Song:Heard It in A Love Song
Album:Greatest Hits
The southern rock group The Marshall Tucker Band were very popular in the 70s. The 1977 single Heard It In A Love Song was their biggest hit and their signature song. The band is still around but only lead singer Doug Gray remains from the original band. The Marshall Tucker Band were from Spartanburg, SC led by guitarist and songwriter Toy Caldwell. He started out in the 60s as leader of the band Toy Factory. The band was interrupted when most of the members including Caldwell served in Vietnam. By 1972, they had returned to Spartanburg and Caldwell and partner George McCorkle (rhythm guitar) decided to form a new band. This included members of Toy Factory including Caldwell's brother Tommy Caldwell on bass, lead singer Doug Gray and sax and flute player Jerry Eubanks. Drummer Paul Riddle was added. The name Marshall Tucker was on the wall of the rehearsal space they had rented. They didn't know it but the real Marshall Tucker was a local piano tuner. He had rented the space before them. They started playing local gigs and a demo produced by Wet Willie and Charlie Daniels Band producer Paul Hornsby got then a deal at Phil Walden's Capricorn label, the home of The Allman Brothers Band. The Marshall Tucker Band didn't have any hit singles in their early days. But college radio play and constant touring resulted in their first four albums being certified Gold. Heard It In A Love Song was their biggest hit single when it reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. And the 1977 album Carolina Dreams was certified Platinum. So they were going along very nicely when Tommy Caldwell died in a car crash on Apr. 22, 1980 at age 30. He was replaced by former Toy Factory drummer Franklin Wilkie. The band attempted to continue but it wasn't the same. Toy Caldwell wasn't writing like he used to. He seemed to lose the desire after his brother died and The Marshall Tucker Band split up in 1983. Gray and Eubanks continued the band but obviously it wasn't the same. You can get all their 70s hits on this Shout! Factory budget comp. Toy Caldwell released an album in 1992 and then he died of a heart attack due to cocaine use on Feb. 25, 1993 at age 45. George McCorkle released an album in 1999 and then died of cancer on June 29, 2007 at age 59. As I said, Doug Gray still leads The Marshall Tucker Band and they are currently on tour. Here's The Marshall Tucker Band performing Heard It in A Love Song at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ Feb. 26, 1977. This concert is available on DVD.
Thank-you so much Frank. The tragedy surrounding this band reminds of the Allman Brothers and Foghat. They lived hard , short lives. They drank, and abused drugs. I remember hearing that the band members of Foghat meant similar ends. For the record, I like a lot of southern rock.
ReplyDeleteI think you're confusing Foghat with another band. They were Brits and none of them died young as far as I know.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank for the clarification there. You are right. I just do not remember the name of that band at the moment.
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