Donnie Van Zant

Donald Newton Van Zant is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for being a member of the band 38 Special, from its formation in 1974 until 2013. He is the middle of three sons; his older brother Ronnie was the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi, and his younger brother Johnny has been the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987. Donnie and Johnny Van Zant also had performed together as the group Van Zant. For a time, Van Zant considered getting out of the music industry and taking a higher paying job at the railroad, but was persuaded to stay in music by his older brother Ronnie who told him, "It's in your blood". With the formation of 38 Special, it was a last attempt at success in the music industry for Donnie.

11 June 1952

Born on the same birth date (11 June 1952): Yekaterina Podkopayeva

Born on the same birth day (11 June): Alfred Kroeber • Carl von Linde • Chuck Hayes • Eartha Cumings • Frank Beard (musician) • Marsel İlhan • María Teresa Rafaela of Spain • Millicent Fawcett • Nikolai Bulganin • Reg Latta • Richard Todd • Stephen Graham (basketball)

Born in the same month (June 1952): Dambudzo Marechera • Estelle Morris • Isabella Rossellini • Kōichi Mashimo • Liam Neeson • Madan Bhandari • Martin Gerschwitz • Nicko McBrain • Orhan Pamuk • Pierre Bruneau (journalist) • Pietro Mennea • Péter Erdő • Santokh Singh • Vikram Seth • Yekaterina Podkopayeva