The Ballad of Curtis Loew

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some sweet Southern rock vibes as we spin "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" by Lynyrd Skynyrd from their 1974 album Second Helping. This track tells the heartfelt story of a young boy who collects bottles to pay an old bluesman, Curtis Loew, to play his Dobro guitar. The song’s inspiration is a blend of real and fictional elements. According to band lore, the country store in the song is based on Claude's Midway Grocery in Jacksonville, Florida, near where lead singer Ronnie Van Zant grew up. However, Curtis himself isn’t a real person but a composite character. Guitarist Ed King, who wrote the liner notes for Second Helping, decided to spell the name "Loew" as a nod to the Jewish Loew's Theatre, adding a playful twist to the song’s origins. Some sources suggest influences from blues legends like Robert Johnson and Shorty Medlocke, the grandfather of current Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke, who Ronnie loved listening to on his porch.

Here’s a cool tidbit: "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" was rarely played live by the original lineup. Ed King once shared that the band performed it only once before the tragic 1977 plane crash, in a hotel basement gig, and never again until the 1987 Tribute Tour with Johnny Van Zant. Fans on Reddit’s Lynyrd Skynyrd community have expressed their longing for a live recording of Ronnie singing it, with one user noting a possible performance in Ames, Iowa, in 1976, though no footage exists. The song’s enduring appeal is evident in covers by artists like Eric Church and Phish, who made it a staple in their early sets. In 2020, the band @LarkinPoe posted on X about their love for the track, sharing a cover they recorded after fans requested it, calling it a gem from their childhood.

Lynyrd Skynyrd kicked off their journey in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, originally under the name My Backyard. The core group—Ronnie Van Zant on vocals, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, drummer Bob Burns, and bassist Larry Junstrom—came together as teenagers jamming in garages and backyards. They honed their craft through relentless gigs at local bars and dances, adopting the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in a cheeky tribute to their high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner, who disapproved of their long hair. By the early 1970s, they caught the attention of producer Al Kooper, who signed them to MCA Records. Their 1973 debut album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), featured hits like "Free Bird" and set the stage for their Southern rock legacy. Despite the tragic 1977 plane crash that claimed Ronnie and others, the band reformed in 1987 with Johnny Van Zant and continues to tour today.

You can keep up with Lynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd through their official channels: their website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans gather at dedicated spaces like the Lynyrd Skynyrd Fan Group on Facebook and the fan-run Skynyrd Frynds website, where Zoo Freaks can connect, share stories, and celebrate the band’s timeless music.