38 Special: A Southern Rock TRADITION

March 26, 2025
1 min read

Words by Teresa Spencer

Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes formed 38 Special in 1974 right here in Jacksonville.  Initially rooted in Southern rock, their music evolved into a more arena-rock sound, achieving mainstream success in the 1980s with hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “Rockin’ into the Night,” and “If I’d Been the One.”

The band’s early years saw them working closely with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s management and gaining exposure by opening for major acts. Their breakthrough came with the 1981 album “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys,” followed by a string of successful releases. They collaborated with Survivor’s Jim Peterik, shaping their signature melodic rock style.

After Don Barnes’ departure in 1987, the band experimented with a more pop-oriented sound, scoring a No. 1 adult contemporary hit with “Second Chance” in 1989. Barnes returned in 1992, and since then, the band has focused on touring. Founding members like Jeff Carlisi and Larry Junstrom eventually departed, with Junstrom passing away in 2019.

After more than five decades together, 38 Special continue to bring their signature blast of Southern Rock to over 100 cities a year. Today, Don Barnes remains the only original member, leading the band alongside Bobby Capps, Gary Moffatt, Barry Dunaway, and Jerry Riggs. 

Teresa Ann Spencer is an accomplished executive leader with a strong track record of operational excellence, strategic growth, and organizational leadership. As General Manager of Folio Weekly Magazine — Jacksonville’s premier source for independent news and culture — Teresa oversees all facets of business operations, driving profitability, expanding readership, and ensuring the magazine remains a cornerstone of journalistic integrity in an evolving media landscape.

Before commanding boardrooms and operations floors, Teresa Ann Spencer made her mark where the lights were bright and the deadlines even brighter — as an Executive in Radio and in Television, she also became a TV show host, reporter, and journalist. Armed with sharp instincts, an analytical mind sharper than most knives in the drawer, Teresa has became known for delivering the news with intelligence, credibility, and a touch of unshakable wit. Her most favorite experience in her media career has been delivering independent "free press" news to the world. Her traditional respect for journalistic integrity, paired with an ability to adapt to modern storytelling methods, has made her a rare kind of broadcaster/journalist and manager: someone who has honored the serious roots of journalism while still captivating today’s audiences. In a world increasingly obsessed with flash over fact, Teresa Ann Spencer was (and remains) a refreshing reminder that journalism, at its best, still demands intellect, preparation, and a strong moral compass — and she has never showed up without all three.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
liz-buys-houses-digital
generac-home-standby-generator-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

Evergreen Terrace

Next Story

Sam “ALL THAT JAZZ” Jones

Latest from Feature

Get Your Golden Ticket to a Sweet Take on a Classic at the Alhambra

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE NEW MUSICAL is a very different take on the classic based on the book by Roald Dahl.  If you’re expecting the songs from the original musical or movie, for the most part, they have new counterparts.  When the show moved from the West End

Listen Locally

May 16  “Blest” – Yuno Former Jacksonville local artist Yuno dropped a new album “Blest” this spring. The album is a mix of eclectic, indie/dream-pop and is influenced by trap and rock with popular hits “Blest” and “True”. If you’re a fan of Steve Lacy and DJO, you should certainly

The Fourth of July: America’s Loudest, Proudest Day of Reckoning

Words by Teresa Spencer Every summer, on the fourth day of July, fireworks slice through the night sky, flags ripple in the humid air, and hot dogs vanish at an alarming rate. Beneath the parades and pyrotechnics, however, lies a radical idea that still crackles with revolutionary energy: that

Chaos Sells

Why your favorite brand wants you thinking about murder, nipples and the apocalypse  Words by Carmen Macri  We’re officially in the era of weird branding, where companies are getting riskier, louder and a hell of a lot funnier. The playbook hasn’t changed much — grab attention, be louder than
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

Jacksonville: Birthplace of Southern Rock

Words by Kaili Cochran Beaches, museums, restaurants, St. Johns

Southern Roots, Jacksonville Soul: The Allman Brothers Band

Words by Teresa Spencer The infamous Allman Brothers Band