My favorite Skynard song has always been "I know a little". May the Gaines family know the joy Steve and Cassie brought the world.

Steve Gaines was a fuckin’ awesome musician and fit in perfectly with the band. Singing, songwriting, guitar playing, and live performances were all high quality. He took Skynyrd to a higher level. His solo work kicks ass too!!

I saw them in October 1977 at the Hollywood Sporatarium in Hollywood Florida Ronnie left the stage when Steve sang aint no good life out of respect for Steve 5 days later they were gone I was and I am still heart broken they were the greatest band I have ever seen.

Beautifully made mini-documentary of Steve Gaines. Thank you for taking the time it must have took creating this touching episode. Skynyrd's music will never get old & will be heard forever!

Steve was 100% fire on guitar

It is remarkable that these Jacksonville boys came together and became something the world had never seen before. They had lightning in a bottle and the best was still to come. Such a tragedy. Thanks for making this video Doc!

Steve was excellent, but Ed King's contributions truly put, and kept them on the map while he was there. Sweet Home Alabama, Saturday Night Special, Am I Losing, etc were all home runs. Ed's solos were incredible! All played with a surgeons hand.

It is good to see Steve Gaines finally almost 50 years later getting his dues. Any one who doesn’t know just how really talented he was simply go to the internet and search Crawdad and you will find his greatness. He needed Lynyrd Skynyrd but they needed him to achieve the next level of there greatness. Street Survivors was just the tip of the iceberg of what was to come.That last night in Greenville S C I was two rows back directly in front of Steve. It was a super show ,almost as if they knew it was to be the final one. It is truly sad they were taken so young would have been really fun to see them Dominate music for years to come. R I P

I was always a fan of both Steve Gaines & Ed King, and it always blew me away that they were both born on September 14, 1949

They were all very talented. I would not put one above the other.

I was just listening to Steve’s “One in the Sun,” a fine, fine song. I’d say he was the most technically advanced guitar player Skynyrd had, and he was smart enough to not spend a lot of time showing off. Consider that Steve died in October 1977, and the first Van Halen album rolled out less than 6 months later. If Steve had lived, he could very well have ended up another revered virtuoso whose name would be spoken in the same breath as Edward Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Except that he would be playing bitchin’ songs and mind-melting solos that drew from blues, r&b, country and jazz. The whole landscape of guitar-intensive rock music could have been changed by this man.

Great video. Gaines was the spark Ronnie needed for the next phase of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's a shame we didn't get to see it.

I was a founding member of a little garage band in Oklahoma a guy that worked with our drummer said he played a little guitar. And asked to sit in with us. We were blown away. Thinking this guy would never want to join "our" band. He showed up every jam session. He always talked about growing up, and learning to play with "little Stevie". One day I said, "you're talking about Steve Gaines aren't you"? We went on to play fifty four shows our first year out with "Guitar Gary" bringing entire rooms to their feet.

Steve Gaines is one of the most underrated musicians to ever perform, he was an all-around talented musician. Thanks for the Doc, very nicely done as always!

I saw Skynyrd front row in Mpls just weeks before the crash, they were as on fire as the album cover portrayed. I am privileged to have such a memory of pure Rock & Roll turned way up loud. I miss America. 👨‍🌾

That was such a tragedy; I can’t imagine the pain their folks went through after losing two of their children at once. And how awesomely talented they were; only God knows the heights the band would’ve reached had things turned out different. Thank you for this great documentary; love them all. Keep them coming.

Steve was a great singer and player which we heard on Street Survivors. And that was only the beginning...and sadly, the end. RIP to all who perished in that senseless tragedy.

Steve was a very calming influence on Skynyrd at a time when they were very wild

If Steve Gaines had lived, I can see him playing regularly with Eric Clapton--trading licks with him at his "Crossroads Festival". You hear the songs he wrote and sang on with Lynyrd Skynyrd, such as "Ain't No Good Life", they transform into a different band--playing Chicago Blues instead of Southern Rock. More like Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac

It's really hard for me to think back on the end of Lynurd Skynyrd....... It seemed that everyone I knew who was a fan of this band, which was most everyone I knew, just stopped talking about them. Any time the subject of the plane crash came up, conversation sort of just trailed off...... It was almost like losing family members. We were all genuinely affected by it. They left a legacy of great Southern Rock for us to remember them by..... Many thanks to River Docs for keeping the memory alive!!!

I always have loved what the Lynyrd Skynyrd band brought to the table musically, and to this day still have my 2 record set of “ One more from the road” The cassette tape version has long since passed into oblivion from getting played to death in my tape decks as I grew older . I watched the live shows on KZfaq where Ronnie lets Steve go into one of his solos & you can just see the big smile come across His face as he listens & then watches Steve playing. Classic scenes like this one are small slices of history, and I agree there was SO MUCH MORE music that could have been made , & that we lost some great talent in that horrific plane crash.

One From the Road still is the best album ever recorded. I saw them at Knebworth in August 1976. They blew everyone away.

Gaines was definitely a much needed upgrade for the band. He was a triple threat for sure. We can only speculate what the band would have done in future years. I’m still an Ed King super fan though! Thanks RD!

One in The Sun was a great song, His album by the same name was fantastic. Steve is and was fantastic and a much needed shot in the arm for the band that was road weary and after several huge tours getting a little run down. He is sorely missed

I grew up in the Chicago area, listening to Soul n Rock n Roll. THEN,,,,,, I heard Skynrd. THEY changed my life!! 😚😍💖👏👏

Yeah Steve was the most talented but Cassie will always be my favorite band member. God bless and rest them both.

Steve brought it! And had soooo much more to give!! He was brilliantly talented, and imo the best!

I waited for years to see my band! I still have the original ticket October 1977 for the concert in baton rouge. It was a really sad day for this teenager. R.I.P. Ronnie, Steve, and beautiful Cassie and the other 3. The conair CV240 took the best band away that blew the rolling stones away on stage. Now we have lost all but 1 the bad ass drummer. Live on FREE 🐦

As a musician heavily influenced by Skynyrd I believe Steve was the best guitarist in the band. The guy could do it all and he had a great voice

I never the history of all the guitar playing & drama. All I knew is, I just can't stop listening to Street Survivors over and over to this day. I have been doing research on the plane crash, and just was at the memorial site. Driving home from New Orleans to Michigan, we found it by accident On 55 when we hit Mississippi. My heart still bleeds. Great accomplishment Steve. Your name will always be remembered.

What a horrible loss. Condolences to the Gaines family and everyone else who suffered from that senseless plane crash. Oh my goodness, what could have been 😓

RIP Steve and Cassie Gaines! Truly a sad day for southern rock, but at least he left us his legacy!🎸🙏

U nailed sir. He was a special guy.

I'm not sure I'd say which one is the most talented, but the chemistry and history between Allen, Gary, and Ronnie was what really made that band. Everyone else was great too.

Never new that stuff about Mr. Steve gains ,And his sister Casey. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

The band was extremely talented already Steve brought his arsenal of talent to add another element of greatness Love how Ronnie and Steve exchanged lead vocals on You Got that right ❤

You just keep topping yourself RD! Another well done documentary. RIP Steve, Cassie, Ronnie and the others killed in that crash!

He along with his sister Cassie and Ronnie unfortunately left this world way too soon..

Thanks for all you do. Steve G. was amazing. I wish I could have seen him as well as Skynyrd live.

Another gem, Doc. Well done and fine research. The Miami Tribe formerly natives to Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan is the namesake of Steve and Cassie’s hometown. RIP

You got that right,,,,no doubt . Good one Doc. Thanks for your time and sharing.

This lineup of LS imo was there best.They where peaking&could blow any other band away live. I love Steve Gaines solo work.My favorite song his" One with the Sun"

Still makes me cry...the wholefkdup plane crash deal. My favorite album was "one more for/ from the road," nothing less than stellar, for a live album, just really great, every single track. But l loved everything they did, before and after that too. Those guy,s were my faves back then, along with too many other,s to mention. Lol. Love your vid,s man...thanx.. ✌️❤️😁

The tragedy of Steve's life was not so much what we lost, but what music Steve had in him that we will never get to experience. The band was destined to become one the biggest acts in rock history. A group of us lived in Metairie, LA and one of the group picked up a slew of tickets for the Baton Rouge concert, we were all going up together to enjoy a great show. When we heard the plane went down, we were [and some of us still are] emotionally devastated. Music has lost some greats through plane crashes, Glenn Miller, the Buddy Holly\Big Bopper\Richie Valens crash or the Stevie Ray Vaughn crash or the Otis Redding crash. But I will forever wonder how great this band could've been had the plane not gone down. Rock in Peace, Steve, Cassie, Ronnie and the rest of the band.

Thanks for this video and all the content on your channel. The episodes are informative and not full of B.S. I look forward to watching many more.

Always enjoy your docs. Keep on keeping on.

For the past twelve years, I’ve had this idea swimming in my head about making a movie biopic about Steve, starting from when he saw the Beatles live in 1964 (thus inspiring Steve to pick up the guitar in the first place), and ending with when Steve officially joins Lynyrd Skynyrd. The film would focus on the various projects Steve was involved in before Skynyrd (particularly Manalive, Rio Smokehouse, Detroit with Rusty Day, and Crawdad), his relationship with Teresa, and his becoming a father. The film would be about the road that led Steve to Skynyrd. I’m thinking it could be called Okie, and the J.J. Cale song of the same name could be an opening and closing theme for the biopic.

Absolutely brought Skynyrd to a new level. Street Survivors is one of my top 10.

Until the arrival of Steve Gaines, Billy Powell was the most talented musician in the band. As pointed out in the video, Steve brought so much more to the band then just being a talented musician. The plane crash and subsequent deaths of Ronnie, Stevie and Cassie not only wiped out the creative soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but it almost certainly contributed to the demise of the Southern Rock movement. In matter of a couple of years Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and eventually Hair Bands wood take over the rock-n-roll landscape. It would be a decade before the Tribute Band would embark on its Anniversary Tour and rekindle the flames of the Southern Rock. The remaining band members would keep the original music alive, but without the creative soul of Ronnie and the contributions Steve brought to the table, the new material would never resonate like the original band's music. We never know what might have been had that plane not fallen from the sky that fateful October night. The Band inspired by Steve's enthusiasm may have been able overcome their hard partying ways and refocused and had a career with the longevity that rivaled the Rolling Stones. One thing is certain. Thousands of musicians and bands have come and gone, very few have left the legacy Skynyrd created before it all came crashing down in small community in Mississippi.

Absolutely right about One More From The Road, you don't skip one single song, drop the needle and let it play 👍

I saw their last concert in "The Brown Shoebox" in Greenville, SC, Such a great night to a terrible day. It's been a LS tribute band ever since.

Thank you so much for this excellent "doc" of the great Steve Gaines! The Beatles' influence, lovely sister Cassie's involvement in getting him heard by Skynyrd, and how his musicianship infused the band with new energy, all speak to who Steve was. The accompanying photos (especially the ones of Leslie West with Ronnie, and Artimus with the guitar) made for a wonderful visual treat! "You sho' got that right!" RIP, folks...

Steve Gaines is one of the biggest losses this world ever faced in guitar terms, his light was just freshly lit and man did it shine bright. He was all of the best qualities of Southern music rolled up in one guy. He achieved so much in such a short time, his talent was for all to see, it stood out then, and stands up still. Without a doubt a household name today had he lived. No doubt he was bigger than Skynyrd. His songs had an energy and musical depth they didnt know they were missing until he brought it. I dont think he would have left them, but like Charlie Starr today, he would have had a career outside of them. I heard years ago Ronnie was thinking of a sabbatical, so he could do a country album leaving Steve hold the reigns for a year or so and you know he could have done it no problem. If there ever was a musician to aspire to its Steve.

I had such a crush on Cassie Gaines as a 14 year old kid seeing them for the first time, live in Oakland, California at Day On The Green.

Steve was good He could have been a solo success Ronnie was unselfish and supported Steve and encouraged him Listen to “ you got that right “ Steve sounds great

How crazy was it that this insane guitarist was not only right under their noses before they decided to try him out, but that he was just languishing playing small bars before Skynyrd? He seems like he was the perfect guy to come into the band at that time, not only musically, but with his laid back personality

Steve was an incredible guitarist, his timing and technique were excellent, couple that with a great ear for beautiful melodies and you got great lead solos. "That Smell" is just awesome, his timing, tone, sustain, vibrato and phrasing are textbook perfect.

I couldn't say anything better. You said it all perfectly. AC: Favorite, SG: Most Talented All-Round. But I did hear the son of a well known Skynyrd roadie, tell of Allen doing a beautiful rendition of the Mark Knopfler ballad: "Romeo & Juliet" while sitting in the den of his Florida home, some years after the crash. I just wonder if A.C. ever reached his true potential. Wouldn't it be sweet if a cassette tape of that little jam ever turned up somewhere. The guy who heard it, knew Allen well, and said he could hardly believe what he was hearing. It's obvious that he was never able to get over the passing of his Sweetheart.

I wasn't even going to listen because I've read so much and also saw them but it turned out to be one of the best,thanks.

I was there (Hollywood ‘Sporto’ 1977). 1st concert my parents let me go to only because they were/are my all-time favorites. Learned to play guitar, played in Bands for years because of them.

Man! Never fails that I learn something about my best guitar players or bands. We didn’t have the web back then which is good and bad it was all about the jam and the look. I sure do miss those days. Thanks 😊

He was a great songwriter. There's no telling what he could have done.

Another Homerun..I love these! You are the only journalist who has featured Steve Gaines. Boy you echo my sentiment about this Man,'s gifts. People think I'm insane but I won't withdraw my assertion that had he lived, Steve Gaines would be one of the guitar players against whom others are compared. Mind blowing musicality! Great job again my friend. These are excellent!

I saw them in Greenville SC the night before the plane crash, It was a great show,& I'll always remember that concert. RIP to all that died on that flight.

Thanks for the video. Saw him with Skynyrd in 76 at Knebworth and 77 at the London Rainbow. Street Survivors by far my favourite Skynyrd album, Steve took them to another level. I can honestly say that the plane crash was only time I actually shed a tear about any musicians passing. A great loss.

Yes he was. And super talented singer songwriter also

Agree. He blew me away. Thanks for sharing

He was great for sure. RVZ favorite.

Great video. Ronnie did a wise yet rare thing when he allowed new band member Steve to write, sing and receive proper credit on Street Survivors. They cultivated some incredible music.

I did like your video. It lifted Steve up without putting anyone down. His talent was so untapped. He was just getting started. I love that guy. Then again, I love all of Skynyrd's member's.

He was in the band ONLY 18 months??? 2 albums?? Holy shit!! Never heard 👂 this. Talk about Destiny..RIP Steve and the gorgeous Cassie..Love 💘 you guys. .Matt NYC

Steve was awesome. That said, I'll always see Ed King as the unrecognized superior talent of the band. He may not have been a singer, but his playing was so incredibly seamless with the music it's almost scary and his writing uncanny.

The solo on Honky tonk night time man is mindblowing!

Without a doubt, everything you said is true . I always felt the same thing, he was a powerhouse! He was just the whole package!

I will always remember when Ronny said (on the live album) We're gonna sick an Okie on ya..." referring to Steve.

Really appreciate this on Steve! Gone way too soon. There is no telling where Skynyrd would’ve went!

Stevie was a tremendous talent its just a shame we lost him so soon at 28 he in my mind was one of the best guitarist of all tome

I saw Detroit in '73 or '74, at Stark's bar in Bryan, OH. I talked to Rusty Day a little but to Steve quite a bit, as I helped them load there equipment into a van (really) after the show. I was a guitarist, 16 or 17, and Steve was extremely nice to me and down to earth. I remember him telling me he had fit his Marshall amp head with 6L6 power tubes, instead of the stock EL34's. He had the black Les Paul Custom. That band was very good. I was a Skynyrd fan later and, when Steve joined and I first saw his pictures and name, I was shocked and delighted. I'm glad he achieved his dream and left us some great music, before leaving us.

Steve and Ed's style were very similar. It would have been awesome to have seen what might have been.

Love all your videos. Thanks for taking time to share

I always remember the day Steve’s sister pushed a record player in the classroom and said , I’m your substitute teacher for the class .

Outstanding. Very well done.

You want to talk about an underrated guitar player? Steve's him. Total badass. And listen to his tone, it's clean, not dirty at all.

If SteveGsines hadn't died, he would have been one of the 5 best guitarists in the world

Steve was a great guitarist,very talented!rest in peace.

Saw them at the Fox Atlanta when they were recording the live album. Steve Gaines was an absolute monster. He was the best guitar player I’d ever heard at the time. I was a young guitar player myself and playing in a garage band. He was an example that we saw that showed us if you work hard enough and get a break, you have to make the most of it. He made the most of it. He has remained one of my favorite guitar players throughout my life. Such a shame his life and the others were cut short. I think the sky was the limit for him and the band too. Gosh, they are still selling out shows with basically the same songs (besides a few on a couple of newer records that haven’t had much success). I’ve seen them several times and they are still a great band, even if now they are basically a tribute band since Gary has passed away.

One thing I found interesting, is Steve and Ed King were actually born on the same day

Bless your heart. Thank you for these insightful videos.

I saw Skynyrd in 1977 at the Apollo theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. I was 14 years old and it was my first concert. The band were incredible, I will never forget it and look back at that night from a distance now. Still for me the best event I have ever been to. Thank you Skynyrd and Steve Gaines.

The first Skynyrd album I bought was the live album and it is awesome to this day. The second was Street Survivors which IMO is one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll albums ever. What would have been? You always put out great videos sir and this one did not disappoint. Well done!

I wore out One more from the road. Thanks for your awesome docs!

Thanks for remembering Steve Gaines. Rip

Steve with Ronnie in You Got that Right was absolutely fantastic. There has NEVER been a band with combined guitar talent as Gaines, Collins and Rossington and there NEVER will be. That's fact.

Good one mate!😎

I recently bought Gaines's solo album. It's a GREAT album, and it wasn't at all what I expected. It's loaded with funk, soul, R&B and gave me a fresh perspective on the Skynyrd music.

Thank you. A very nice interesting view. This band were good, very good.

That was great, thank you. God bless them all, they gave us so much joy

Watching these videos take you back to a time & place that was special. It was carefree , simple . I believe all of Skynards guitars were special. Steve Gaines was one of them. I hope that he went to a better place. He deserves to be there. RIP Steve. RIP my friend!

Been a fan since day one.. A story I remember from many years ago.. Rossington and Collins were in the studio when Steve came in to record the guitar solo on 'Honky Tonk Night Time Man'.. Steve wanted to run through the track one time.. after the run-through Steve said, Ok, let's do it.. they were both blown away, and told him, you just did, ain't gonna get any better than that! One first-time pass.. Can't get any better than that! RIP ALL!

Good Video 👍 Steve was taken just before his Worldwide chance to shine, with Street Survivors. Lightning has struck dozens of times over with every phenomenal member of the LS Family. They've had many Great Guitarists 🎸🎶 over time, including Rickey, Hughie, Sparky, Randall, and now Damon. But the Legenendary, Unique, World Class 4 were Gary, Allen, Ed, and Steve !!!!! How can you really pick 1 of the 4, although Steve was incredible !!! Of al the tragic stories in the LS family, to me Steve and Cassie's stand out, their chance to shine so bright, so very short. What an amazing band in R&R Heaven, I'm sure Steve & Ed, 2 humble greats, are fast friends. Fly on Free Birds 🦅🙏 Rest in Peace but Rock the House. When its my time, I'll be at your Party every weekend ✌️