38 Special is an American rock band. Formed by Guitarist/Vocalist Don Barnes and vocalist Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida, the band initially had a straight-ahead Southern rock sound, much like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band of Donnie’s older brother Ronnie.
By the early 1980s, the band began incorporating elements of blues-rock and arena rock into their sound, kicking off a string of successful albums and singles.
Among 38 Special’s best-known songs are “Caught Up in You” (1982) and “If I’d Been the One” (1983), both of which hit #1 on Billboard magazine’s album rock chart, and “Second Chance” (1989), a #1 hit on Billboard’s adult contemporary chart. Their other hit singles include “Hold On Loosely” (1981) and “Back Where You Belong” (1984).
The band is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Don Barnes, guitarist Jerry Riggs, bassist Barry Dunaway, keyboardist Bobby Capps, and drummer Gary Moffatt.