Ean Evans
| Ean Evans | |
|---|---|
Ean Evans with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2008.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald Evans |
| Also known as | Mississippi Kid |
| Born | September 16, 1960 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Died | May 6, 2009 (aged 48) Columbus, Mississippi |
| Genres | Southern rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | bass guitar |
| Years active | 1980s–2009 |
| Associated acts | Outlaws, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Evans Capps |
Donald "Ean" Wayne Evans (September 16, 1960 [1]– May 6, 2009) was the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 2001 until his death. He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson.
Life and career
Evans was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Columbus, Mississippi, after marrying his wife, Eva.[2] He started in music at the age of five, playing trumpet and having an orchestral background until his teen years. Picking up the guitar at 15, soon he was playing the southeastern rock circuit with various cover groups.
A few years later he switched to bass so as to bring fellow guitarist into the band. In the 1980s he played bass for a rock band called "...Five Miles High", along with Mike Reynolds (drummer), Reuban Lace (guitarist), Carl Brown (keyboardist), Del Stockstill (guitar). Five Miles High played venues from Georgia to Kentucky and all over the south east. Five Miles High was rated in the top 10 rock bands of the 1980s in a Mississippi radio station contest.
Around 1983 FMH disbanded, and Ean returned to his native Atlanta, Georgia. There he welcomed his newborn daughter and worked on plans to form a new group with close friend keyboardist, Joey Huffman. This project quickly became the band, "Babe Blu" (with former FMH members Carl Brown, Reuban Lace, and adding JT Williams on drums). Babe Blu immediately become a top draw in Atlanta, and on the southeastern club and college circuit. However in 1987, Ean left Babe Blu permanently to be home with his young family, and to work on his own original compositions.
He studied the styles and techniques of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Leon Wilkeson (Lynyrd Skynyrd) giving him an aggressive approach to the bass guitar.
In 1988, he was picked up by his then personal manager, J.J. French. (Twisted Sister), Evans formed his first original band "Cupid's Arrow". They became quite popular in the Atlanta area. After composing and recording over 50 songs, Ean became a full-time studio musician.
It was during this time he was called to join the Outlaws by leader Hughie Thomasson, who showed him worldwide touring experience. The Outlaws stopped touring when Hughie was called to join Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In 1997, Evans and ex-Halloween guitarist (1982–1988, 1997–2000) Rick Craig formed "Noon", which blends metal with southern rock. They released 1 album in 2002 and many other unreleased recordings exist and are subject to release.
Following the death of Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, the call came to Ean to continue on for his fallen friend. He joined the current line up of Lynyrd Skynyrd on August 11, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning his own chapter with the band.
Death
In late 2008 Evans was diagnosed with lung cancer,[3] of which he died on May 6, 2009, at his home in Columbus, Mississippi.[2] He is survived by his wife Eva and their two daughters, Sydney and Andrea.
An ailing Evans performed with Skynyrd one last time from a chair on April 19, 2009, at the Mississippi Kid Festival, organized in support of Ean Evans.
Lynyrd Skynyrd continued its 2009 tour with Robert Kearns on bass. He was followed by Johnny Colt from The Black Crowes. Johnny Van Zant asked audiences to pray for Evans.
