Happy Birthday Billy

My friend and engineer brought over a beat with "Wherewolves of London" looped over it and said "isn't this cool?" I thought it was but just kept noodling on my guitar as it played. I hit a "D" chord, than a '"C" followed by a "G"......!!!!!! Holy Shit! It was the the same progression as my favorite song of all time 'Sweet Home Alabama!' I thought I would do something that had not been done before by mashing the 2 songs up and writing an original melody and lyric over them. I had no idea the song would be a worldwide hit! I'm proud it was, despite what alot of sour puss's think, that I just stole a song, blah blah blah, if it were that easy, they would surely be doing it rather than talking shit about me! But besides all that, the thing I cherish most about that song and space in time is my old friend Billy Powell. He is the MOST underated piano player of all time, PERIOD. Not only was I able to tour with him and his little band Lynyrd Skynyrd!!!!!!!!!!, I was able to become friends with him. I can't exspress to you all enough of how great of a person this man was. When I was almost finished with "All Summer Long" I called Billy and told him what i had done and asked him if he would re play those incredible licks from the original song on my new tune. He went out of his way to drive from another city to my studio on a day off, walked in and played his heart out for the next few hours. My jaw was on the floor watching him play as well as everyone else's who was with us in my studio. I called him a few days later and asked where I should send payment for his services.....HE GOT MAD and said, "Bobby, were friends, that's what friends do for each other." he was offended i offered to pay him and refused it!!! What a beautiful soul and a true American treasure this man was and always will be. Billy would have turned 60 years old today. Happy Birthday my old friend, hope your ticklin those keys up there with the big man.

Love ya, Bobby.

Robert Ritchie