<P> By 1970, Lynyrd Skynyrd had become a top band in Jacksonville, headlining at some local concerts, and opening for several national acts . Pat Armstrong, a Jacksonville native and partner in Macon - based Hustlers Inc. with Phil Walden's younger brother, Alan Walden, became the band's managers . Armstrong left Hustlers shortly thereafter to start his own agency . Walden stayed with the band until 1974, when management was turned over to Peter Rudge . The band continued to perform throughout the South in the early 1970s, further developing their hard - driving blues rock sound and image, and experimenting with recording their sound in a studio . Skynyrd crafted this distinctively "southern" sound through a creative blend of blues, and a slight British rock influence . </P> <P> During this time, the band experienced some lineup changes for the first time . Junstrom left and was briefly replaced by Greg T. Walker on bass . At that time, Ricky Medlocke joined as a vocalist and second drummer to help fortify Burns' sound on the drums . Medlocke grew up with the founding members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his grandfather Shorty Medlocke was an influence in the writing of "The Ballad of Curtis Loew". Some versions of the band's history state Burns briefly left the band during this time . The band did play some shows with both Burns and Medlocke, using a dual - drummer approach . In 1971, they made some recordings at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with Walker and Medlocke serving as the rhythm section, but without the participation of Burns . </P> <P> Medlocke and Walker left the band to play with another southern rock band, Blackfoot, and when the band made a second round of Muscle Shoals recordings in 1972, Burns was once again featured on drums and Leon Wilkeson on bass . Also in 1972, roadie Billy Powell became the keyboardist for the band . Medlocke later returned to once again play drums for Lynyrd Skynyrd . Medlocke and Walker did not appear on any album until the 1978 release of First and...Last, a compilation of recordings made during 1971 - 1972 originally intended to be their first album . </P> <P> In 1972, the band (comprised then of Van Zant, Collins, Rossington, Burns, Wilkeson, and Powell) was discovered by musician, songwriter, and producer Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat & Tears, who had attended one of their shows at Funocchio's in Atlanta . Kooper signed them to his Sounds of the South label that was to be distributed and supported by MCA Records, and produced their first album . Wilkeson temporarily left the band during the early recording sessions for the album, only playing on two tracks . He rejoined the band shortly after the album's release at Van Zant's invitation and is pictured on the album cover . Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King joined the band and played bass on the album (the only part which Wilkeson had not already written being the solo section in "Simple Man"), along with some guitar work . King stayed in the band and switched solely to guitar after the album's release, allowing the band to replicate its three - guitar studio mix in live performances . Released on August 13, 1973, the self - titled album with the subtitle "Pronounced Leh - nerd Skin - nerd" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA . The album featured the hit song "Free Bird", which received national airplay, eventually reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . </P>

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