The patriarch of Southern rock music has died.

Lacy Van Zant of Jacksonville didn't perform on stage or in the recording studio, but he played an important role in the success of the Jacksonville-born bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.

Mr. Van Zant was the father of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Ronnie Van Zant, .38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Lacy Van Zant supported his sons, Ronnie, Donnie and Johnny, in their love of Southern rock. Photo provided by the Van Zant family

He died Tuesday at his home of pulmonary disease at age 89.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 S. Edgewood Ave. Funeral arrangements are pending.

"He was the father of Southern rock 'n' roll, as far as I am concerned," Johnny Van Zant said Wednesday.

Lynyrd Skynyrd fans knew Mr. Van Zant almost as well as any of the band members. As word spread Wednesday of the death, the band's lynyrdskynyrd.com Website forum was filled with messages of condolence.

Fans knew Mr. Van Zant because he opened his home to them.

"My parents had what they called 'the trophy room' with all the .38 Special and Skynyrd platinum records," Donnie Van Zant said. "They'd invite the fans in to look at the gold and platinum records."

"I pushed the boys to fame," Mr. Van Zant said in a 1989 interview. "I spent a lot of money so my boys could do what they want. And I've been more involved since the boys made it."

During the late '60s, Mr. Van Zant, a Nassau County native who spent more than 20 years on the road as a truck driver, purchased music equipment, drove the bands to shows, loaned them money and repaired band vehicles.

"But the good book says it's not what goes into a man's belly that's important, it's what comes out of his mouth that counts. So as long as my boys don't glorify the devil, and as long as they keep it clean, why I'll back 'em all the way," Mr. Van Zant said.

Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and guitarist, said Mr. Van Zant was a father to all the band members.

"He knew we smoked, but he wouldn't let us smoke around him," Rossington remembered.

Despite being a strong disciplinarian and a barber while serving in the Army, Mr. Van Zant allowed the young musicians to wear their hair long.

"He didn't like the long-hair scene," Rossington said. "He was like all the adults back in that era. He was used to shaving guys' heads. But with us, he was real lenient."

For more than 20 years, Mr. Van Zant was known for his long white hair and beard. He often wore overalls for a reason, Johnny Van Zant said.

"He worked all of his life. That is all he did," he said.

Early incarnations of the band practiced at the Van Zant home on the Westside. Rossington recalled that on nights when the Grand Ol' Opry was on television, Mr. Van Zant insisted that the young musicians listen.

"He'd say, 'Come in here and watch some real musicians.' We learned from it. Me and Allen Collins, the other co-founder] freaked out watching them play steel guitar."

Besides providing transportation to shows, Mr. Van Zant would often put a jon boat in the back of his white Chevy station wagon and drop Ronnie Van Zant and Rossington off at McGirts Creek to spend a day fishing.

"We'd paddle around all day, catch some bass and write songs," Rossington said.

Before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd, pianist Billy Powell was in a band with Donnie Van Zant. Mr. Van Zant worked hard to secure a practice room in Oceanway and was often at rehearsals when not on the road. Mr. Van Zant built a thick door that resembled a vault, Powell said.

"You couldn't break into it or out of it," Powell said. "He was very protective of his sons. He was the rock of the family. He was a disciplined person who ruled with an iron fist."

To mark the 10th anniversary of the chartered plane crash in a swamp near McComb, Miss., Oct. 20, 1977, that killed Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steven Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and three others, the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band was formed. Band members said Mr. Van Zant was all for the idea.

"Ronnie wrote most of the music, and for it to die with Ronnie was ridiculous in Lacy's mind," Powell said. "Lacy was glad the music went on."

For the band to perform without Ronnie, Johnny, who is 11 years younger, took on the role of lead singer. He already had a record deal of his own when the Tribute band was being formed, but Mr. Van Zant talked his youngest son into performing with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"He told me I could always do that [have a solo career]," Johnny Van Zant said. "This would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Ronnie would have wanted it. The last thing the fans remembered about Skynyrd was the plane crash."

Johnny has been fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd ever since.

When Rickey Medlocke rejoined the band in 1996 (he had been with the band in the early '70s), the band decided to go by the Van Zant homestead after a show here. It was late and Medlocke remembered Johnny Van Zant being a little worried.

"Johnny said we needed to announce ourselves, or he'll think we are someone trying to break in," Medlocke recalled. "When he came to the door, he had a double-barreled shotgun in his hands. He was a character and a good soul. I loved that old man."

Mr. Van Zant remains a part of Lynyrd Skynyrd. During the first two years of the Tribute tour, he acted as emcee and introduced the band. Today, the band still sells a popular T-shirt devoted to Mr. Van Zant.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special will reschedule shows planned for this weekend, according to management. When the bands do perform again, Mr. Van Zant will be on their minds, Rossington said.

"Songs like Simple Man, we do that one for Lacy," Rossington said. "And of course Free Bird. Lacy is a Free Bird now."

In addition to his son, Mr. Van Zant was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marion, and a daughter, Joanne Morris Van Zant. He also is survived by two daughters, Darlene Grant and Marlene Hodge; a sister, Christine Carter; 12 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Lacy Vanzant