Lynyrd Skynyrd member dies at 68

Ed King, the guitarist from rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, had a career that spanned more than five decades. He passed away at the age of 68.

The announcement was made on King's Facebook profile, and his family thanked his "many friends and fans for the love and support of Ed during his life and career."

He died at his Nashville home on Wednesday. The cause of his death has not yet been made public, but King had been battling lung cancer for the past few months

Read more on our Twitter account, @amomama_usa, and a video clip of an interview with King and his band members can be found below.

EARLY YEARS AND CLAIM TO FAME

Before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in the early seventies, King founded the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock in 1967.

In 1972, he replaced Leon Wilkeson as Lynyrd Skynyrd's third guitarist and his claim to fame was co-writing "Sweet Home Alabama" from their "Second Helping" album.

King left the band three years later when he had had enough of the "drama and propensity for fighting," but reunited with the members again in the late eighties.

He remained with Lynyrd Skynyrd until 1996 when he was forced to step down due to congestive heart failure.

HALL OF FAME AND HEALTH ISSUES

Exactly a decade after leaving Lynyrd Skynyrd for the second time, King was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with other members of the band.

King battled ill health in the months leading to his death but remained in good spirits. Back in July, he said on Facebook that he "had the most excellent day and they'll keep coming."

He added, "I’m back to eating, everything is functioning. Getting stronger and feel incredible. I’m just wobbly."

King also gave an update about the progress of his book and explained that he had finished the final edit of section one of the still untitled draft.