Jimmie Van Zant, the singer/songwriter and guitarist who was cousin to Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant, as well as .38 Special founder and vocalist Donnie Van Zant, has passed away at the age of 59, according to an announcement posted to his Facebook page on 7 April 2016:

It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you that Jimmie Van Zant has passed away today holding his wife's hand. His… Posted by Jimmie Van Zant on Thursday, April 7, 2016

According to the Daily Banner, Van Zant passed away from liver cancer while in hospice care in Florida. He had been waiting on a waiting list for a liver transplant for a several years, during which time online funding campaigns and benefits concerts had sought to help raise funds for the procedure.

Jimmie Van Zant was profiled thusly in the music industry trade publication Billboard: