Jan 27 Folsom, CA Harris Center He was 99. He tuned pianos in South Carolina for decades. Tommy Caldwell died in an auto accident in 1980. Im so proud of our band.. Marshall Tucker , the namesake of the musical group, died on Jan. 20 at the age of 99. Lead singer Doug Gray relayed the keychain story to PEOPLE in 2021, and said the fateful practice session took place in February 1972. Our bands namesake, Mr. Marshall Tucker, passed away peacefully yesterday morning at the age of 99. The Marshall Tucker Band is all about Doug Gray. [14] Gospel, the band's 1999 album, featured the band's rendition of traditional songs including "The Wayfaring Stranger", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", and several original tracks. Be Nice. [3], The "Marshall Tucker" in the band's name does not refer to a band member, but rather a blind piano tuner from Columbia, South Carolina. Phillip Wallace McCormack first appeared in the Southern . Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. [27] The follow-up album Tenth featured a boogie rock sound. Doble said Caldwell, 45, had been ill with influenza and bronchitis. After being wounded in Vietnam in September 1968, he was evacuated for two weeks, then returned for duty. "We are in California right now for our shows, but I wish we were over there to give the family our condolences," Gray said. April 28, 1980 Thomas Michael Tommy Caldwellwas born onNovember 9, 1949 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Ive been in tune with how music can make you feel, right from when I was first in the crib, explains lead vocalist and bandleader Doug Gray, whos been fronting the MTB since the very beginning. https://t.co/mEBpnpJQcj, Are there any MTB songs that have helped you through a tough time? In recent years, they toured with acts like Charlie Daniels and Travis Tritt. or anything. Later it came to light that Marshall Tucker, the blind piano tuner, had tuned a piano in that rented space before the band and his name was inscribed on the key. Caldwell was born November 13, 1947, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Mr. and Mrs. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Sr. [13] The band's final Capricorn release came with 1978's Together Forever, which was produced by Stewart Levine. We love you brother and we always will. . When you know that people like that love you, that's just as important as the guy that's down the street drinking that beer and saying, 'This ole beer gut I got isn't getting any smaller.' We needed a name asap and the rest is history! In the early days when we were rehearsing in an old warehouse in Spartanburg, we found a keychain inscribed with his name. Borden. Thinking that the name was cool and catchy, the band decided to name themselves The Marshall Tucker Band right then and there. The Marshall Tucker Band is an American rock band from Spartanburg, South Carolina.Noted for incorporating blues, country, and jazz into an eclectic sound, the Marshall Tucker Band helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s. "My daddy has been independent, since forever," Duval said. Five decades of the Marshall Tucker Band sometimes its still hard to understand, said MTB lead singer and founding member Doug Gray, when the run was first announced. [18] The album's title track was co-written by country music star Garth Brooks, a long-time fan of the band who considered writing a track for them a "milestone" in his career.[13]. [2], Returning to Spartanburg from his military service Caldwell formed the Toy Factory band with Franklin Wilkie, Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks. The Marshall Tucker Band's Music Trail sign can be found at the edge of Morgan Square directly across from Wild Wing Cafe near where West Main Street intersects with Church Street. Feb 24 Rutland, VT Paramount Theatre Your Herd from Herald-Dispatch Reach Manager. My name will always be associated with the Marshall Tucker Band and Im proud it is, Caldwell told The Associated Press last fall. Tickets start at $25. In the early fall of 1973 Marshall Tucker Band was still a young and hungry group out to prove themselves every time they hit the stage. The Marshall Tucker Band is saying farewell to someone who played a key role in the band's formation. Our feature story on the band and their development. Jan 23 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Jan 31 Feb 4 Key West, FL Key Western Fest The following year the band's Searchin' for a Rainbow was also certified gold the year of its release, and contained the track "Fire on the Mountain," which peaked at No. He co-founded the Marshall . Also other data will not be shared with third person. Among his songwriting credits is the anthem Cant You See, which he sang at the FarmAid concert last year in Dallas and at the Charlie Daniels Band Volunteer Jam in Nashville. New Book on Radical Music of the Sixties, Whole World in an Uproar, Wayne Shorter, Saxophonist & Composer Who Co-Founded Weather Report, Dies, Back to the Future Musical Coming to Broadway, The Doobie Brothers The Captain and Me: Polishing a Diamond, Pink Floyd Sets Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set. He died on Friday 20th January 2023 after he suffered a fall. He played guitar on albums by country stars Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, Barbara Mandrell and Conway Twitty, among others. Caldwell died on April 28, 1980, after lingering in critical condition at Spartanburg General Hospital for almost a week. Jethro Tulls Thick As a Brick: Concept LP or Parody of One? Thanks to hits like Cant You See, Heard It in a Love Song, Fire on the Mountain, 24 Hours At a Time, and Take the Highway, the 5x Gold, 3x Platinum-selling Southern Rock group has sold millions of albums worldwide. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The Marshall Tucker Band Current and former members page, "Blind piano tuner turns talent into a key business", "Obituaries in Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg Herald-Journal", "Marshall Tucker Band to Entertain Troops in Iraq & Kuwait", "Toy Caldwell Jr., 45, a Founder of the Marshall Tucker Band", "Led Zeppelin | Official Website Knebworth Festival - August 11, 1979", "Marshall Tucker Band - A New Life (Review) - Southern Rock Brasil", "The Marshall Tucker Band Brings Southern Rock To The Paramount", "50 Rock Albums Every Country Fan Should Own", "The Marshall Tucker Band | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links", "The Marshall Tucker Band - The Marshall Tucker Band | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Live on Long Island: 4-18-80 - The Marshall Tucker Band | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "MTB's singer Doug Gray is still searchin' For a rainbow", "GloryDazeMusic.com | AOR and Melodic Rock", "The Marshall Tucker Band: Southern jam kings", "Op-Ed: Marshall Tucker Band puts on the best southern rock show of 2017", "The Marshall Tucker Band Brings its Southern Rock to Talking Stick Resort Showroom", "The Marshall Tucker Band - Searchin For A Rainbow", "A New Life - The Marshall Tucker Band | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Swampland:Marshall Tucker Band: Where We All Belong", "Tenth - The Marshall Tucker Band | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "CMT: Videos: The Marshall Tucker Band: Driving You Out of My Mind", "CMT: Videos: The Marshall Tucker Band: Down We Go", Swampland's Legends of Southern Rock, Marshall Tucker, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Marshall_Tucker_Band&oldid=1142689408, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 21:23. He always said his talent was simply God-given. He would not elaborate. Mar 18 Clewiston, FL Clewiston Sugar Festival Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, He would do interviews and had always good words for us," said Douglas Gray, lead singer of Marshall Tucker Band. Coloured by lyrical references to riding a freight train, Can't You See paints an evocative picture of the American South, although with its subject aiming to 'find me a hole in the wall' and 'crawl inside and die' there's also darkness present. You have permission to edit this article. He later formed the Toy Caldwell Band and released an eponymous CD in 1992; the record was later renamed Son of the South by Southern country rocker and Caldwell's personal friend, Charlie Daniels. He barely sang 3 songs. We needed a name asap and the rest is history!" Marshall Tucker BandIn their own words: Spartanburg classic rockers Marshall Tucker Band talk legacy, future. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Published on January 25, 2023 03:05 PM. <br /><br /><br /><br /> Love the flip of Heard It In A Love Song, Life in a Song. The group will take the stage around 8:30 p.m. Tommy Caldwell, their original bassist, died following a car accident in 1980 when he was 30, and his brother, guitarist Toy Caldwell. The Marshall Tucker Band will perform at 8:30 p.m. tonight as part of the Huntington Rib and Music Fest at Harris Riverfront Park. The Marshall Tucker Band is an American rock band from Spartanburg, South Carolina. He described Caldwell as the most jovial, bighearted human being., The Marshall Tucker Band had seven gold and two platinum albums, peaking in the mid-1970s with songs such as Heard It in a Love Song, Cant You See and This Ol Cowboy.. The BCB team brings you the latest Breaking News, Contests, On This Day rock history stories, Classic Videos, retro-Charts and more. "I still feel lucky to be on the stage," Gray said. "Five decades of the Marshall Tucker Band sometimes it's still hard to understand," said MTB lead singer and founding member Doug Gray, when the run was first announced. There is no Marshall Tucker in The Marshall Tucker Band. One of them was Doug Gray, the lead singer for The Marshall Tucker Band, and only original . It wasnt for the money; it wasnt for the glory. He said the group was scheduled to open for the Allman Brothers and still didn . After the album's release, the band began touring, playing upwards of 300 shows per year throughout the decade. Borden, keyboardist-saxophonist-flutist Marcus James Henderson and bassist Ryan Ware -- played dozens of shows across the U.S., includinga free hometown performance on June 7 at Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg,held in conjunction with the BMW Charity Pro Am golf tournament. Earlier in January, the band kicked off their 50th anniversary tour. Great memories from this day https://t.co/wqGdhxtqPH, Kearney, NE! I'm more than happy to be where I am right now. The owner of the Galaxy, who was in the car but uninjured when Caldwell struck him, was charged with improper parking the next day. [25] Billboard charts have categorized the band as country, blues and adult contemporary. Next stop: Derry, NH. 75 on 24 September 1977). ADVERTISEMENT. [20][32] Where We All Belong has been described as a "classic rock and roll album". I was blessed with that ability and Im thankful I can share with others.". Doug Gray, lead singer and a founder of the Marshall Tucker Band, shows his uniform from his service in the Vietnam War. No cause of death has been revealed. MTB helped originate and personify what was to become known as Southern rock, and I was privileged to watch it all come together in the 70s, night after night, said the legendary late Charlie Daniels. Their debut album . Theres a certain gift I found I could share, whether I was in front of five people or 20,000 people. Toy and Tommy and I all knew exactly what we were doing when we were getting into it, and we all knew that we just wanted a beer at the end of the night.". Now Available: 134 Rock-n-Roll Legends Crossed the Rainbow in 2017 - A Tribute to their Lives Dismiss, May 12, 2016 no comments. The Marshall Tucker Band had just returned home from a concert they recorded for broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour when Tommy Caldwell's Land Cruiser clipped a parked . Click Today's Obituaries to view all of the listings. Mar 11 Carteret, NJ Carteret Perf. Last year in celebration of the groups 50th anniversary, Gray and the rest of the group's current members - guitarists Rick Willis and Chris Hicks, drummer B.B. Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett said Caldwell visited a doctor Wednesday complaining of a headache, coughing and congestion. Marshall Tucker Band. Marshall Tucker, a blind piano tuner who hailed from South Carolina, died on Friday (Jan. 20) at the age of 99. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. (November 13, 1947 - February 25, 1993) was the lead guitarist, main songwriter and a founding member of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band. The physician says he cant certify the cause and manner of death and has asked our office to investigate, Burnett said. "He loved people and could talk to anybody about anything. Tommys Jeep, modified for off-road driving with oversized tires, flipped onto its side and Caldwell suffered a head injury that would ultimately prove fatal. Original lead singer Doug Gray still fronts the band. The Southern rock band began forming after buddies began returning from . "He had always come to see us. Although Gray and Eubanks added new members Rusty Milner, Stuart Swanlund, and Tim Lawter, Still Holdin' On was primarily recorded with studio musicians. They are good memories.. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. In 1972, original members Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, Gray, Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle and Paul Riddle came together in Spartanburg, S.C. As the band wrote on their Facebook page on Jan. 21, We are saddened to hear of the passing of someone very special to our hearts, for very obvious reasons. One of the members noticed the name "Marshall Tucker" inscribed on the building's key, as it had been previously occupied by Tucker for his piano tuning business. In 1966, members of several such bands merged to form the Toy Factory, named after guitarist Toy Caldwell. Toy Caldwell was the group's lead guitarist and main songwriter.[3]. We are just regular people. Main songwriter Toy Caldwell only contributed three songs to each of the two albums, both released in 1983; Just Us and Greetings from South Carolina. "Can't You See" is also used in the 2001 film Blow, and the 2017 film I, Tonya. ), "Marshall Tucker Band". Nope, Gray's an uniquely positive, gregarious sort of fella. June 9 will now be Marshall Tucker Band Day across the Palmetto State. Caldwell married his wife Abbie on September 12, 1969. Marshall Tucker Band performs in front of crowd of 5,500 in downtown Spartanburg, In their own words: Spartanburg classic rockers Marshall Tucker Band talk legacy, future, a free hometown performance on June 7 at Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He's done so much, we should write a book.". (Marshall Tucker recently passed away, READ HERE). Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images. He'd always stand there and he remembered the words of 'Running Like The Wind' and 'Fly Like An Eagle' and all of those kinds of things because they meant more to him than it did to me. Forming in the early 1970s in Spartanburg, S.C., the original Marshall Tucker Band consisted of world-renowned guitarist Toy Caldwell, his brother Tommy Caldwell on bass, George McCorkle on guitar, Paul Riddle on drums, Jerry Eubanks on flute and saxophone and Doug Gray on lead vocals. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Mar 08 Norwalk, CT Wall Street Theater An autopsy was scheduled for Friday, Burnett said. The Toy Factory, led by the elder Caldwell, became the southern-rocking Marshall Tucker Band when Tommy joined as bassist in 1972. [6] Marshall Tucker died on January 20, 2023, at the age of 99. Rhythm guitarist George McCorkle died in 2007, leaving Gray as the only member from the classic era defined by the Caldwells. the band's statement concludes. The framework for Marshall Tuckers music is more like a spaceship than a house, Gray continues, because you can look out of a lot of windows and see a variety of things that show where weve been and what weve done, and how weve travelled through time to bring those experiences out in all of our songs., The Marshall Tucker Bands influence can be felt far and wide through many respected contemporaries and the artists whove followed the path forged by their collective footsteps and footstomps. the statement explains. George McCorkle, a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, said he and Caldwell grew up in Spartanburg and played music after school. 38 on the Billboard charts. [5] Music historian Joel Whitburn erroneously attributes "Marshall Tucker" to the owner of the band's rehearsal hall in his book Top Pop Singles, 1955-2002. A founding member of the band, Caldwell remained with the group until 1983. The Marshall Tucker Band performs on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Fox Theatre; 211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-7000; 313presents.com. In addition to his role as lead guitarist, he was also the band's steel guitarist and performed lead vocals including on one of the band's best-known . Most of the original band members had left by the mid-1980s. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be free to attend. . Toy put up a good front for the others, but now I know he had to be torn apart inside., Doug Gray, who sang the groups No. "And we didn't realise this until five years ago, that the . Borden (Mothers Finest, The Outlaws), bassist/vocalist Ryan Ware, keyboardist/saxophonist/flautist/vocalist Marcus James Henderson, guitarist/vocalist Chris Hicks, and guitarist/ vocalist Rick Willis. They saw the name on a key ring where they used to rehearse and decided it would make a good name for their band. "It was two years after Tommy died and Toy said he just . In hindsight, Toy kept an awful lot inside of him. In fact, The Charlie Daniels Band has played more dates with The Marshall Tucker Band over the past years than any other band weve ever worked with. As Grey remarks, the result was so eclectic that the press didn't really know what to make of them as they failed to fit neatly in any pigeonhole. 14 on the Billboard charts. On April 22, 1980, following the completion of the band's tenth album Tenth (ninth studio release), bassist and co-founder Tommy Caldwell suffered massive head trauma in a car wreck and died six days later. Borden on drums; and new member Marcus Henderson on flute. You know, I think it was Toy Caldwells dad who said, Theres more to gray hair than old bones, and we still have a lot of stories yet to tell, Gray concludes. But you wouldn't know he's outlasted all his MTB brother's in arms. "In the early days when we were rehearsing in an old house in Spartanburg [S.C.], we found a keychain inscribed with his name. Southern Rock has suffered some major losses through the years, most recently with the death of Gray's close friend Charlie Daniels. A typically rich MTB setlist is bubbling over
Tucker was the namesake for the band ever since. And though Doug Gray was officially the lead singer (and is currently the only . Caldwell decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. The physician says he cant certify the cause and manner of death and has asked our office to investigate, Burnett said. The Marshall Tucker Band's self-titled debut, produced by Paul Hornsby, was released in 1973, and certified gold in 1975. Get concert info and buy tickets to The Marshall Tucker Band's upcoming concert at ABATE of PA 45th Annual Party in Brockway on jun. You know what I mean? ", "He was a very nice guy who had our best interest at heart. [21][23][27][28][29][30] The band's music has also been categorized as blues rock,[25] country rock,[27] jazz rock,[27] and as a "proto-jam band". One thing we absolutely know for sure: If you heard it in a Marshall Tucker Band song, it certainly cant be wrong. THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND. When you wake up and want to put a smile on your face, you think of the songs that always manage to reach down and touch your soul the moment you hear the first note. Its truly an amazing journey weve been on for the past 50 years, Cincinnati! The six founding members of Marshall Tucker were, brothers Tommy and Toy Caldwell on bass and lead guitar, rhythm guitarist George McCorkle, drummer Paul T. Riddle, lead singer Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks on flute and saxophone. Technically they're still around; lead singer Doug Gray is the only original member still in the band. Toy played basketball and football in high school with friends George McCorkle, Jerry Eubanks, and Doug Gray. Though he never played in the Marshall Tucker Band, Tucker, who died on Jan. 20, was an important part of the rockers' history. People ask me all the time what Im gonna do when I turn 80, and I always say, The same thing that were continuing to do now. Were road warriors, theres no doubt about that and I dont intend to slow down. May the MTB wagon train continue running like the wind on a long hard ride for many more years to come. Early pioneers of country rock, The Marshall Tucker Band, topped the charts in the 1970's. But tragedy would soon test the bands faith. [16] Carolina Dreams, released in 1977 and certified platinum that same year, proved to be the band's most commercially successful album, and included the track "Heard It in a Love Song," which reached No. . While very involved in sports, the boys eventually became interested in music including jazz and blues. The Instagram post also said "Marshall was blind since . Tickets available t https://t.co/cV1LQZJxmo, Answer in the comments https://t.co/ZOEtHA6UrH, If I die at 23, won't you bury me in the sunshine? [1] The cause of death was reported as cardio-respiratory failure due to viral myocarditis, by Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett. . MTB does love America. Create a password that only you will remember. He was 60. In the late 1960s, four of the bandmembers served in the U.S. Armed Forces;[8][9][10] Toy Caldwell was in the USMC, and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam. Caldwell had a lightning fast thumb on guitar, McCorkle said. The Return of the Museum Ball, Photos: Huntington wins sectional championship, Photos: Cabell Midland vs. Spring Valley, boys basketball, Photos: Wayne advances to state tournament with 53-27 win over Winfield, Photos: WV State High School Wrestling Tournament, Friday, Photos: Boys basketball sectional final, Fairland vs. Nelsonville-York, Photos: America's Best Restaurants visits Savannah's Bistro, Photos: Guyandotte Neighborhood Association packages PPE for first responders, Photos: Neurodiversity Alliance kick-off at Marshall University, Photos: Burlington Black History Bus Tour, Tweets from https://twitter.com/heralddispatch/lists/hd-news-4. SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) _ Toy T. Caldwell Jr., former lead guitar player and singer for the Marshall Tucker Band, died Thursday, and the cause was under investigation, a coroner said. The Marshall Tucker Band sold millions of records in the 70s and 80s, and never really escaped from the shadow of Skynyrd and the Allmans. Duval said her father's disability never stopped him from learning and trying new things, and she never thought of her father as blind. The newer members (including newly added keyboardist Don Cameron) had a much greater role, however, on the band's 1990 album, Southern Spirit, released on the Sisaspa label. After 15 years with the band, Caldwell left in 1985 to begin a solo career. Toy Caldwell died in 1993, after too much cocaine stopped his heart. Feb 11 Vinton, LA Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino Their debut album had already spawned numerous hits. As the years have gone by, however, tragedy and change have been a part of the band's history. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Dave Mason is also on . 2015-2021 Copyright Best Classic Bands. My name will always be associated with the Marshall Tucker Band and Im proud it is, Caldwell told The Associated Press last fall. The South Carolina piano tuner after whom the Southern rockers of the Marshall Tucker Band named their group has died. Marshall Tucker Band . [22] The follow-up album, A New Life, was categorized as having more of a country sound. Toy truly was the heart and . He developed a unique style of playing, playing the electric guitar using his thumb rather than a pick. It wasnt for the money; it wasnt for the glory. He played guitar on albums by country stars Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, Barbara Mandrell and Conway Twitty, among others. "We are saddened to hear of the passing of someone very special to our hearts, for obvious reasons," theywrite on Saturday (Jan. The Marshall Tucker Band is an American rock band from Spartanburg, South Carolina. with a healthy dose of hits like the heartfelt singalong Heard It in a Love Song, the insistent pleading of Cant You See (the signature tune of MTBs late co-founding lead guitarist and then-principal songwriter Toy Caldwell), the testifying Fire on the Mountain, the wanderlust gallop of Long Hard Ride, and the explosive testimony of Ramblin, to name but a few. Toy Caldwell was hit particularly hard, having endured another brothers death in a traffic accident just one month before Tommys. Toy Caldwell died in 1993, after too much cocaine stopped his heart. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. [2] The band's current line-up consists of Gray on vocals; keyboard player, saxophonist and flautist Marcus James Henderson; guitarists Chris Hicks and Rick Willis, bassist Tony Black, and drummer B.B. In 1972, they signed with Capricorn Records, the same . He loved playing in front of people, McCorkle said. Tucker's name became synonymous with the Southern Rock Band, but he was never part of the group. When Lovin Spoonful Members Reunited for a Great Cause in L.A. Roger Daltrey on Woodstock, Tommy: Career-Spanning Interview, The Jaggerz The Rapper: You Know What Hes After, #1 Singles of 1970: A Bridge to a New Decade, Radio Hits in February 1967: B-Sides Rule. In 1972, The Marshall Tucker Band came together in Spartanburg, South Carolina to form a southern rock group. [5] The band reissued many of its albums from the 1970s on its new Ramblin' Records label, as well as two two-disc compilations, the first (Anthology) being a 30-year retrospective and the second (Where a Country Boy Belongs) being a collection of the band's country songs. Just last month, the band's namesake, Marshall Tucker, passed away on Jan. 20 at the age of 99. [7], The original members (and some later members) of the Marshall Tucker Band had been playing in various line-ups under different band names around the Spartanburg area since the early 1960s. We'd love to hear eyewitness The band, known for their hits " Can't You See ," " Fire on the Mountain ," and " Heard it in a Love Song ," shared the sad news on Saturday.