
" Rockin' into the Night", the title track from the group's third album (released in October 1979), which Peterik and his bandmates had originally written for Survivor, found its way to 38 Special's manager, Mark Spector, and was given to the band. Engineer Rodney Mills, who had worked with Atlanta Rhythm Section and others, assumed the producer's reins from here on and Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik became a frequent songwriting collaborator of the band's from 1979 on, which helped account for this change in sound and subsequent success. This shift helped to usher in a string of successful albums and singles. 38 Special had shifted to a more accessible guitar-driven arena rock style without completely abandoning its Southern rock roots. The band's first two albums had a strong Southern rock influence. Donnie wrote "Take Me Back" as a tribute to his brother, which appeared on the band's second album, Special Delivery (March 1978), also produced by Hartman. In October 1977 Ronnie Van Zant was killed when Skynyrd's plane crashed. Krantz was replaced by Nancy Henderson (1979–1981), Lu Moss (1981–1984) and Lynn Hineman (1986–1987) before backup singers were dispensed with in 1987. Īlso in 1977, the band decided to add two female backup singers, Carol Bristow and Dale Krantz (before she left in 1979 to front Rossington Collins Band and eventually marry Skynyrd's Gary Rossington). He was replaced by their friend and original Lynyrd Skynyrd member Larry Junstrom, who had contributed to one track of their debut. Just before the record's release, bassist Ken Lyons decided to leave the band.

38 Special, which was released in May 1977. Rudge quickly set the group up to open shows for red-hot acts, like Peter Frampton, Foghat and Kiss, and got them signed to A&M Records, who assigned Dan Hartman (of Edgar Winter Group fame) to produce their first album. Eventually, big brother Ronnie figured Donnie and the gang had paid enough dues and set them up with Skynryd's manager Peter Rudge, who also handled the Who and was tour manager for the Rolling Stones. Now that they had their name, the group spent most of 19 playing a steady grind of one-nighters, mostly in the South and the Midwest. 38 special do the talking", and shot off the lock. When police arrived after being notified by locals of the noise, the band members were unable to come out because of a padlock on the door. The band's name was thought up after an incident which found the boys practicing in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. The new outfit comprised Van Zant, Barnes, Lyons, Brookins, second drummer Jack Grondin and a returning Carlisi. Briefly, Van Zant was considering a higher-paying position for the railroad at which he worked, but was finally convinced by brother Ronnie to stick with music since it was "in his blood". By 1974, they decided it was time to get serious and form "the ultimate band" that would be their "one last shot" at success. Nevertheless, Van Zant, Barnes and Lyons, while continuing their day jobs and working in other bands, began working on composing original songs in their spare time.
ROCK BAND 38 SPECIAL DRIVER
Brookins also left to work as a truck driver and Sweet Rooster was defunct by 1973. Carlisi left Sweet Rooster after graduating high school to study architecture at Georgia Tech and was replaced by Don Barnes in 1970.
ROCK BAND 38 SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL
ĭonnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Ronnie Van Zant, began playing music himself during his teen years, forming the band Standard Production in 1968, which paved the way for Sweet Rooster, Donnie's first professional outfit that he formed in 1969 with guitarist Jeff Carlisi and bassist Ken Lyons, soon joined by drummer Steve Brookins. They are best known for their early 1980s hit singles " Hold On Loosely" and " Caught Up in You", along with other Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1980s and early 1990s, including Rockin' into the Night, "You Keep Runnin' Away", "If I'd Been the One", "Back Where You Belong", " Teacher, Teacher", "Like No Other Night", " Second Chance", and "The Sound of Your Voice".
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38 Special or spelled out as Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band that was formed by Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida. Southern rock, hard rock, arena rock, country rock, blues rock ģ8 Special (also stylized as.
