Initially, .38 Special were one of many Southern rock bands in the vein of The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd; in fact, the group was led by Donnie Van Zant, the brother of Skynyrd's leader, Ronnie Van Zant. After releasing a couple of albums of straight-ahead Southern boogie, the band revamped their sound to fall halfway between country-fried blues-rock and driving, arena-ready hard rock. The result was a string of hit albums and singles in the early '80s, highlighted by "Caught Up in You," "If I'd Been the One," "Back Where You Belong," and "Like No Other Night." .38 Special's popularity dipped in the late '80s as MTV-sponsored pop and heavy metal cut into their audience. Though the band had their biggest hit in 1989 with the ballad "Second Chance," it proved to be their last gasp -- they faded away in the early '90s, retiring to the oldies circuit.
Hold On Loosely
Caught Up In You
Second Chance
Rockin' Into The Night
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.”
Hi. We are Jay Siegan Presents. We are the talent liaisons that curate, ideate, and connect you to the right artists to transform special events into experiences of a lifetime. Our roots are those of musicologists and culture hawks, deeply embedded in the living performing arts. This is the foundation of our work, the soul of our business, and what we've been doing for over 25 years. We have the capacity and capability to bring any artist from anywhere in the world to your event.
Hi. We are Jay Siegan Presents. We are the talent liaisons that curate, ideate, and connect you to the right artists to transform special events into experiences of a lifetime. Our roots are those of musicologists and culture hawks, deeply embedded in the living performing arts. This is the foundation of our work, the soul of our business, and what we've been doing for over 25 years. We have the capacity and capability to bring any artist from anywhere in the world to your event.
The cost associated with booking 38 Special is influenced by several factors. These include the interest and availability of the talent, the date and location, the nature of the event, and the schedule of the talent involved. To receive an accurate quote to book 38 Special for your event, we will need to gather some specific information. Reach out to us to dig in more and we can discuss an offer with the agent for 38 Special.
Please note, we are not the agents or managers for the talent listed, except as indicated, nor are we affiliated with any particular agency roster. This ideal and impartial position in the industry allows us to make the best recommendations that align with our client’s objectives and budgets. Please remember that we don't accept fan emails, special requests, meet and greets requests. Serious booking inquiries only, please. Our secret to success is our solid industry relationships and our experience booking talent!
