Billy Powell Piano Improvisation HD 1999 [Live Video]

[@brandoncriner5480]

Somebody needs to recreate the scene from that 1972 prom when a Skynyrd roadie sat down at a piano he saw in the room and launched into his version of "Free Bird". It freaked them out that he had been with them for two years and they never knew what he could do on with a piano. Enter Billy Powell.

[@blueswailer1952]

1st time I've heard this. It proves that Billy was as good as Keith Emerson. I just think that he should have had more solo spots in the set.+

[@stevenponte6655]

ha ha to have been a fly on that wall. But I remember reading an interview in Keyboard Magazine where he said thats pretty what he played when they play Freebird live.

[@markmccarty9793]

He was a Roady, they didn't know!

[@rodmcdonough6111]

I dont know what to say.. He surprised us with original ideas that went beyond our conception of beauty

[@oquevix]

Billy, effortless. A grand master.

[@w4gle1963]

Nothing like watching Billy Powell tickle them ivories!! R.I.P. and Fly High Free Bird!!

[@bretbailey1116]

Watching this makes me sad in a way. Seeing Billy Powell tear up those keyboards you see what we lost. I was lucky to see Skynyrd twice. The last time was in Lincoln, Nebraska in'98. We sat at the side of the stage. At first I was disappointed. But we were on the side with Billy Powell!! A show within a show!! The man was an underrated pianist and Skynyrd isn't the same without him. The other originals were crucial, Ronnie Van Zant,, obviously. But Billy Powell was a big part of their sound. RIP!!!

[@RichTancredi]

+Bret Bailey Agreed!!!!!!!

[@Masons4Liberty]

Seeing Skynyrd was among the top memories I have of summers through high school (2000-2004). My first show was when Leon was still around. Saw them 4 or 5 times, but once Billy kicked the bucket that was it for me.

[@repeat27]

Not improvised nothing ever was and still is'nt it's all by the book script.

[@MrsBillyKeys]

You are mistaken. Billy improvised ALL his parts, then had to learn them if they ended up on a record or onstage.

[@mikemorzy8659]

Most underrated musician in rock. I saw him play the Freebird intro Denver 1976, nobody was expecting it, everybody was blown away. What a treat to hear this virtuoso.

[@richardbicknell2140]

Best things in Billy's life. God, my family, my music. Tragic loss. RIP

[@blackjackjoker2759]

A friend invited me to go see this obscure band in a hole in the wall bar on the darkest side of Jacksonville. The side of town that has a MLK Jr. Blvd. When we walked in the door he pointed at the keyboardist and said “That’s the keyboardist from Lynyrd Skynyrd”. I was like whaaaa. Billy Powell was hanging with the commoners.

[@alanjones6359]

Yeh !! I saw skynrd at Manchester UK he was walking around the bar area , looked just like a fan , no one seemed to recognise him including me until they took the stage , I thought missed an opportunity there to have chat with him !

[@allancove4483]

Thank you Billy Powell for those GIFTED HANDS. We miss you.

[@mohammedcohen]

...saw him at the Coral Sky Amphitheater in West Palm Beach , Fl, in the 90s...that dude could seriously tickle those ivories!!! R I P...

[@zombie2wo]

Best keyboardist I ever heard ....R.I.P. Billy

[@michaelstratton6701]

Such a great creative soul, the piano gave beautiful breath to the already talented lynard skynyrd band

[@steveng1624]

Awesome playing Billy Powell, the music from Heaven

[@melissagahn6400]

Rest In Peace Billy.

[@RetroFan]

What I like about this band is that seemed cool, laid back and not stuck up.

[@WILLIAMSMITH-jd2hb]

Awesome !!

[@P7777-u7r]

If he was born 100 years earlier he could have been famous as a classical music player

[@ChickenLegs-fp9py]

screw that, then I'd have no solo from Call me the Breeze to rock out to

[@pidpit4397]

@@ChickenLegs-fp9py --He kicked ass in that piano solo...

[@MrsBillyKeys]

He pretty much played classical music exclusively at home. He found Franz Liszt particularly challenging.

[@freedomcostsblood]

The best to every touch the ivories

[@stucknearthegulf]

Billy was hurt so badly in the crash that it took him over a year to recover.

[@Bellatrix28618]

Yes but miraculously his hands were ok!!

[@kathyrais574]

Actually of all the people hurt he was the least hurt, imagine if it took him a year to recover, what other guys were like. He was the only 1 able to attend all the funerals. They all had lasting effects, Leon's left arm had severe damage, if you notice when they got back together, he had to hold bass almost upright if that makes sense. So sad, they are dying which means I am getting older too. How come I stil feel 20 inside, it sucks

[@MrsBillyKeys]

Physically, anyway. Emotionally, he never recovered.

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

If you see what he looked like right before he died it’s really sad. RIP Billy Powell ✝️

[@CrestedSaguaro520]

The way I see it, there are 4 levels of piano playing: Simple Challenging Very difficult ...and *B I L L Y P O W E L L .*

[@loganguppy9356]

Man I love billy.. it makes me smile rip bill

[@LadyWriter878]

Dang!!!! Love it

[@khakuda]

Thanks for posting. Gorgeous piece.

[@vehikle]

Billy Powell was the greatest rock piano player ever. His solos and backing on songs like The Breeze, Sweet Home, and I know A Little, cemented his place in rock and roll history. RIP Billy.

[@kathyrais574]

I always loved Billy's sound, just made me happy to listen to him So funny they never even knew he played piano for 2 years bein a roadie. There are probably better players, but he is still my fav & just like every single 1 of them underrated, as individuals & as a band

[@richardbicknell2140]

Such a talented musician!

[@chrissalazar5727]

Skynard brothers Ronnie vanzant I go back with these brothers 1975 I remember that day ,let's rock the hunt needle and the spoon, smell bullets free bird Ronnie one the best writing artist ever to be .

[@austenrobinson2747]

One of the best piano players i have ever heard

[@FirstLAST-hu6ev]

Check out Billy's band Vision from the mid 80's! Awesome music....

[@jacksonshaddox3502]

Hey awesome video he was the best can u post a video of the whole song

[@michellejulene3125]

I had the privilege of being close to Gary Rossington & his wife Dale. I made & designed 2 Freebird jackets for Gary. Plus I became a part of their family & the 2 girls. It was surreal but the adventures we had through the years. I was in Boise Idaho at their concert with Doobie Brothers. I had brought Gary's daughters over from their ranch in Jackson Hole so they could see their mom & dad. Of course the boys were playing cards one night & they wanted me to come play with them. I sat down at the table & realized I was the only female! Ha! I sat next to Billy Powell & felt extremely uncomfortable because he just stared at me. & never looked away. I asked him what he was doing & he said, " I've never seen a woman as beautiful as you..." I was shocked & looking back now...what a kind thing to say & with no agenda just authentic respect. ❤miss you & love you Billy❤❤❤❤

[@papajack60]

why do all these videos cut out the Freebird part ? I saw this live and there were folk crying as this lead into freebird--gave me chills. Billy died the next year.

[@socaldave4227]

+Jack Ring Billy died in 2009 this was from 1999

[@papajack60]

+Dave M I didn't mean this particular concert. I meant the one he performed at in 2007 or 2008 not sure which year. it was at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA.. . Johnny was singing lead and He also has a country career going with brother Donnie at the time. And this isn't as improvised as people think . Watch every video and he plays the solo almost the same way.

[@Cyberpeter2]

+Jack Ring You know that, this is not a real improvisation. It's a kind of piano piece he wrote, but he performed it in different ways, each live. So we can consider it an improvisation. :)

[@MrsBillyKeys]

Actually, it was yet another piece of BP’s improvised playing…except when the band heard it, asked if he’d add it to their set. So, originally improvised…Billy and FreeBird have history like that! 😊

[@ktwebbdevil]

WOW

[@johndavid8815]

Wow!

[@WearyCowboy]

Genius musician

[@brickshackstudios]

Anyone have an ID on what the keyboard he's playing is? I know the top one is a Korg t1 but I can't identify the bottom.

[@Cyberpeter2]

It is a Kurzweil piano, but I am not really sure about the model. In 1999, both PC88 and SP88 were pretty popular, but maybe it can be found out in some other clips of the same LS era!

[@RBFR01]

Why cut off the video just before they play freebird?

[@mikemorzy8659]

And why cut the piano intro off of most Freebird videos. It’s a whole piece meant to be heard in its entirety.

[@renesteitz8613]

👏👏💖👏👏

[@intender4good]

Can you tell the crowd to shut up?

[@markmcg1]

I used to live with him

[@muddgeeser]

king arther was a powell

[@Cruzaman4040]

All I hear is Ronnie saying “Billy Powell on the Piano!” From honky Tonk night time. Oof

[@bobcaygeon4533]

Not bad for a roadie.😉

[@SweetKingTanner]

Guy makes some trash music: *randos in the crowd going absolutely ballistic*

[@SweetKingTanner]

Bruh many of us are descendant of Billy Powell. Dont make us piano players let’s go.