By Bill Dean Entertainment editor for <a href="http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091210/COLUMNISTS/912101004/1026/entertainment?Title=Skynyrd-signed-guitar-highlights-raffle&tc=autorefresh">The Gainsville Sun<p><img src="http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GS&Date=20091210&Category=COLUMNISTS&ArtNo=912101004&Ref=AR&Profile=1026&MaxW=600&border=0"></a> <p> Hailing from Jacksonville, Lynyrd Skynyrd's ties to Gainesville are surprising perhaps only in their depth and longevity. They go back to the late '60s and early '70s when the unsigned band performed shows in Gainesville, including several for Tom Petty's Mudcrutch. Today they continue with the group helping to raise funds for Gainesville's Earl Gardner, who as a 7-year-old in 2007 received burns to 40 percent of his body at his home in northwest Gainesville. The band recently sent Earl's family an Ibanez guitar autographed by singer Johnny Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Rickey Medlocke, and others associated with the group along with 38 Special singer Donnie Van Zant. The guitar is being raffled off Saturday with proceeds from the $2 donations per chance going to defray Earl's continuing medical expenses. Chances are available at the Short Stop in Gainesville, Alachua Farm & Lumber Center in Alachua, the Spindrifter Lounge, Sonny's Pit Bar-B-Cue in Alachua, Hitchcock's grocery stores in Alachua, Trenton, Hawthorne, Newberry, Old Town, Jasper, East Palataka and Keystone Heights. The drawing for the guitar will be held at noon Saturday at Alachua Farm & Lumber Center, at 14101 N.W. 145th Ave., Alachua, though participants don't need to be present to win. For more information, call the Alachua Farm & Lumber Center at (386) 462-3003. 7 2009-12-10T20:37:43-05:00 Skynyrd-signed guitar highlights raffle blog 8 0 20493 true 2010-01-30T11:00:49-05:00 566019 skynyrd-signed-guitar-highlights-raffle false 112 2009-12-10T20:37:43-05:00 2009-12-10T20:32:00-05:00 10.0 8 false false false 101 2010-02-09T02:09:57-05:00 http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091210/COLUMNISTS/912101004/1026/entertainment?Title=Skynyrd-signed-guitar-highlights-raffle&tc=autorefresh 22965 2296 <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3718269-10733030?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youneek.com%2FLynyrd_Skynyrd%2Fshopbyinterests-music-artists-lynyrdskynyrd%2Cdefault%2Csc.html%3Fpsortb1%3Dname-sort" target="_blank">SHOP NOW<p><img src="http://www.yceml.net/0486/10733030-1.png" width="300" height="250" border="0"></a> We are now offering a greater selection of new posters and greeting cards! Check them out for the Lynyrd Skynyrd fan on your holiday list or get a rockin' gift for yourself! 6 2009-12-07T20:00:39-05:00 New Lynyrd Skynyrd Posters and Greeting Cards! blog 8 0 20448 true 2010-01-15T01:09:56-05:00 564660 new-lynyrd-skynyrd-posters-calendars-and-greeting-cards false 111 2009-12-07T20:01:25-05:00 2009-12-07T19:54:53-05:00 10.0 2 false false true 101 2010-02-09T02:10:06-05:00 22965 2320 ...[b]The magnificent Gary Rossington[/b]. You're still the greatest and wishing you a brilliant birthday...today,the day God created a legend in 1951 :D I hope someone buys you an album called "God & Guns" it's superb.You've gotta hear this thing :p ;) See you in the UK with the rest of the guys,top man!!! :) :D Regards D 33 2009-12-04T05:50:32-05:00 forum 8 0 20398 true 2010-01-09T12:31:56-05:00 564279 happy-birthday-to-the-one-the-only false 327 image/jpg _BNTCJBwBGk_KGrHgoH-EMEjlLluimHBJo4zUfOsg__1.jpg 11375 2009-12-04T05:50:32-05:00 2009-12-04T05:50:32-05:00 false false false 135 2010-02-09T01:46:22-05:00 52495 2173 Lynyrd Skynyrd will appear on the PBS Soundstage series on Feb 11, 2010. The band will perform their classic songs Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, That Smell, and Simple Man. They will also perform songs from their new album, God & Guns. As we all know a Skynyrd show would not be complete without ending the event with Freebird. Check your local listings for times and channel. 5 2009-12-03T17:43:01-05:00 Skynyrd to appear on PBS Soundstage blog 8 0 20391 true 2010-02-01T18:39:55-05:00 566197 skynyrd-to-appear-on-pbs-soundstage false 110 2009-12-03T17:43:01-05:00 2009-12-03T17:32:36-05:00 9.0 17 false false false 101 2010-02-09T03:29:45-05:00 22703 2159 <a href="http://www.michaelcartellone.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.scpublicity.com/skynyrd/images/RonniePainting.jpg" width="506" height="541" border="0"></a> Michael Cartellone creates an amazing tribute to Ronnie Van Zant!! Click on the portrait below for more details and to order your Limited Edition copy. Michael says: "The long awaited Ronnie Van Zant portrait is now available - I worked on it all year while the band was on tour and I could not be more proud of this tribute to a great man. Please visit my web site and check out the slide show presentation which documents the progression of this artwork while out on the road." 9 2009-12-01T19:26:12-05:00 Ronnie Van Zant Portrait blog 8 0 14199 true 2010-01-01T22:44:15-05:00 563796 ronnie-van-zant-portrait-by-michael-cartellone false 109 2009-12-03T16:43:49-05:00 2009-12-01T19:08:11-05:00 8.0 13 false false true 101 2010-02-09T02:44:19-05:00 22703 2967