Love, Life and Death, Southern Style
By Ron Eckerman
Article & Pictures: Courtesy of Carolyn Day
Ron Eckerman was an early pioneer in
the concert industry. In 1973, he began producing concert tours and created a
concert lighting and tour management company, Clearlight Enterprises. The organization toured with the top bands
of the era: Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Willie Nelson, War, Humble Pie, Foghat, Alvin Lee, Waylon Jennings, Trapeze, Montrose, Gary Wright, Foreigner, and many others.
In 1976, he took on the challenge of managing Lynyrd Skynyrd, and witnessed and participated in their meteoric rise to fame and worldwide acclaim. After a sequence of events that resulted in a plane crash and the loss of four friends, Ron carried guilt with him his entire life for the tragic plane crash that put an end to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd.
After recovering from the plane crash, he went on to produce in television, film, and stage, and taught theater and artist management at Santa Monica College.
In May of 2013, Ron took on the biggest challenge of his life when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He unfortunately lost his battle on May 11, 2014.
It was one of his final wishes to have his book re-released and photos added and a cover change, and to have all profits donated to the Leukemia Foundation of Texas.
Authored by Ron
Eckerman
Edition: 2
Join tour
manager Ron Eckerman as he reveals
the rigors of life on the road as Lynyrd Skynyrd takes the world by storm in
1976, and the ironic turn of events preceding the tragic plane crash in 1977. A
crash survivor, Eckerman explores
the personalities of Ronnie Van Zant
and Lynyrd Skynyrd as they rip their
way across the USA, and describes the horror of the crash itself.
This book was originally released in 2011 by Eckerman, in memory of the friends he lost in the plane crash: Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and Dean Kilpatrick.
This book was originally released in 2011 by Eckerman, in memory of the friends he lost in the plane crash: Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and Dean Kilpatrick.
This is an August 2014 re-release with photos included, in memory of Ron Eckerman. Ron lost a one year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in May of 2014.
To purchase the
book please follow the link below and remember that it is for a good cause. All
proceeds are going to the Leukemia
Foundation in Texas.
