“Eckerman has successfully broken time travel boundaries, and transports the reader to the mid seventies, to the heart of southern rock.”

The Book:
TURN IT UP is a labor of love written by former tour manager Ron Eckerman. It’s an in-depth look at the characters, personalities, and relationships of the band members and himself as they struggle to the top tier of the music industry.

Lynyrd Skynyrd was an iconic band, the definition of southern rock, with an uncanny ability to touch the lives of all who listened to their timeless music. This is the compelling story of the final years of Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, and of the ironic events leading to the tragic plane crash, told in masterful fashion.

The Author:
Ron Eckerman was an early pioneer in the concert industry. In 1973, he began producing concert tours and created a concert lighting / tour management company, Clearlight Enterprises. The organization toured with the top bands of the era: Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Willie Nelson, WAR, Humble Pie, Foghat, Alvin Lee, Waylon Jennings, Trapeze, Montrose, Gary Wright, and many others.

In 1976, he took on the challenge of managing Lynyrd Skynyrd tours, and witnessed and participated in their meteoric rise to fame and worldwide acclaim.

After recovering from the tragic plane crash that put an end to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eckerman went on to produce in television, film, and stage, and taught theater and artist management at Santa Monica College.

Mr. Eckerman has been writing short stories, technical manuscripts, and financial articles for the past few years. His book “Turn it Up!” is a memoir about his experience with the 1970′s concert scene and the rise and fall of one of the world’s most legendary rock bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd.