Donnie Van Zant

Donnie was born Donald Newton Van Zant in Jacksonville, Floride, USA on June 11, 1952 to Lacy Van Zant and Marion . He is the middle one among three brothers.

His elder brother and rocker, Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Wayne Van Zant, died in a plane crash in Mississipi on October 20, 1977. He was in a chartered plane along with five members of his band, ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’.

His younger brother, Jhonny, is now the lead singer of ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’. His father Lacy Van Zant was a big supporter of the three brothers, and wanted them to follow their dreams.

Their father’s contribution in their success is huge. He neither had experience nor any source in recording music, yet he pushed his boys to become southern rockers. According to Donnie, ‘He is the father of Southern rock music’.

Donnie co-founded ‘38 Special’ with his then neighbor, Don Barnes, in 1974. Until 2013, he remained as one of the most loyal members of the band.

In three decades of making and performing rock music, the band has sold more than 20 million copies of their albums. The extraordinary energy that the members of the band emit in their shows has connected really well with their fans.

They cover as many as 100 cities a year to perform their songs. The band has produced 15 albums since 1976.

Their Gold and Platinum albums have won countless awards and honours. Some of their many hit songs are ‘Hold on Loosely’, ‘Rockin’ into the Night’, ‘Caught up in You’, ‘Fantasy Girl’, ‘If I’d Been the One’, ‘Back Where You Belong’, ‘Chain Lightnin’, ‘Second Chance’ etc.

Most of their albums have been smashing hits. Donnie was the lead vocalist/ guitarist for the band for 39 years.

Donnie is an avid fan of ‘Jackson Jaguars’ – a football franchise from his hometown of Jacksonville. He can play piano and drums, apart from guitar.