Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Who Co-Wrote ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ Dead at 68

Ed King, former guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd and the artist who co-wrote the rock classic “Sweet Home Alabama,” has died.

King died on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, according to family.

The legendary rocker was 68 when he died. No cause of death has been announced, but Rolling Stone reported that he had been battling lung cancer.

A message on King’s Facebook confirmed his passing: “It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.”

King played guitar for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975 and from 1987 to 1996.

Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd founder and the band’s sole constant member over the years, expressed his condolences on Twitter.

“I’ve just found out about Ed’s passing and I’m shocked and saddened. Ed was our brother, and a great Songwriter and Guitar player,” Rossington wrote. “I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock & Roll Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon and his family.”

King was also a founding member of the 60s band Strawberry Alarm Clock.

In May 1967 the band put out the hit “Incense and Peppermints,” which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Despite writing some of the music for “Incense and Peppermints,” King was never credited as one of its composers “thanks to a manager who was, at best, inept,” according to Mark Weitz’s biographical note on allmusic.com.

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King rose to fame after joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972. He co-wrote “Sweet Home Alabama,” one of the band’s all-time greatest hits.

He left the band during its Torture Tour in 1975, two years before a plane crash killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup vocalist Cassie Gaines.

The guitarist rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 and left again in 1996 suffering from heart problems.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.