Until…the Death of Tommy Caldwell on April 22, 1980. Capricorn Records signed them and it started a collaboration, which produced multiple gold records and sold out arenas and stadiums across the world. Wet Willie shared the bill with The Marshall Tucker Band one night, were impressed of what they heard and introduced the band to Capricorn Record President Phil Walden. Tommy Caldwell was performing with different bands all his life and after returning home from military service in 1970 Tommy’s old friends from Spartanburg, Doug Gray, Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle, Paul Riddle and of course his brother Toy Caldwell formed The Marshall Tucker Band. The Caldwell brothers, fortunate enough to have a father who was a professional musician himself, were introduced to music early in their lives and Tommy picked up the bass when he was 12, old Kay hollowbody with single cutaway. Tommy Caldwell, although few years younger than his brother Toy, beside playing bass and singing backup vocals, was the leader of The Marshall Tucker Band and charismatic front man who worked the audience at live shows. He was survived by wife, Abbie Caldwell and their two children, Cassidy and Geneal Toy Caldwell passed away in his sleep Februfrom apparent heart failure. Charlie Daniel’s Blue Hat Record label issued a re-release of the album in 2000. They created timeless classics like Fire On The Mountain, Take the Highway and shared stages with legends like The Allman Brothers Band and Wet Willie.Īfter the original Marshall Tucker Band disbanded in 1983, Toy Caldwell formed his owned band named the Toy Caldwell Band, kept touring and eventually released one solo album in 1992, named Son of the South. After his return from ‘Nam, The Rants and New Generation merged into The Marshall Tucker Band.īetween 19, The Marshall Tucker Band released seven gold- and platinum albums. Between 19 Toy served with Marine Corps and was wounded in Vietnam. During that time, his brother Tommy Caldwell was also playing with other local musicians and had a band New Generation. Toy Caldwell started his music career in the 60’s with The Rants. During the Marshall Tucker Band’s induction to South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1995, lead vocalist Doug Gray even called Toy Caldwell ‘the backbone of The Marshall Tucker Band’. He wrote and sang “Can’t You See”, among other The Marshall Tucker Band classics and contributed a great deal to creation of the Marshall Tucker sound with his famous thumb pickin’ guitar playing style. Toy Caldwell was perhaps one of the most underrated guitar players of the 70’s. Here is a not even complete listing of those southern rockers who checked out early. Motorcycles, airplanes, or plane old drugs and alcohol, it seems that hard living is a mandatory exercise in Southern Rock culture. Absolute greats like Duane Allman and Ronnie vanZant bit the dust in their twenties, while many others like Hughie Thomasson, Billy Powell, Duane Roland, Billy Jones, Frankie and Dan Toler and many more were also plucked long before their legitimate expiration dates. Probably more than any qualifying grouping of musical genres, it can be said Southern Rock has a devastating propensity to find Rock and Roll Paradise much earlier in life.
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