Early pioneers of country rock, The Marshall Tucker Band, topped the charts in the 1970's. But tragedy would soon test the bands faith. Don't Threaten. Theres a certain gift I found I could share, whether I was in front of five people or 20,000 people. You knew what you were getting on the A side, that square of chocolate. Marshall Tucker Band guitarist Stuart Swanlund died in his sleep at home in Chicago August 4th, The Associated Press reports. "I still feel lucky to be on the stage," Gray said. Always give no matter what. When the band started using his name, Tucker didn't know anything about it and the band didn't know him. ), "Marshall Tucker Band". We are just regular people. His brothers, Tommy, bass guitar player for the Marshall Tucker Band, and Timmy died in separate auto accidents about 13 years ago. 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. Toy Caldwell was hit particularly hard, having endured another brothers death in a traffic accident just one month before Tommys. March 3, 2023 UTC. After being wounded in Vietnam in September 1968, he was evacuated for two weeks, then returned for duty. Bizzle's BBQ fills niche with wood-smoked fare, WV businesswomen see company gain national recognition, Lovely a good-looking player for South Point, South Gallia girls make history on basketball court, Boys basketball sectional semifinals: Midland makes it 'one of those games', America's Best Restaurants films episode at Savannah's Bistro, University presidents respond after Justice signs campus carry bill, Photos: At Last! And that's how I got to the patriotic headline above. Frank Fenter and Phil Walden signed the Marshall Tucker Band based on those demos. "He loved people and could talk to anybody about anything. . Tucker also served as the president for the National Federation of the Blind in South Carolina and worked on legislation for blind residents. 2015-2021 Copyright Best Classic Bands. 14 hit Heard It in a Love Song, carries on with the Marshall Tucker Band these days. Hopefully, people see that southern connection to the bands we love like Marshall Tucker in our music.. The fans have given us so many special moments over these 50 years. Mar 09 Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theatre The Marshall Tucker Band's self-titled debut, produced by Paul Hornsby, was released in 1973, and certified gold in 1975. "And we didn't realise this until five years ago, that the . Borden. Franklin Wilkie, a former bassist in Toy Caldwells pre-Marshall Tucker group, took over for Tommy but the band never regained its commercial momentum. Youll find me back in the country in South Carolina. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr., a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, died in his sleep on Wednesday at his home in Moore, S.C. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Im so proud of our band.. Jan 26 Vacaville, CA Vacaville PAC 17, 2023, all at Bandsintown. The social media tribute also includes a snapshot of Tucker sitting at his piano, his hands on the keys. Marshall was blind since birth but amazingly could play the heck out of the piano. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Dave Mason is also on . Also other data will not be shared with third person. Copyright TheMarshallTuckerBand. Tommy Caldwell spoke to that lasting bond, as musicians and as brothers, in 1978. Gray is the only remaining original member in The Marshall Tucker Band. 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. Marshall Tucker Band ConcertMarshall Tucker Band performs in front of crowd of 5,500 in downtown Spartanburg. Marshall Tucker's lead singer, Doug Gray, says the lyrics are timeless, and still resonate today. Caldwell had a lightning fast thumb on guitar, McCorkle said. [22] The follow-up album, A New Life, was categorized as having more of a country sound. Tommy Caldwell died in an auto accident in 1980. He loved it.. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. "It was two years after Tommy died and Toy said he just . 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. Caldwell died on April 28, 1980, after lingering in critical condition at Spartanburg General Hospital for almost a week. The Music Trail marker "is a really cool thing," Gray said. "Marshall was blind since birth but amazingly could play the heck out of the piano. He loved playing in front of people, McCorkle said. He always said his talent was simply God-given. Marshall Tucker was a South Carolina piano tuner, who was born blind, but friends say he had an extraordinary ear for pitch and could name any note he heard. The band also issued a full statement that reflected on their group's history with Tucker, who was a talented pianist, but never played with the Marshall Tucker Band. In essence, its this inimitable down-home sonic style that helped make the MTB the first truly progressive Southern band to grace this nations airwaves the proof of which can be found within the grooves and ever-shifting gears of Take the Highway, the first song on their self-titled April 1973 debut album on Capricorn Records, The Marshall Tucker Band. He was 99. Toy decided to leave the band. He said the group was scheduled to open for the Allman Brothers and still didn . It was just a freak accident, Moon Mullins, a crew member for the band, said later. The band's recent release of their Greatest Hits album, in traditional vinyl form, is a time capsule from that period. Though he was never a member of our band, we wouldnt be here today without his historic name. In 1966, members of several such bands merged to form the Toy Factory, named after guitarist Toy Caldwell. [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. May 25-28 Axton, VA Rooster Walk An autopsy was scheduled for Friday, Burnett said. Our feature story on the band and their development. One of them was Doug Gray, the lead singer for The Marshall Tucker Band, and only original . 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. 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. Celebrating 50 years, Marshall Tucker Band to play free concert in downtown Spartanburg. 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. Feb 24 Rutland, VT Paramount Theatre Your data will be safe!Your e-mail address will not be published. Marshall Tucker Death - Marshall Tucker, Famous Piano turning legend and namesake of Marshall Tucker Band has sadly passed away. Menu. Toy Caldwell died in 1993, after too much cocaine stopped his heart. Celebrating 50 years, the band is set to perform 41 concert dates in 26 states in 2022, starting January and ending in June. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Doble said Caldwell, 45, had been ill with influenza and bronchitis. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. (November 13, 1947 February 25, 1993) was the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band. In recent years, they toured with acts like Charlie Daniels and Travis Tritt. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The band was formed in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1971 by singer Doug Gray, guitarist Caldwell, his brother bassist Tommy Caldwell, guitarist George McCorkle, drummer Paul Riddle, and reed . <br /><br /><br /><br /> Love the flip of Heard It In A Love Song, Life in a Song. However, some band members have said over the years without Tucker there would have never been a band by that name. What show are you coming to? All Rights reserved. The band and Tucker eventually figured out what was happening. Copyright TheMarshallTuckerBand. 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 . 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. The Marshall Tucker Band is one such group that continues to have a profound level of impact on successive generations of listeners who've been . Eubanks finally left the rigors of the road in 1996, and McCorkle died from cancer just last year. Feb 19 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre [14] Following the bankruptcy of Capricorn, the Marshall Tucker Band moved to Warner Bros. Records for their ninth album, Running Like the Wind (the band's eighth release was a compilation album entitled Greatest Hits), and they retained Levine as the album's producer. Staff Writer Contact Me Posted on 10 February, 2023, 04:53 PM EST. Their namesake died recently. 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. We needed a name asap and the rest is history! The album was digitally re-released in 2009 through Hopesong Digital / GMV Nashville. He was a member of the band from its formation up until 1983. Invalid password or account does not exist. As well as being the frontman, he also sang background vocals and wrote several songs, including Melody Ann, which was the only song he ever performed lead vocals on. "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. He was 99. Our bands namesake, Mr. Marshall Tucker, passed away peacefully yesterday morning at the age of 99. We needed a name asap and the rest is history!" Tucker was the namesake for the band ever since. Caldwell married his wife Abbie on September 12, 1969. The only original member of the MTB is the lead singer and honestly he doesn't have much voice left. 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. that is degrading to another person. The bands namesake yes, there really was a Marshall Tucker died on Jan. 20, 2023, at the age of 99. [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. The original line-up of the Marshall Tucker Band, formed in 1972, included lead guitarist, steel guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Toy Caldwell (19471993), lead vocalist Doug Gray (born 1948), keyboard player, saxophone player, and flautist Jerry Eubanks (born 1950), rhythm guitarist George McCorkle (19462007), drummer Paul Riddle (born 1953), and bassist Tommy Caldwell (19491980). Though the Marshall Tucker band have always been primarily a rock band, they have had country connections throughout their career. Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett said Caldwell visited a doctor Wednesday complaining of a headache, coughing and congestion. Long Hard Ride, the band's fifth consecutive gold album, was released in 1976,[14] and its instrumental title track (which again features Charlie Daniels on fiddle) was nominated for a Grammy. Feb 23 Derry, NH Tupelo Music Hall 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. And I realized it early on, back when I was a little kid and my mom and dad encouraged me to get up there and sing whatever song came on the jukebox. He was 54. The Marshall Tucker Band had its hits in the '70s. The Marshall Tucker Band continue to celebrate five decades since its inception with more dates of their 50th Anniversary tour, in 2023. We are thankful for Mr. Marshall Tucker and the life he lived! [20][32] Where We All Belong has been described as a "classic rock and roll album". But when lead singer Doug Gray looks out at MTB audiences now, he doesn't see the gray-haired crowds he once expected. "I sit on the side of the stage and I hear 'Georgia Moon,' (a song written by Paul Hornsby that is on Chris Hicks' new album called "Dog Eat Dog World") and I hear just Chris go out there and do it by himself with a little steel guitar behind it, and I cry. [27] The follow-up album Tenth featured a boogie rock sound. [19] The band has incorporated throughout its career elements of diverse genres into its sound, most frequently blues,[20][21][22][23] country[20][21][23] and jazz. 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. You wont find me in another band when this ones over, Tommy said after the release of the aptly titled Together Forever. [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. He was 99. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be free to attend. They signed with Capricorn Records and released their first album in 1973, The Marshall Tucker Band. Earlier in January, the band kicked off their 50th anniversary tour. [33] The band's 1979 album Running Like the Wind features a pop rock and jazz fusion sound. 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. Tommy Caldwell died in a jeep accident in 1980. Sending blessings to his wife and family.. Well, there wont be another one, man.. In 2007, they released their newest studio album "The Next Adventure.". He always said his talent was simply God-given. 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.". Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Tucker died peacefully Friday, Jan. 20 in West Columbia, according to a message on the Instagram page of the Marshall Tucker Band. Hub City music icons, the Marshall Tucker Band, will play Music on Main June 7 at downtown Spartanburg's Morgan Square. He tuned pianos in South Carolina for decades. Your Herd from Herald-Dispatch Reach Manager. Mar 18 Clewiston, FL Clewiston Sugar Festival Marshall Tucker, a blind piano tuner who hailed from South Carolina, died on Friday (Jan. 20) at the age of 99. THE PERFORMER. His deathdidnt end the Marshall Tucker Band, but it changed things forever in particular for his older brother Toy Caldwell. TheMarshall Tucker Band are mourning the loss of the man who lent their group his name. And then, on the highlight dramatic moment from lead singer Doug Gray, the lone original member remaining in the still-existent version of the band, whose histrionic howling from 4:42 to 5:04 provides the operatic coda to this rendition as it spectacularly did to hundreds of other Marshall Tucker Band shows over the decades. Toy Caldwell was the group's lead guitarist and main songwriter.[3]. They took their name from a hometown piano tuner in the cotton-mill city f Spartanburg, S.C., and set about recording five gold-selling albums (including four in a row starting in 1973) and the platinum smash Carolina Dreams before the end of the 70s. June 9 will now be Marshall Tucker Band Day across the Palmetto State. Although Gray and Eubanks added new members Rusty Milner, Stuart Swanlund, and Tim Lawter, Still Holdin' On was primarily recorded with studio musicians. "My daddy has been independent, since forever," Duval said. 14 on the Billboard charts. "He learned how to use a computer and had a house full of toys such as his organ, piano, harmonica and radio. He was quite the gentleman. He tuned pianos in South Carolina for decades. Toy truly was the heart and . The Marshall Tucker Band is an American rock band from Spartanburg, South Carolina. 0. The Marshall Tucker Band is saying farewell to someone who played a key role in the band's formation. Colin Larkin (ed. Answer (1 of 2): What do you mean, what happened with them? . 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. It got to the point where people were listening to me more than what was on the jukebox! 75 on 24 September 1977). Your e-mail address will not be published. After 15 years with the band, Caldwell left in 1985 to begin a solo career. After 15 years with the band, Caldwell left in 1985 to begin a solo career. 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.. "Can't You See" is also used in the 2001 film Blow, and the 2017 film I, Tonya. My name will always be associated with the Marshall Tucker Band and Im proud it is, Caldwell told The Associated Press last fall. . Me and my brother have been playing together forever and, when thats over, were going home. Jan 23 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Be Proactive. In 1966, he reported for recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. About. In addition to his guitarist role, he occasionally performed lead vocals for Marshall Tucker Band, including on one of the band's best-known hits . 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. The group will perform those hits and more along the Ohio River when they take the stage tonight as part of Huntington Rib and Music Fest at Harris Riverfront Park. Next stop: Derry, NH. Marshall, who lived in Columbia, was . We won't share it with anyone else. Doug Gray, lead singer and a founder of the Marshall Tucker Band, shows his uniform from his service in the Vietnam War. By 1984, hed left the Marshall Tucker Band, creating a huge hole as the group lost its lead guitarist, vocalist on Cant You See and principal songwriter. 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. [5][6][7], Toy Caldwell was found dead in bed by his wife, Abbie, on February 25, 1993, at his home in Moore, South Carolina. [8][9][10] Nevertheless, a toxicologist's report found that the cause of death was a cardiac arrest brought on by cocaine use.[11]. He was 99. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 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. He loved watching people and people listening to what he did. Though he never played in the Marshall Tucker Band, Tucker, who died on Jan. 20, was an important part of the rockers' history. 2 minutes to read. By Rachel DeSantis. The BCB team brings you the latest Breaking News, Contests, On This Day rock history stories, Classic Videos, retro-Charts and more. "It truly is," Gray agrees. 21.) 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. On 1982's Tuckerized, only two songs were written by band members; 'Sea, Dreams & Fairy Tales' by Toy Caldwell and 'Sweet Elaine' by George McCorkle. Thinking that the name was cool and catchy, the band decided to name themselves The Marshall Tucker Band right then and there. 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. . Arts and Events Center He's done so much, we should write a book.". George McCorkle, a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, said he and Caldwell grew up in Spartanburg and played music after school. They saw the name on a key ring where they used to rehearse and decided it would make a good name for their band. In 1972, Caldwell and McCorkle once again revamped the band's line-up, eventually settling on Tommy Caldwell on bass, George McCorkle rhythm guitar, vocalist Doug Gray, and Jerry Eubanks, flute/tenor sax, while adding Paul Riddle on drums; the new line-up adopted the name "Marshall Tucker Band." Mar 10 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium Choose wisely! Daniels' first of many collaborations with the Marshall Tucker Band came on the band's second album, A New Life,[14] which was released in 1974, and certified gold in 1977. [34] The band's 1998 album Face Down in the Blues consisted, as its title implies, entirely of blues music.[23]. Southern Rock has suffered some major losses through the years, most recently with the death of Gray's close friend Charlie Daniels. Who died in the Marshall Tucker Band? Marshall Tucker BandIn their own words: Spartanburg classic rockers Marshall Tucker Band talk legacy, future. accounts, the history behind an article. A big part of the current Marshall Tucker Band sound is the respected talent of Chris Hicks on guitar. Get concert info and buy tickets to The Marshall Tucker Band's upcoming concert at Wildwood Springs Lodge in Steelville on Oct 28, 2023, all at Bandsintown. "He's in a much better place now, and someday we will be in a better place with him too. In 1980 Tommy Caldwell died as a result of injuries from an auto accident. If you didnt? 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. He died on Friday 20th January 2023 after he suffered a fall. Sole original member Doug Gray brings the South Carolina band to Symphony Hall Feb. 4. Opening the concert is . Tenth, the final album to feature Tommy Caldwell, was their last Top 40 album. We're coming to Viaero Event Center on Friday, October 27. Former Toy Factory bassist Franklin Wilkie replaced Caldwell for their next album, Dedicated, but the band was never able to recapture its commercial success of the 1970s. [2], Returning to Spartanburg from his military service Caldwell formed the Toy Factory band with Franklin Wilkie, Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks.