Lawrence Edward Junstrom (June 22, 1949 – October 5, 2019) was an American bassist, best known for having been in the

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

.38 Special The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...

from 1977 until 2014. He was also one of the founding members of the

Southern rock Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals. Author Scott B. Bomar speculat ...

band

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...

Biography

Junstrom was the bass guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd from its formation in 1964, until he was replaced by

Greg T. Walker Greg T. Walker (born 8 July 1951) is an American bassist who played with Rock music, rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd between 1971 and 1972. His main band, named Blackfoot (band), Blackfoot, existed between 1969 and 1985. In 2004 a new line-up was born, ...

in 1971.

Donnie Van Zant Donald Newton Van Zant (born June 11, 1952) is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for being a member of the band 38 Special, from its formation in 1974 until 2013. He is the middle of three sons; his older brot ...

, the younger brother of the Lynyrd Skynyrd leader,

Ronnie Van Zant Ronald Wayne Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American singer, best known as the original lead vocalist, primary lyricist and a founding member of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the older brother of current ...

, formed .38 Special in 1974, with Junstrom joining as the bass guitarist in 1977. An avid amateur radio operator, he had the call letters K4EB, which translate to "Known 4 Excellent Bass". Junstrom retired from .38 Special in 2014, due to a hand injury which required surgery. He died on October 5, 2019, at the age of 70.

References

1949 births 2019 deaths American rock bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Lynyrd Skynyrd members 38 Special (band) members Musicians from Pittsburgh Guitarists from Pennsylvania 20th-century American guitarists Blues rock musicians {{US-bass-guitarist-stub