Southern rock originating from rock and roll, country, and blues was born and raised in the American south created to be able to respond to the way southerns lives were changed after the civil rights movement. Known for its unique style of sharing their American pride and storytelling in their songs, Simple Man Written by Lynard Skynard stands out as being one of the top written songs not only in Southern rock but any genre for expressing something meaningful to them. The song is about a mother who is talking to her child about life, inspired by the passing of Ronnie Van Zant’s grandmother.
Southern rock is a style of music which combines rock and roll, country music, and blues. Its focus is traditionally on electric guitar, vocals, and declaring fierce regional pride. In the 1970s it reached its peak of popularity with The Allman Brothers Band gaining a large following with their “blues rock sound on one hand incorporated long jams informed by jazz and classical music, and on the other hand drew from native elements of country and folk. They were also contemporary in their electric guitar and keyboard delivery.” as an article written about southern rock by J.D. Considine states. Lynyrd Skynyrd released their first album in 1973 which then put the band on the map. Songs like “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Free Bird” and “Simple Man” popularized the southern rock genre as the band was at the height of their fame. Later on in the 1980s, the band discontinued which was a sad day for the fans and southern rock itself. Considine also states how “Leading acts of the genre had become enmeshed in corporate arena rock. With the rise of MTV, new wave, R&B and glam metal, most surviving Southern rock groups were relegated to secondary or regional venues. Bands such as Molly Hatchet, Outlaws, Georgia Satellites, Widespread Panic, Confederate Railroad, and Kentucky Headhunters emerged as popular Southern bands across the Southeastern United States during the 1980s and 1990s.”