Gary Rossington, the first guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, passes suddenly at 71 years old.

Gary Rossington, the first guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, passes suddenly at 71 years old.

The last surviving founding member and original guitarist of the rock group Lynard Skynard, Gary Rossington, passed away Friday at the age of 71.

Rossington, who helped create several successes including "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird," was one of the Lynard Skynard band members elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

The organization shared the information on Facebook.

"We must inform you that Gary Rossington, our brother, friend, family member, songwriter, and musician, passed away today. Please accept our sincere condolences and our profound regret.

Gary Rossington is currently in heaven with his Skynyrd brothers and family, acting lovely just as he usually does.

Country music artists also paid tribute on social media.

According to Rolling Stone, Rossington avoided dying several times. He managed to survive a 1976 collision in which he rammed his Ford Torino into a tree, which served as the basis for the band's warning song "That Smell."

He survived the 1977 plane tragedy that killed guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and singer Ronnie Van Zant a year later with two broken arms, a fractured leg, as well as a pierced stomach and liver.

He told Rolling Stone in 2006, "It was a heartbreaking thing. You can't just casually discuss it without feeling anything.

Gary Rossington told Rolling Stone that he never considered Skynyrd to be a tragic band, despite all the band's drama and death. "I don't think of it as tragedy — I think of it as life," he said upon the group's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2006. "I think the good outweighs the bad."