- Leslie Hawkins
Leslie Hawkins is an American
backup vocalist , best known as a backing vocalist withSouthern rock bandLynyrd Skynyrd .Early career and Lynyrd Skynyrd
Hawkins was a studio session singer, who worked with several bands and musicians including
Wet Willie ,Billy Joe Royal and members of theClassics IV .In December 1975, she was hired, along with
Cassie Gaines andJoJo Billingsley to be backup singers forLynyrd Skynyrd . The group's leaderRonnie Van Zant dubbed themThe Honkettes .Plane crash and later career
In the
October 20 ,1977 airplane crash that killed several members of the band and road crew, Hawkins suffered severe faciallaceration s that resulted in extensive and ongoingreconstructive surgery . She also broke her neck in three places and was partially paralyzed. She spent several years inphysical therapy , regaining her motor function but still having some permanent neurological damage.After her recovery, for a short time was a lead singer for Jackson Deville and toured briefly with
Molly Hatchet in 1996. However, she has never fully recovered from her injuries and remains largely retired.In 2005, she performed several times as "The Honkettes" in an "alternative version of Lynyrd Skynyrd" that also included former Skynyrd members
Ed King ,Artimus Pyle and JoJo Billingsley that helped to raise money for Katrina victims.On March 13, 2006, Leslie Hawkins and
JoJo Billingsley performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd for only the third time since the 1977 plane crash. The first being the videotaped performance atCharlie Daniels ' 1979 Volunteer Jam (shown in theVH-1 "Behind The Music " profile on Skynyrd), at the opening of "Freebird The Movie" at Atlanta's Fox Theatre in 1995, and singing "Sweet Home Alabama" at theRock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at which Skynyrd was honored.
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