Donnie Van Zant

Donald Newton "Donnie" Van Zant (born June 11, 1952, in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American rock vocalist/guitarist. He is best known as having been a member of the band 38 Special, from its formation in 1974 until 2013. He is the middle of three brothers: his older brother Ronnie was the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi along with five other members and associates of the band; his younger brother Johnny is Lynyrd Skynyrd's current lead singer. Donnie and Johnny also perform together from time to time as the group Van Zant.

According to a posting in March 2013 on the 38 Special website, "Donnie Van Zant has not been able to join the band's performances for the past 6 months. In accordance with doctor's strict orders and due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, he will also not be able to join 38 Special onstage in the foreseeable future. Donnie will continue to write and record with the band." However, it was announced later in 2013 that he had officially left 38 Special, and was retiring.

Van Zant

Van Zant is an American musical duo composed of brothers Donnie Van Zant and Johnny Van Zant. Both are brothers of the late Ronnie Van Zant, former lead singer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Johnny became the lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, and Donnie was also the leader and vocalist of .38 Special.

Initially a Southern rock band, Van Zant first recorded in the 1980s on Geffen Records before disbanding. Johnny and Donnie re-established Van Zant in 1998 to record two albums for CMC International, switching their focus to country music in 2005, with two more albums on Columbia Records as a duo. The duo's first Columbia album, Get Right with the Man, produced a Top Ten country hit in "Help Somebody."

History

Johnny recorded as a member of the 1980s southern rock band The Johnny Van Zant Band which released albums in 1980, 1981 and 1982. The band shortened its name to Van Zant for the release of its fourth album in 1985, the eponymous Van Zant on Geffen Records. This album saw chart success with "You've Got to Believe in Love" and "I'm a Fighter", both of which peaked on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, this band did not include Donnie and was soon disbanded.

Van Zant (disambiguation)

Van Zant or VanZant or Vanzant may refer to:

People

Places

See also