On Tour
38 Special
Rock
The next 38 Special concert is scheduled for Friday, June 27, 2025 at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre in Charlotte, NC, United States. See all 35 upcoming concerts
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About 38 Special
Hometown
Jacksonville, FL, United States
Formed
1974
Genre
Rock
Before cofounding rock band 38 Special, Donnie Van Zant was persuaded by his older brother Ronnie, singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, to quit his railroad job and give music one more shot.
∙ Survivor’s Jim Peterik (“Eye of the Tiger”) cowrote a string of hits for 38 Special, beginning with “Rockin’ Into the Night,” which Survivor had declined to record.
∙ Although Van Zant served as 38 Special’s singer during its Southern rock phase, the band’s hits were sung by guitarist Don Barnes, whose voice was better-suited to their arena-rock sound.
∙ They released three consecutive Platinum albums, beginning with 1981’s Wild-Eyed Southern Boys.
∙ When Jim Peterik heard guitarist Jeff Carlisi play what became the guitar hook for their hit “Hold On Loosely,” he described it as “The Cars meet Lynyrd Skynyrd!”
∙ After leaving 38 Special, Donnie and his younger brother, Johnny, formed the group Van Zant, scoring a Top 10 Country hit with the single “Help Somebody.”
Members of 38 Special include, or have included, Scott Hoffman, Jeff Carlisi, Don Barnes, Donnie Van Zant, Max Carl, and Bobby Capps.
Musical Influences38 Special's musical influences include Cream, The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers Band and more.
Influenced by 38 Special38 Special has influenced the music of 95 Damastermind, Blue Ambition, My Morning Jacket and more.
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