Wednesday, August 22, 2001
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Wednesday, August 22, 2001 |
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Marshall Tucker Band comes to the Fred
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
There is not, nor has there ever been, a Marshall Tucker in the Marshall Tucker Band. Marshall Tucker was the name of a piano tuner whose name was on a key ring that the band members found in their rehearsal space. The Marshall Tucker Band will bring Southern rock sounds to Peachtree City this weekend, promising to rock your socks off. The band got its start in Spartanburg, S.C., in the early 1970s. It signed with capricorn Records, the label of the Allman Brothers and Wet Willie, in 1972 and released its first album, "The Marshall Tucker Band," in 1973. The band opened for the Allmans in 1973 and members found themselves headlining tours a year later, when their debut album had gone platinum. The original lineup featured Doug Gray, Tommy and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks. Over the next 10 years, the band released 13 albums, seven of which went gold and three of which went platinum. It is well known for the hit singles "Heard It In A Love Song," "Desert Skies," "Fire On The Mountain," "Take The Highway," and "Can't You See." There was a hiatus from 1983 to 1988 when the band didn't release an album, then came back in 1988 with the album "Still Holdin' On," followed up by "Southern Spirit" in 1990. Since 1990 the group released eight albums and continues to be a major draw with legions of fans. The lineup has changed a bit over the years. Doug Gray is the only remaining member from the original group and he is still the lead vocalist. The new members include guitarist Rusty Milner from The Artimus Pyle Band, Tim Lawter, a veteran bass player and songwriter, slide guitarist Stuart Swanlund and B.B. Borden on drums. Borden is a former member of Mother's Finest and The Outlaws. The band also added Clay Cook, Gray's nephew, to play keyboards, flute and saxophone. The band's most recent release was 1999's "Gospel" and it has scored hit singles on the Billboard country and gospel charts. The group's music also has been featured on movie soundtracks, such as "Smokey and the Bandit," "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper" and "Shipwrecked." Marshall Tucker brings its good-feeeling brand of Southern rock to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25. There are 35 standing-room-only tickets available for each night of performances this weekend. The tickets go on sale at 6:30 p.m. and allow people to watch the show from either the back or the dance floor. Call 770-631-0630. |
