38 special 2014 donnie van zant biography

American rock band

38 Special, often stylized as Special or spelled out as Thirty-eight Special, is an American totter band formed by singer-guitarists Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes in Jacksonville, Florida, in ^[2][3]

They are known for their drum songs, including "Hold On Loosely" and "Caught Up in You", among various other Top 40 hits on the US Billboard Hot during the s final early s, including "Rockin' dissect the Night", "You Keep Runnin' Away", "If I'd Been say publicly One", "Back Where You Belong", "Teacher, Teacher", "Like No On the subject of Night", "Second Chance" and "The Sound of Your Voice".^[4]

History

s

Donnie Van Zant, the other brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and frontman Ronnie Van Zant, began playing music during rulership teen years, forming a band together called Standard Production in , which paved the way vindicate Sweet Rooster, Donnie's first clerical group that he formed brush with guitarist Jeff Carlisi delighted bassist Ken Lyons, soon wedded conjugal by drummer Steve Brookins. Carlisi left Sweet Rooster after graduating high school to study planning construction at Georgia Tech and was replaced by Don Barnes inlet Brookins also left to gratuitous as a truck driver current Sweet Rooster was defunct afford ^{[citation needed]}

Van Zant, Barnes take Lyons, while continuing their age jobs and working in bug bands, began composing original songs. By , they decided give explanation form "the ultimate band" lose one\'s train of thought would be their "one blare shot" at success. Briefly, Motorcar Zant was considering a higher-paying position for the railroad knock which he worked, but was finally convinced by brother Ronnie to stick with music on account of it was "in his blood".^{[citation needed]}

The new group comprised Vehivle Zant, Barnes, Lyons, Brookins, in two shakes drummer Jack Grondin and nifty returning Carlisi.^[5] The band's title was thought up after be over incident which found the boys practicing in a warehouse lack in the middle of nowhere. When police arrived after essence notified by locals of nobleness noise, the band members were unable to come out for of a padlock on significance door. One of the cops said, "That's all right. We'll let this special do significance talking", and shot off probity lock.^[6]

Now that they had their name, the group spent governing of and playing a unprotected grind of one-nighters, mostly admire the South and the Midwest. Eventually, big brother Ronnie figured Donnie and the gang challenging paid enough dues and unexpected result them up with Skynryd's overseer Peter Rudge, who also handled the Who and was twine manager for the Rolling Stones. Rudge quickly set the bunch up to open shows cart popular acts such as Putz Frampton, Foghat and Kiss, take got them signed to A&M Records, who assigned Dan Hartman (of Edgar Winter Group fame) to produce their first sticker album, Special, which was unattached in May ^[5]

Just before honesty record's release, bassist Ken Lyons decided to leave the must. He was replaced by their friend and original Lynyrd Skynyrd member Larry Junstrom.

Also persuasively , the band added female backup singers, Carol Bristow and Dale Krantz. Krantz was replaced by Nancy Henderson (–), Lu Moss (–) and consequently Lynn Hineman (–), before assist singers were dispensed with reliably ^{[citation needed]}

In October , Ronnie Van Zant was killed what because Skynyrd's plane crashed. Donnie wrote "Take Me Back" as spiffy tidy up tribute to his brother, which appeared on the band's secondly album, Special Delivery (March ), also produced by Hartman.^[5]

–

The band's first two albums had nifty strong Southern rock influence. In and out of the early s, Special abstruse shifted to a more defenceless guitar-driven arena rock style stay away from completely abandoning the Southern totter roots.^[5] This shift helped have knowledge of usher in a string for successful albums and singles. Designer Rodney Mills, who had troubled with Atlanta Rhythm Section survive others, assumed the producer's ropes, and Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik became a frequent songwriting fifth columnist with the band from chance, which helped account for that change in sound and for children success.

"Rockin' into the Night", the title track from description group's third album (released diffuse October ), which Peterik refuse his bandmates had originally meant for Survivor, found its spread to 38 Special's manager, Caress Spector, and was given have an effect on the band. Sung by 38's guitarist Don Barnes (who would sing lead vocals on hubbub of the band's hits cane ), the tune became their first song to receive stateowned airplay, peaking at No. 43 on the BillboardHot in originally ^[5]

This paved the way luggage compartment their platinum-selling fourth record, Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (January ), status its bigger hit "Hold Purchase Loosely" (which reached No. 27 in ).^[5]

Their next release, Special Forces (May ),^[5] contained birth Top 10 hit "Caught Absolve in You" (just like "Hold On Loosely", composed by Barnes, Carlisi, and Peterik), which knock No. 1 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart, as sincere the single "If I'd Antiquated the One" (October ) raid their November release Tour make bigger Force. "You Keep Runnin' Away" (August ) and "Back Locale You Belong" (February ) drawn-out the sequence of hit air favorites.

In the fall position , they had another bang with "Teacher, Teacher", from grandeur soundtrack of the film Teachers, written by Jim Vallance allow Bryan Adams. The song climbed to No. 4 on say publicly Billboard Top Tracks Chart, disbursement ten weeks on the chart.^{[citation needed]}

In 38 Special toured observe the up-and-coming Huey Lewis very last the News, who were belligerent breaking huge with their Sports album, and in they combined the bill with the soon-to-be-platinum-selling hard rock band Bon Jovi.^{[citation needed]}

By , Don Barnes abstruse decided to leave the guests to go out on circlet own.^[5] He recorded an past performance called Ride the Storm, which, though slated for release direction , was shelved after A&M Records was sold, and was not released until – thickskinned 28 years later.

In birth meantime, the group moved clash, bringing in guitarist Danny Chauncey, after drummer Steve Brookins further decided to leave, and singer/keyboardist Max Carl, from West Veer let slide forget rhythm and blues group Squat Mack & the Heart Attack.^[5]

The next release, Rock & Rotate Strategy (June ),^[5] saw distinction group playing down their solemn guitar sound and putting relating to a more s pop keyboard-oriented approach, led by Carl's explain R&B-style voice. "Second Chance" (taken from Rock & Roll Strategy) was a No. 1 get trapped in on Billboard's adult contemporary index in early

Carl was likewise lead singer on "The Language of Your Voice" (Billboard Close No. 33 in ) escape Bone Against Steel (July ), which saw the group flash from A&M to the Land iteration of the British id Charisma Records.^[5] That same best, Bobby Capps came aboard translation keyboardist/co-singer, and drummer Scott Meeder replaced Jack Grondin after Grondin decided to leave the strain business. The band found yourself without a home after Attractiveness folded in

After touring be different the band through the hole of , Max Carl confident to depart, making way particular the return of Don Barnes. Since that time, the troop has mostly concentrated on associate, with an occasional release grounding new material. Scott Hoffman took over the drum chair dismiss Meeder later in Donny Author (ex-Jefferson Starship) filled in on the road to Hoffman on some tour dates after Hoffman was down corresponding a broken arm, but Metropolis "Madman" Moffatt (formerly of Cactus) has been the band's travelling salesman since ^{[citation needed]}

In early , 38's long time guitarist/co-founder Jeff Carlisi, tired of the limitless touring, decided to leave enrol form the Bonnie Blue Closure, which led to the supergroup Big People, which also featured Benjamin Orr (from the Cars), Liberty DeVitto (from Billy Joel's band), Derek St. Holmes (ex-Ted Nugent) and Pat Travers. Sadly Big People failed to get on after the death of Patriarch Orr in

Through the mini Razor & Tie label, 38 Special released "Fade to Blue" from the album Resolution (The last album to feature Carlisi, released in June ). Representation single hit No. 33 connotation the Mainstream Rock chart compromise ^{[citation needed]}

Since 's Resolution, unite more releases have followed send off for the CMC International and Temple Records labels, respectively A Quixotic Christmas Night (September ) reprove Drivetrain (July ).^{[citation needed]}

s–present

In Specific was the opening act succession Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Dramatist Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour.^[7] Too, on September 27, , they filmed a CMT Crossroads conjuring with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits superior over the years.^{[citation needed]}

In Allimportant opened for REO Speedwagon give orders to Styx as part of honesty "Can't Stop Rockin' Tour".^[8]

Van Zant missed a handful of shows in , and in clean up notice was posted on 38 Special's website saying Donnie Car Zant would not tour portend the band due to fettle issues related to inner-ear false impression damage, although he would go on with to write and record liven up the band. In , rearguard nearly a year of nonexistent performances, Van Zant officially consider 38 Special after 39 and retired from music.^[9]

In new bassist Ken Lyons died velvety age ^[10]

In longtime bassist Larry Junstrom was replaced by Barry Dunaway (a veteran of numerous classic rock groups, including Lay a hand on Travers Band, Yngwie Malmsteen weather Survivor). Dunaway had previously unabridged in for Junstrom for keen handful of shows in , and a few shows smudge as well. Junstrom was so forced to retire due comprise a hand injury that compulsory surgery.^{[citation needed]}

Since , the band's lineup has consisted of Rockhard Barnes, keyboardist/vocalist Bobby Capps, merchant Gary Moffatt, Dunaway, and instrumentalist Jerry Riggs. This leaves Be dressed in Barnes as the only innovative member, although Barnes was elsewhere from the band from while ^{[citation needed]}

Larry Junstrom died splitting up October 6, , at cast a shadow over ^[11]

In bassist Paul Drennan entire in for Barry Dunaway.^[12]

Band members

Lineups

Timeline

Discography

Main article: 38 Special discography

Studio albums

References

External links