Performance · Production
Don Barnes
United States
Don Barnes is credited on 252 releases across 66 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1977–2025 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.
252
Pressings credited
66
Albums
6
Decades active
122
In collections
Biography
Richard Donald Barnes (born December 3, 1952) is an American rock vocalist and guitarist and one of the founding members of the Southern rock band 38 Special. Barnes performed lead vocals on nearly all of the group's biggest hits, including "Rockin' into the Night", "Hold On Loosely", "Caught Up in You", "If I'd Been the One", "Back Where You Belong", "Like No Other Night", "Somebody Like You", "Teacher Teacher", "Back to Paradise", "You Keep Runnin' Away" and "Fantasy Girl". Barnes left the band in 1987 with the song "Back to Paradise" (from the movie Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise) being his final hit with them. He was replaced by Max Carl. Barnes recorded a solo album Ride the Storm in 1989 but it was not released due to the record label (A&M Records) being sold. It featured many of the top session musicians of the time, such as Jeff Porcaro and Dann Huff. The album was co-produced by singer-songwriter Martin Briley. Barnes rejoined 38 Special in 1992 and has remained with them ever since. As of 2021, he is the only original member still with the band. His solo album was released on June 30, 2017, on MelodicRock Records.
Bio from Wikipedia
Credited work
252 releases · 66 albums · active 1977–2025
- Performance · 542
- Production · 136
- Other credits · 3
Studios: Studio One, Doraville · Goodnight LA Studios · Criteria Recording Studios · The Summit
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Special Forces
1982

Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
1980

Tour De Force
1983

Rockin' Into The Night
1979

Strength In Numbers
1986

Flashback
1987

Legend
1987

Special Delivery
1978

38 Special
1977

Las Vegas Prima Style
1958

If I'd Been The One
1983

Caught Up In You
1982

Anytime
1981

Milestone
2025

Classic Rock Gold
2005

Christmas Time Again
2000

Harley-Davidson Road Songs Vol. 2
1998

Hold On Loosely / Rockin' Into The Night
1989

You Keep Runnin' Away
1982

Fantasy Girl
1981

Hold On Loosely
1980

The Best Of 38 Special
2000
Frequent collaborators
- 38 Special (2)
- Various
- .38 Special
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Khymera
- Louis Prima And Keely Smith
- Jim Peterik & World Stage
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