38 Special
The music business is littered with kid brothers who have tried to follow in their sibling’s footsteps. Record companies usually encourage this, hoping lightening will strike twice. Usually. lightening has enough trouble striking once.
In the early ‘70s, Lynyrd Skynyrd was on top of the world. And they stayed there until the plane went down in ‘77. Ronnie Van Zant, killed in the crash, was Skynyrd’s lead singer. His kid brother, Donnie, hungered for the same success. While it would take him longer to achieve it, at least Donnie survived.
A year after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ’73 debut album was released, .38 Special formed with vocalist Donnie Van Zant. Guitarists Jeff Carlisi and Don Barnes, bassist Ken Lyons and drummer Jack Grondin rounded out the original line-up.
For the next six years the band haunted the Rock circuit looking for the major break. However, they hovered closer to a break-up than a break-out. Larry Junstrom replaced Lyons. Steve Brookins took over on drums. Also, Barnes shared lead vocals with Van Zant.
.38 Special finally scored in ‘80 with the classic “Hold On Loosely.” The track from the platinum “Wild Eyed Southern Boys,” the band’s fourth effort, peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Caught Up In You
Hold On Loosely
“Caught Up In You,” which topped the Billboard Rock Tracks chart and was the band’s first Top 10 song (#10) on the Billboard Hot 100, was the highlight of the “Special Forces” album.
Their ’83 album “Tour de Force” had “If I’d Been The One” with the accompanying music video featuring Bruce Springsteen’s future ex-wife Julianne Phillips. It went to #1 on Mainstream Rock while “Back Where You Belong” peaked at #4 on the same chart.
If I’d Been The One
Back Where You Belong
In ’88, “Second Chance.” a track from “Rock & Roll Strategy,” went to #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
.38 Special continued to tour but following the turn of the century they were a perennial opening act.
Second Chance
Van Zant missed a handful of shows in ’11 and ’12 before the band announced that he would not tour due to inner-ear nerve damage. Though he continued to write and record with the band for a bit more he officially left 38 Special (’13) after 39 years and retired from music.
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