Lynyrd Skynyrd - Very First Reunion with the late Taz DiGregorio on vocals (1979)

Lynyrd Skynyrd's very first reunion after the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash. Surviving members of the band perform The Breeze with several members of the Charlie Daniels Band at Volunteer Jam V in Nashville Tennessee at the Municipal Auditorium in 1979. Skynyrd band members included Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, and Artimus Pyle. Leon Wilkeson still had a cast on his arm and could not play, although he did come out on stage.
The late Taz DiGregorio from the Charlie Daniels Band sung on this version of The Breeze. He died in an auto accident near Nashville on October 13, 2011.
Charlie Daniels (the announcer) & Charlie Hayward from the CDB also played on this, as well as conga player Jamie Nichols. The Nashville Volunteer Jam was an annual event hosted by the Charlie Daniels Band in the 70's & 80's. This was the first song of the first Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion. This is also the first time this (rare) video has been posted.
Lynyrd Skynyrd followed up with an emotional instrumental version of Freebird dedicated to Ronnie Vanzant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and Dean Kilpatrick. (also on YouTube)
Taz DiGregorio (singer): We are saddened over the death of our friend Taz DiGregorio, long time keyboardist for the Charlie Daniels Band. Taz was  was recently killed in an auto accident just out side of Nashville. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Taz several times and he was a very funny guy. I loved to hear him tell road stories of his adventures with the CDB. I regret that of all the times I was around Taz, I never got a picture with him, or never got him to sign any of the CD's or posters that he gave me. Taz asked me "Where in the world did you ever get that at ????" after I posted a rare video from Volunteer V (1979) of Taz singing The Breeze at the first reunion of Lynyrd Skynyrd (after the plane crash). I'm glad that I posted that video in time for Taz to see it. Of all the many band members that have came & gone in the Charlie Daniels Band over the years, Taz was there the whole time, since about 1970. He won a grammy as co-writer on the 1979 song Devil Went Down To Georgia along with his band mates Charlie Daniels, Tommy Crain, Charlie Hayward, Freddy Edwards & James Marshall. Taz and the band have had many hit singles & albums over the years, as well as playing concerts all over. A close friend of mine talked to Taz just hours before his accident. Taz was in good spirits and even talking about how he had been watching his health. The memorial service was very moving. A celebration of life was held after the memorial with a musical tribute to Taz including Souths Gonna Do It Again and other songs with Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, Joel DiGregorio (Taz's son), Dennis & Donnie Winters (Winters Brothers Band) and others. Taz was well liked and will be missed by many people.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Taz
• DiGregorio
• died
• dead
• Lynyrd
• Skynyrd
• reunion
• volunteer
• jam
• Nashville
• Tennessee
• TN
• plane
• crash
• Charlie
• Daniels
• Band
• CDB
• Municipal
• Auditorium
• 1979
• The
• Breeze
• southern
• tribute
• rock
• live
• concert

[lsmith869]

Artimus and the conga player set up a really funky grove, and then Allen really starts um swinging. Watch Artimus's right wrist and right shoulder at 4:12 that's serious funkin

[tennesseeconcerts]

@lsmith869 This video was recorded 32 years ago today on January 21, 1979

[valleydreamin]

Ok...this maybe a few years late...but MY God Gary was hot, what a cute southern boy.

[dfg1958]

WOW!! I had this on tape back in 80 and lost it. I will cherish is now. I wondered who did the vocals on this. Taz ... RIP buddy along with Dobie Grey who played the stage that night also.

[thatisMRS2u]

Aww...rip taz

[valleydreamin]

34 years ago today we lost Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines & Dean Kilpatrick, over the years we've also lost Allan, Leon, Billy, Hughie, Ean (who am I forgetting) and now Taz. What a hell of a band they have going up in Rock and Roll Heaven!

[valleydreamin]

RIP TAZ

[Sredderdude01]

RIP TAZ

[SilvioManfredDante85]

RIP Taz !!!

He died last night in a car wreck...

I just saw him not even two weeks ago in Ringgold,Ga

[MrPorsche91730]

You know what, its just not the same without R.V.Z :(

[SuperScrappydog]

@tennesseeconcerts Yo I saw them Before this video in Gainsville,fla. Great Southern Music hall. About 200 people were there and it was Skynrd in your face. I was 14yrs old and about 10 ft from the stage. I was blown away.Me and my older bro went in for 5.oo .What a treat,I will never forget . Johnny VanZant Band opened for them. It was one of those rare moments in life. Those dudes were lookin at me just rockin my ass off. Of course I was very stoned at the time. Not like now or anything....?

[bill64able]

In my most humble of opinions,the absolute GREATEST American rock band of ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!