Jeff Carlisi

Jeff Carlisi (born July 15, 1952) is an American rock guitarist best known for his work with the Southern rock band 38 Special. Carlisi played guitar on the hits "", "Hold On Loosely", "Fantasy Girl", "Caught Up in You", "If I'd Been the One", "Back Where You Belong", "Like No Other Night", "Somebody Like You" and "Teacher Teacher". He also cowrote "Caught Up in You" and "If I'd Been the One" which were both no.1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and "Second Chance" which was no.1 on the Adult Contemporary, no.2 on the Mainstream Rock and no.6 on the Hot 100 and "Hold on Loosely" which was no.3 on the Mainstream Rock charts.
Carlisi was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is of Sicilian American descent. His father's family was from Palermo and his mother's from Messina. His father was in the United States Navy and moved to Jacksonville, Florida when Carlisi was in first grade and he lived there through high school.
Carlisi originally played the accordion, but switched to guitar after seeing the Beatles in the Ed Sullivan Show. He played in many groups throughout high school, including Sweet Rooster with future 38 Special members Ken Lyons, Steve Brookens and Donnie Van Zant. After high school he enrolled at Georgia Tech graduating with an architecture degree in 1974. At college he declined a job backing Barbara Mandrell.
After returning from Atlanta to Jacksonville in 1974 he joined with Van Zant Don Barnes, Brookins and Larry Steele to form the band which eventually became .38 Special.
Carlisi left the band in 1997. After 38 Special, he played in Big People with Derek St. Holmes, Ben Orr, Pat Travers and Liberty DeVitto.
Carlisi's influences on guitar playing include Paul Kossoff, Brian May, Keith Richards and Jerry Reed. One of his biggest songwriting influences is Ric Ocasek.
Carlisi's primary guitar on the 38 Special recordings was a 1969 Gibson Les Paul , which he purchased because of his appreciation of Barry Bailey from Atlanta Rhythm Section. Live he was often seen playing a custom Explorer guitar built by Atlanta luthier Jay Rhyne.
Discography
with 38 Special
* 38 Special (1977)
* Special Delivery (1978)
* Rockin' into the Night (1979)
* Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (1981)
* Special Forces (1982)
* Tour de Force (1983)
* Strength in Numbers (1986)
* Bone Against Steel (1991)

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu