RARE Handwritten 5 page letter written by Cassie Gaines in ball point ink. Dated Sunday, Sept. 19, 1971. Signed at the conclusion \'Love Cass.\" In the letter Cassie talks about the bands recording contract with the studio and Eddie and Jerry desire to have Cassie record with the band. The letter is really personal and give a glimpse of her life in 1971. Comes with a full Letter of Authenticity from Todd Mueller Authentics. (1948–1977) Cassie (was an American singer, best known for her work with Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. On October 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. The crash killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, as well as pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. Gaines had initially refused to board the flight and was convinced by other members against her better judgment. Her hesitation was due to small fire on one of the engines the previous day, but due to ribbing from her colleagues, especially Van Zant, she canceled a commercial flight ticket she had purchased. Gaines survived the initial accident but bled to death while rescuers attempted to reach the accident site and remove victims for medical treatment. According to controversial claims by survivor Billy Powell, Gaines bled to death after the accident in Powell\'s arms from deep lacerations.

Folding creases and some scattered smudging. The letter is easy to read.