care of her due to her addiction. Her stepmother, Judy Seymour, pretended like the little girl didn’t exist. So, Tammy had to rely on her grandmother.
Tammy spent her entire life remembering past traumas while trying to move on. She eventually decided to follow her father’s path. She was a natural musician just like her father and uncle, Johnny Van Zant.
Tammy Wanted To Follow Ronnie’s Footsteps
Tammy wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, but she had no experience. This didn’t stop her desire to sing — she wrote and composed ‘Freebird Child.’ She released the song in 2009 and her debut studio record of the same name in 2014. She dedicated the album to her father’s memory, and the song ‘Surviving On A Wing and A Prayer’ to all struggling women.
Real-life tragedies inspired Tammy’s music. Her website later announced that she was working on a memoir, and the book will have the same name as her debut album. Things didn’t go as planned as she passed away at 54 on July 11, 2010. Her aunt Jane Van Zant announced the news on Facebook:
“With a sad heart, I’m asking for prayers for the Van Zant family as we lost Ronnie’s oldest daughter Tammy Michelle Van Zant last night.”
Aunt Jane didn’t reveal the reason behind Tammy’s death.
You can listen to ‘Freebird Child’ below.
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