Cassie's Brother
Encyclopedia
"Cassie's Brother" is a song written and performed by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers
. It appeared on the band's 2001 album Southern Rock Opera
, the song is about Steve Gaines
. His sister, Cassie Gaines
, was a back-up singer in Lynyrd Skynyrd
in 1975. Both died in the plane crash on October 20, 1977 that also killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Cassie Gaines kept telling the band that they should give her brother Steve a chance to play. They finally decided to let him play during one show. The band told the sound people that if Steve didn't sound good enough to just turn him off. The sound people never turned him off and the band was very impressed. A few days later, Steve Gaines was invited to join the band.
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
. It appeared on the band's 2001 album Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera
Southern Rock Opera is the third studio album by the alt country band Drive-By Truckers. It was a double album and released in 2001. Covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 70s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the...
, the song is about Steve Gaines
Steve Gaines
Steven Earl Gaines was an American musician. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter for southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother of Cassie Gaines, who was also a member of the band...
. His sister, Cassie Gaines
Cassie Gaines
Cassie LaRue Gaines was an American singer. She was a member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
, was a back-up singer in Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
in 1975. Both died in the plane crash on October 20, 1977 that also killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Cassie Gaines kept telling the band that they should give her brother Steve a chance to play. They finally decided to let him play during one show. The band told the sound people that if Steve didn't sound good enough to just turn him off. The sound people never turned him off and the band was very impressed. A few days later, Steve Gaines was invited to join the band.