Cassie's Brother

"Cassie's Brother" is a song written and performed by alt-country band Drive-By Truckers. It appears on the band's 2001 album Southern Rock Opera. The song is about Steve Gaines. His sister, Cassie Gaines, was a back-up singer in Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975. Both died in the plane crash on October 20, 1977 that also killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Cassie Gaines kept telling the band that they should give her brother Steve a chance to play. They finally decided to let him play during one show. The band told the sound people that if Steve didn't sound good enough, they should just turn him off. The sound people never turned him off, and the band was very impressed. A few days later, Steve Gaines was invited to join the band.