Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock), RIP

August 23, 2018

Ed King of Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd has passed away. He was 68. Rolling Stone points out that a cause of death has not yet been revealed, but that King had been battling lung cancer.

King was a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock, played on all of their ’60s albums, and wrote part of their hit “Incense and Peppermints.” He joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972 and remained in the band until 1975, and he again played with Skynyrd from ’87 to ’96. He’s on their first three albums, and played on such massive hits as “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”

King’s death was confirmed on his Facebook in a post that reads: “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.”

Rest in peace, Ed.