38 Special, Travis Tritt, Brett Young, and The Mavericks

Neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant decided to form a band in 1974 and called it .38 Special, and were joined by Jack Grondin, Steve Brookins, Jeff Carlisi and Ken Lyons. They released their first, self-titled, album in 1977 followed a year later by “Special Delivery,” both of which had a strong southern rock influence. For their third album, they shifted to a more general arena rock sound, which helped them achieve success with the albums that followed.

Alongside a sound shift, there was also a lineup change with Ken Lyons no longer a member, and the addition of Larry Junstrom, Carol Bristow, and Dale Krantz. Their first series of successful singles came in 1981 with the release of “Hold On Loosely” followed by “Caught Up In You” in 1982 and “If I’d Been The One” in 1983; all of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Track Chart. Their album “Rock & Roll Strategy,” which was released in 1988 contained the successful single “Second Chance.” The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, as did the single that followed, “The Sound Of Your Voice.” Throughout the years there were many lineup changes, with Don Barnes being the most constant member, and as of 2014 the lineup consists of Don Barnes, Danny Chauncey, Bobby Capps, Gary Moffatt and Barry Dunaway.

James did not find his entry into the music industry to be particularly easy, neither of his parents expected him to make a success of himself as a musician. However thanks to the continued support of Warner Bros executive Danny Davenport in 1996 the young songwriter began recording demos that were passed on to other important names within the record label. Thanks to Davenport's encouragement Tritt signed a contract in 1997 to record six songs with the label.

He proved Warner Bros. was right to take a chance on the young musician as his first three singles were all huge Country chart hits. 'Help Me Hold On', his second release scored Tritt his first number one, he has scored four more number ones over his career and a huge selection of top five hits. He has also topped the Canadian Country charts six times and his releases were equally successful there.

After the success of his first album, the single 'The Whiskey Ain't Working' from his second album won the musician his first Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. In 1999 he won again in the same category for the single 'Same Old Train' which featured Marty Stuart and a variety of other musicians. The majority of his albums now hold a platinum selling certificate and he has sold millions worldwide and has won four Country Music Association awards.

The Mavericks started as a punk and alternative rock band in Miami, Florida, finding themselves on the same bill as acts such as Marilyn Manson. In 1991, the band was signed by MCA Nashville and their debut studio album “From Hell to Paradise” was released on May 12th 1992. It was a great start for the band with their album peaking at #74 on the Billboard country charts in 1992. Their following album “What a Crying Shame” was released on February 1st 1994, and built their career even further, charting on at No. 6 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums and #54 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. The highest charting single from this album is “O What a Thrill”, which made it to #18 on the singles chart. “Music for All Occasions” followed suit, with similar success.

It was when the band released their fifth studio album, “Trampoline” on March 10th 1998, which features one of the band’s biggest singles “Dance the Night Away” which reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart. “I’ve Got this Feeling” made it to #27.

The following year, The Mavericks released “Super Colossal Smash Hits of the 90s: The Best of The Mavericks”. The album charted at number 40 in the UK Albums Chart and it was certified Gold. It also made #45 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.

They released their sixth studio album on September 23rd 2003, which featured a duet with Willie Nelson, called “Time Goes By”. It made it to #32 on the U.S Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. They disbanded at the end of this year, and went on a ten-year hiatus, before coming back on January 21st 2013 with an album called “In Time”. The album received universal acclaim, scoring 86 on Metacritic. It also charted at #39 on the US Billboard 200 Chart and number 8 on the Country charts.