Formed in 1971 in South Carolina, USA, this ‘southern-rock’ style unit enjoyed national popularity from the early to late 70s. The band originally comprised Toy Caldwell (b. 13 November 1947, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, d. 25 February 1993, Moore, South Carolina, USA; lead guitar), his brother, Tommy Caldwell, (b. 1950, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, d. 28 April 1980; bass), vocalist/keyboard player Doug Gray, rhythm guitarist George McCorkle (b. Chester, South Carolina, USA, d. 29 June 2007, Lebanon, Tennessee, USA, d. 29 June 2007), saxophonist/flautist Jerry Eubanks and drummer Paul Riddle. There was no member named Marshall Tucker; the band was named after the owner of the room in which they practised their music.
Like the Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie and several others, the Marshall Tucker Band signed with Capricorn Records and established the southern rock style, which emphasized lengthy improvisations built around soul-influenced rock and boogie songs. Prior to the formation of the Marshall Tucker Band, from 1962-65, Toy Caldwell had played with a local group called the Rants. He was in the Marines from 1965-69, and then the Toy Factory, which also included Gray and Eubanks. McCorkle (another ex-Rant), Riddle and Tommy Caldwell were then added in 1972, and the new name was adopted.
The band’s first Capricorn album was self-titled and reached number 29 in the USA in 1973. The following yearWhere We All Belong was released, a two-album set featuring one studio and one live disc. Their highest-charting album, Searchin’ For A Rainbow, came in 1975. Their first single to chart was ‘This Ol’ Cowboy’, also in 1975. Most of the band’s albums were gold or platinum sellers through 1978, and the 1977 single ‘Heard It In A Love Song’ was their bestselling, reaching number 14 (although they were primarily considered an ‘album’ band). Following their 1978Greatest Hits album, the band switched to Warner Brothers Records and released three final chart albums through 1981.
The Marshall Tucker Band continued to perform after the death of Tommy Caldwell in an auto crash on 28 April 1980, but never recaptured their 70s success. (Caldwell was replaced by Franklin Wilkie, ex-Toy Factory) By the early 80s they had largely disappeared from the national music scene. Though the original line-up disbanded in 1983, various members have kept the band’s name alive and continue to record new material for their loyal fans.
