The band Lynyrd Skynyrd, shown after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2006, are from left: Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle, Ed King and Bob Burns. Powell died Wednesday. (Stuart Ramson/Associated Press)

Longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell, who was a roadie for the southern rock band before officially joining it, has died at the age of 56.

According to Orange Park, Fla. police, the musician called 911 from his home just before 1 a.m. Wednesday complaining of breathing problems. Though rescue crews performed CPR, he was pronounced dead about an hour later, a police spokesman said.

Powell had missed a scheduled doctor's appointment for cardiac evaluation on Tuesday, said Lt. Mark Cornett. Officials suspect that Powell suffered a heart attack.

Cornett added that no foul play is suspected and an autopsy will not be performed.

Born in Texas, Powell was raised partly in Italy, where his naval officer father was stationed. At the age of nine, his father died and the family moved back to the U.S.

Around this time, he began taking piano lessons and demonstrated an aptitude for the instrument. Eventually, he studied music theory in college, during which he also played in a band and worked as an early roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Eventually, Powell played for bandleader Ronnie Van Zant, who was impressed and invited him to join the group.

The band rose to fame after releasing its debut album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd — including the enduring classic rock standard Free Bird — in 1973.

The group broke up four years later after a tragic plane crash killed three bandmembers, Van Zant included.

In the early 1980s, Powell joined some of his surviving colleagues in other ventures and also pursued his own music, but, in 1989, joined a reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd fronted by Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny.

With files from the Associated Press