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Post by jacksonvillekid on Oct 20, 2007 16:39:50 GMT -5
Anybody know how that went last night? Janet...where are ya?
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Susan
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Dvanzantgirl
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Post by Susan on Oct 20, 2007 17:01:43 GMT -5
Yes Janet....do tell us how it was . I am all ears girl. LMAO We need details and are waiting patiently for you to return.
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Post by missy on Oct 20, 2007 21:19:10 GMT -5
Yeah!! How'd it go Janet? ;D
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Post by Mrs Hooty on Oct 21, 2007 9:24:27 GMT -5
Yeah Janet and Jane did you get to see Queenie? I know one thing for sure you 2 had fun!!!
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janet
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Post by janet on Oct 22, 2007 22:20:08 GMT -5
By My Clay Sun
Nadine Atkinson's eyes still light up as she remembers the early days of the now-disbanded Freebird Foundation. The foundation - created in 1990 by Judy and Melody VanZant, the widow and daughter, respectively, of the late Ronnie VanZant, who was original lead singer and songwriter for Lynyrd Skynyrd - was located in a small strip mall over on Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park. It was but one piece of Clay County's connection to a band that began in Northeast Florida and became known worldwide for a string of songs that included Freebird, Sweet Home Alabama, Saturday Night Special and That Smell. Judy VanZant lived in Orange Park back then, though she has since moved to Jacksonville Beach. The Freebird Foundation raised money to construct Ronnie VanZant Memorial Park near Lake Asbury, a park that has since been deeded over to the Clay County Recreation Department. This weekend, as Lynyrd Skynyrd fans tearfully remember the plane crash 30 years ago Saturday that killed Ronnie VanZant and three other band members, the Rodeway Inn in Orange Park will be host to the annual Skynyrd Tribute, coordinated by Atkinson and open to the public free of charge tonight and Saturday. The weekend's events will include a moment of silence and candlelight vigil Saturday night at 9. Yes, there is a big-time connection from Clay County to Skynyrd, and it will come alive today and Saturday. The tribute, and the work Atkinson still does for Judy VanZant at the Freebird Live club located at Jacksonville Beach, are what is left of the band and the music that Atkinson happily traces back to when she was 11 years old and first saw the group in its pre-Lynyrd Skynyrd days at the Skateland roller skating facility in Jacksonville. "That was the first time I saw that band play," said Atkinson, who grew up on the Southside area of Jacksonville and still lives there. "It's just a cool thing that happened." Who could have predicted that years later, Nadine would work for the Freebird Foundation or that a group that once was paid $10 for a gig in 1964, with a lead singer (VanZant) from the Westide who wanted to be a professional baseball player, would make millions of dollars on millions of record sales. And who can forget that unique name? Lynyrd Skynyrd came about because Leonard Skinner, a gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School, was a little rough on VanZant and other band members who went to the school. The Skynyrd Tribute pays homage to all of that. Started as a picnic in the 1990s at VanZant Memorial Park, at which a stage would be set up for musical acts the entire day and into the night, the tribute is an impressive collection of Skynyrd fans and musicians. While Atkinson does send out invitations to Judy VanZant and members of the current Skynyrd tour band, no band members are expected to attend. Instead, musicians such as Shane Dodson of Keedysville, Md., and DB Hackett and the Cross Creek Band of South Carolina come from hundreds of miles away to perform Skynyrd songs and others; fans assemble to enjoy the music and remake friendships. KYMYSTRY of Jacksonville is the host band. There is no admission charge. Just a musical stage set up in a hotel bar. "We never charge for anything we do," Atkinson said. "We do it as a tribute to the band." Sounds simple. But that's exactly what it is. It's a reunion of a Skynyrd kind. "We just get people from all over," Atkinson said. "You never know who you're going to meet. Every year we meet somebody new. And that's really the cool thing." Some come to the tribute every year. Others, Atkinson said, may make it here every other year or every third year. "Some of these people, you make lifelong friends with," she said. One glimpse of the Saturday night candlelight vigil will show you that. Paul Bowker is editor of My Clay Sun. Send an e-mail to him at paul.bowker@....
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janet
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Post by janet on Oct 24, 2007 16:23:06 GMT -5
We had a awesome weekend.Friday night we all got there and saw alot of skynyrd fans and friends.Nadine and Charlie out did there selves this year.Their band Kymystry was outstanding they played a few skynyrd songs and some of their songs. BarryLee Harwood was there he played in skynyrd,Rossington Collins Band and Allen Collins band and several since then.He has a new cd coming out so go to his web site www.barryleeharwood.com DB Hackett was there Wonderful job DB.DB has a new cd ya'll go to his web site and check it out.Shane Dodson on acoustic awesome job Shane.He has a web site to go check it out.Two other bands that play here in Jax Skytrain and Drivin South both are awesome bands both played some skynyrd so ya'll know we were happy.Leon 's son Lee Lee was there sure is a sweet kid got a few pics of him that i need to get posted for ya'll on here.that was Friday night.Sat morning Jane and i went over to Gene's camp and said hello to all the fans over there Jane wanted all of them to know that the Van Zant family wanted to thank everyone for keeping the music aliveand still supporting the music.We saw two big bus's they had loaded up for Gene's tour.Funny though Jane does the same tour for nothing.Oh well gotta run for now to check on parents.Get back later to tell the rest
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janet
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Post by janet on Oct 24, 2007 16:34:16 GMT -5
www.news4jax .com/video/ 14396717/ index.html? taf=jax Check it out we made the news
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Post by Mrs Hooty on Oct 24, 2007 18:46:24 GMT -5
Hey Janet the link for the news didn't work can ya email it to me? That's Right about Jane. She has done a whole lot for her family and would never as for a dime. She does it out of the goodness of her own heart. Thanks for the review. Sounds like you all had a blast
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Post by jacksonvillekid on Oct 25, 2007 0:33:30 GMT -5
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Post by Tony B. on Oct 25, 2007 11:20:51 GMT -5
hey I saw Aunt Jane in the background.!!!!..wasn't that wailer being interviewed?
On a different note a friend of mine had 30 photos from the crash site that he got from a girl down there.... I saw those this last weekend...wow I can't believe anybody walked away from that...thank God they did though....
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janet
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Post by janet on Oct 25, 2007 22:28:57 GMT -5
Yep that sure is Wailer.and Jane in the back ground
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Post by jacksonvillekid on Oct 26, 2007 17:39:01 GMT -5
Janet's pics from the concert....... Wailer Aunt Jane and Harley from the CDB Band Aunt Jane and Leon's son Lee Lee Lee
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Susan
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Dvanzantgirl
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Post by Susan on Oct 26, 2007 17:55:40 GMT -5
I believe Janet is in there too.
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Post by Tony B. on Oct 26, 2007 21:50:57 GMT -5
wow Leons son...too cool!!!!
and Harley Harp....looks like I missed out on a real good time.... thanks for the photos!!!!!
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Post by jacksonvillekid on Oct 27, 2007 0:53:47 GMT -5
I believe Janet is in there too. Oh.... Sorry! My stupid monitor is ancient and everything looks really dark, I don't see things the way most people do. Didn't even see Janet. Some of you folks might wanna think twice before asking me to do your pictures......or help with your web sites!!
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