Punditty Project closing early Monday to honor Lynyrd Skynyrd

UPDATE, Jan. 28, 2009

The Punditty Project wishes to express its condolences to the family of Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist, who died of an apparent heart attack Jan. 28 in Florida.

Original Report Below:

The California offices of The Punditty Project will close at noon Monday to honor the memory of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd. The tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and three others occurred 31 years ago today, Oct. 20, 1977, in Gillburg, Mississippi. Also killed were guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister Cassie Gaines, a backup singer, and the band’s road manager, Dean Kilpatrick.

Who knows what the Greatest-of-Them-All Southern Rock band might have accomplished had the end not come so soon? The band’s incredible ascent into the upper echelon of rock and roll superstardom showed no signs of slowing until that tragic day 31 years ago.

Take a trip through time and experience Lynyrd Skynyrd in top form at they perform “I Ain’t the One” in this 1975 performance on the BBC’s “The Old Grey Whistle Test.”

Punditty will return Tuesday with important information that could affect the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. Stay tuned.