The Marshall Tucker Band

In the early fall of 1973, The Marshall Tucker
Band was still a young and hungry group out to
prove themselves every time they hit the stage. “We were a bunch of young guys who didn’t know any boundaries,”
says founding member and longtime lead singer Doug Gray. As it turned out, the collective talents of The Marshall Tucker Band
took them very far indeed. Today, the band records on its own RAMBLIN’ RECORDS Label (distributed by Sony/RED) and
continues to release new and previously unreleased
material. Still led today by founding member and
lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and
place in music that will never be duplicated. Gray
is quick to credit the band’s current dynamic
members with carrying on the timeless essence of
The Marshall Tucker Band sound. Current
members include the highly respected drummer
B.B. Borden, a former member of both Mother’s
Finest and The Outlaws, multi instrumentalist
Marcus Henderson of Macon, Georgia, plays flute,
saxophone and keyboards in addition to lead and
background vocals, Pat Elwood on bass guitar, and Rick Willis on lead guitar and vocals, both of
Spartanburg SC, are disciples of the Caldwell
Brothers. Acclaimed lead guitarist and vocalist
Chris Hicks recently rejoined the band after a two-
year absence. Together they present a powerful
stage presence as they continue to tour the country
and continue to be powerful force in the world of
music. The Marshall Tucker Band got its start in
Spartanburg, S.C. when Gray teamed up with
Tommy Caldwell and Toy Caldwell, Paul T.
Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks,
borrowing the name “Marshall Tucker” from a
piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring
in their old rehearsal space. In 1972, they signed
with Capricorn Records, the same label that guided
The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and others
to national fame. The MTB opened shows for The
Allman Brothers in 1973, and the following year,
they began to headline their own shows across
America due to the platinum-plus sales of their
debut album. They toured constantly playing
sheds, stadiums, theaters, fairs, and festivals.
In years to come, The Marshall Tucker Band
would wow critics and influence major country acts like Alabama, The Kentucky Headhunters,
Confederate Railroad, and Travis Tritt with its
definitive blend of rock, rhythm & blues, jazz,
country, and gospel. Now, thanks to the expanding
scope of today’s music, a new generation of fans is
learning what the rest of their fans have known for
so long- that good music knows no boundaries.
Along the way, the band has recorded 22 studio
albums, three DVDs, three live albums and many
compilations.
In 1980, Tommy Caldwell died as a result of
injuries from an auto accident. In 1984, Toy
Caldwell, George McCorkle, and Paul Riddle
decided to retire. Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks
with the blessings of the other three continued to
record and perform as The Marshall Tucker Band.
1n 1993 Toy Caldwell, who wrote the majority of
their songs, passed away, as did George McCorkle
in 2007. Jerry Eubanks retired in 1996 and Doug
Gray continues to lead the current band of fine
musicians winning new young fans as well as
satisfying the loyal fans of several generations.
Years of rigorous tour schedules earned the band
the respect of critics and countless dedicated fans.
With hit singles like “Heard It In a Love Song,”
“Fire On The Mountain,” “Can’t You See,” and
“Take The Highway,” The Marshall Tucker Band
earned seven gold and three platinum albums
while they were on the Capricorn Records label.
During the 90’s, the MTB scored four hit singles
on Billboard’s country chart and one on Billboard’s
gospel chart. Their music has also been featured on
the soundtracks of movies such as Smokey and the
Bandit, Blow, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper,
Shipwrecked, Crank 2, Don’t Mess with Zohan,
Stop Loss, Swing Vote, Taking Chance and many
others as well as many TV Shows. “The buying public never really cared whether we were country or rock & roll” says Gray. “They called us a Southern rock band, but we have
always played everything from country, jazz,
blues, rock & roll and all things in-between. As
we’ve become older,” Gray grins, eyes twinkling,
“our Southern heritage seems to come out even
more. But, no matter how old we get, we can still
rock your socks off.” Gray also notes that people
have gotten “married and buried” to classic MTB
songs like “Desert Skies” and “Can’t You See”.
After 40 years, The Marshall Tucker Band
continues to be played on classic rock and country
radio, and they have never stopped touring.

More than 40 years after forming, The Marshall
Tucker Band continues to tour, performing more
than 130 live dates each year.
CMT (Country Music Television) named the
MTB’s “Can’t You See” the #4 Greatest Southern
Rock Song. The MTB’s debut album, The
Marshall Tucker Band, reigns as Gibson Guitar’s
#5 Greatest Southern Rock Album. UltimateClassicRock.com
crowned the MTB’s “Can’t You See” as the #1 Southern Rock Song and in 2013, GRAMMY® Magazine named the
group’s logo as one of the most distinctive and
iconic brands in music.