Jimmie Van Zant paves own path with heartfelt, honky-tonk rock

Jimmie Van Zant may be Southern rock's most important ambassador. Born of the lineage that created Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special, his place on stage is secured due to the fact that he celebrates the past while creating his own niche in the land of honky-tonk rock.

True to any Southern gentleman, he's not the type to take the honor without humility, acknowledging he's been "real fortunate to have a family that's made an impact in the music industry." Revelers can catch him in action as Libertyville hosts a stop of the "Show Your Southern Pride" tour at Austin's Fuel Room on Thursday.

Jimmie's family has been noted as catalysts of the Southern rock movement. It's hard to not feel the impact the late Ronnie Van Zant made on rock. As he grew up, the formative stages of Lynyrd Skynyrd matured in Jimmie's living room, a result of the bond between cousins and the prime real estate of Jimmie's home - placed on a cul-de-sac removed from the neighbors and any noise complaints that traditionally followed elsewhere.

It's the sense of family that inspired Jimmie to create his own music, picking up gear and playing along with his cousin Johnny (current Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist) as the older boys took a break from rehearsal. Dirt ball fights, GI Joe skirmishes and family dinners built the foundation while Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash provided the soundtrack. That's how Jimmie explains the association to Southern rock that's nourished his family tree: common people, common ideas, backed up by "a mix of gospel, country and blues."

"I think it's very realistic songs that are blue collar - that relate to everyday life situations to yourself or a friend. To anybody that's filtered in life," Jimmie reflects. "There's not a lot of fantasy writing in the music that I grew up on or what our family has generated."

With a few releases under his belt and more music on the way, Jimmie finds the balance in his live sets between his own material and songs that have made the Van Zant family name - including the work of cousin Donnie Van Zant, founder and singer of .38 Special.

Reflecting on the gifts he's nurtured due to his name, Jimmie shared a story he reserves for those who feel he rides the coattails of his cousins: Imagine if the Van Zants ran a successful restaurant. If the business is doing well and the father is ready to retire, wouldn't he share the family recipe with his heirs? Why is it OK for a family to share that legacy, but not that of musical success?

"Do you sell it to someone who has no idea what to do with it?" asks Jimmie. "And that's what happens, a lot of people make those comments, say I don't deserve to sing those songs and I tell them that story. All I do is try to carry on. My family is my identity and I try to uphold it any way I can."

With his own music, he's crafted "Ronnie's Song" as a tribute to his late cousin. A track on Jimmie's "Southern Comfort" release, it was the last to get lyrics. The music was written and the rest of the disc was ready to go, but "Ronnie's Song" was without words. How could Jimmie express what his older cousin had done as a mentor and friend?

"I was in front of the Sennheiser mic and I just ran a pilot vocal on it with no lyrics written," says Jimmie, referring to a technique used by producers to get a baseline on levels for a song while songwriters clear their heads.

"I'm just sitting with the headphones on and singing with dummy words. I went through the song and the producer said, 'You may want to listen to this.'"

Through gibberish came "Ronnie's Song" as it was meant to be: from the heart. Jimmie went back and transcribed what he had sung; knowing he crafted the tribute he wanted.

Jimmie even counts his bandmates as extended family: Dave Daniels and Tim Rossi on guitar, Mike Latessa on bass, Jeremy Robinson on drums and Lauralin Sanders and wife Zohra Van Zant singing backup vocals.

"Keep it small and simple," he says. "If it gets too big, it gets out of hand. We stay close-knit, keep everyone family-oriented."

Surrounded by family in song and on stage, Jimmie's doing what he can to keep the hard-working, Southern rock stomp alive and he's enjoying himself every minute.

Jimmie Van Zant

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville

Cost: $12

Info/tickets: austinsaloon.com