Lynyrd Skynyrd bass player dies aged 49

Bass guitarist Leon Wilkeson, one of the founding members of legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died yesterday, a spokesman for the band’s record label said.

He was 49.

Wilkeson died in his sleep, said Bret Adams, a spokesman Sanctuary Record Group/CMC International Records.

‘‘We’re all just finding out about this ourselves,’’ said Judy Van Zant Jenness, the former wife of fellow band founder Ronnie Van Zant.

She added: ‘‘We don’t know what to do other than just to be in shock and be surprised ourselves.’’

A TV station reported that Wilkeson died at a hotel in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 17 miles south of Jacksonville.

The St Johns County Sheriff Office confirmed that a man died at a Ponte Vedra Beach hotel, but would not identify him.

The band, best known for songs What’s your Name?, Sweet Home Alabama and Freebird, debuted in 1973 and was named after the members’ high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner.

Wilkeson was involved in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi that killed Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and singer Cassie Gaines.

The group disbanded after the crash, but reformed with others in 1987 for a reunion tour.

The band toured for most of the 1990s and had a concert scheduled for August 23 in Jacksonville.