Articles by Ryan
Ripple Effect Music Blog Reviews "Together Forever"
My dog died this weekend. 15 years old and as much of a trooper as you'd ever find. Full of heart and soul.
Now this being a music site, not a dog site, I won't burden you with too many details of Kimo's passing, rather, we're going to talk about the album that found it's way onto my turntable the morning after Kimo's death. An album that filled that perfect chasm of being musically uplifting, nearly transcendent in it's melodic reach, yet still deeply mournful and somber, capable of pulling from my deadened heart every last bit of raw emotion. Music that became the eulogy of my dog's passing, Music that became my teary catharsis.
I've always been a huge Marshall Tucker Band fan. Skyrocketed to fame on the back of their tour supporting The Allman Brothers in 1973, very few bands ever sounded like them. Southern through and through, the Marshall Tucker boys seemed to live the cowboy ethic, writing songs about cattle drives and long hard rides. Yet don't go to Marshall Tucker expecting country music. Sure there were traces of cowboy western deep within their mix, but The Marshall Tucker Band were so much more than that, effortlessly blending simply stellar musicianship, a true guitar hero, and their southern leanings with the heapin' textures of jazz and rock. More southern sounding than The Atlanta Rhythm Section, not as fierce as Molly Hatchet, less rebellious than Lynard Skynard, more focused than the Allman Brothers, more "real" than 38 Special, but less pop oriented than Firefall, they were a hard band to classify. None of that hindered their success in the '70's though, as the band released a series of 6 gold and platinum albums and the radio hit, "Heard it in a Love Song." Still, as the millennium has changed, it seems that the Marshall Tucker Band often gets left off that list of great southern bands, and that's a shame.
Besides a rock-steady rhythm section comprised of Tommy Caldwell and drummer Paul Riddle, MTB had three distinct secret weapons, all of which make their presence felt on Together Forever: the once-in-a-lifetime, deeply emotional and soulful voice of Doug Gray, the southern rock virtuosic guitar work of Toy Caldwell, and the jazzy flute and sax accompaniments of Jerry Eubanks. Put it all together and you get a sound unlike any other in the southern rock cannon. Country rock jazz. All of which led me to chose this album to plunk onto the turntable that mournful morning.
Now, I'm not gonna say that Together Forever is MTB's best album. It's not. That honor would most likely go to Carolina Dreams, or The Marshall Tucker Band (although I've always been partial to Tenth, and the heartbreak of a song, "See You One More Time"). Still Together Forever was the first MTB I came across as I dug for the perfect music that morning after my dog's passing; something not to harsh or aggressive, yet not maudlin and passive. I wanted something that still rocked, but felt reflective. Something soulful. And for that Together Forever, was like a gift from an angel.
Beginning with the chugging guitar of rhythm player George McCorkle, it only takes a few moments for MTB to arrive in all their glory. Toy adds in a little acoustic, feathered with Jerry's gentle flute. When Tommy's bass comes in, it runs in jazzy arpeggios, not galloping county tones. By the time Doug's instantly recognizable voice jumps into the foray, I'm lost. Sure the lyrics added an interesting sentiment to my harsh feelings of loss, "When the morning sun/melts the morning dew/I'll be loving you." But it wasn't sentimentality that clicked with me that day. It wasn't the rawness of the emotion that made me realize that I loved MTB even more than I thought I did. It was the music.
Doug Gray possesses a voice that embodies country soul. Effortlessly, he wrings emotion out of each word. It's nearly impossible to describe his singing. Slightly nasal in tone, but still deep from the belly. His phrasing is perfect, nearly jazz-like in it's approach. It's a voice that even on the happiest songs belays an underlying sadness, a deeper sorrow, a weathered melancholy. On that first song, "I'll Be Loving You," it was a voice that reached right out from the vinyl and caressed me, gently cajoling my own tears to join the band's.
While the band runs away with a chugging southern groove, Toy Caldwell shows us that he just may be the most under-appreciated southern guitar slinger of all time. Carrying a tone that would melt the Allman Brother's hearts, his guitar is clean and crisp, deeply expressive. Jazzy, rocking, soaring, Toy wrings the notes for every moment of emotion. Whether playing slow and melodic or blinding at virtuoso speed, his guitar doesn't sound like southern rock, like the Outlaws, or jazzy, but comfortably somewhere in between. And it's all done with his magical thumb, plucking away.
Doug and Toy reach perfection again with the mid-tempo "Love is a Mystery," both of them soaring into their performances. The addition of some spellbinding jazzy sax by Jerry Eubanks completes the picture, filling out this 7 minute jam of a song. Toy comes back after the sax, his tone elevating to some place that few guitars can ever go. Doug's voice, even here on a love song, is still as deeply affected as before. It's just the way the guys sings, the tone of his voice that to me just speaks of heartbreak. I've loved that voice since the first time I heard it, and coming to me that sad morning, it was like a sorrowful salve to my wounds.
If you've never taken the time to explore the Marshall Tucker Band's vast catalog, don't miss it. If the thought of a blend of southern rock and jazz that's more concerned with soul and melody than simple blazing guitar solos appeals to you then Marshall Tucker is waiting. They were there for me that morning, and now they've found a place even deeper in my heart.
And to Kimo, rest easy, my boy. The angels are with you.
--Racer
Marshall Tucker Band Draws Crowd to SC Motorcycle Rally in Hometown Concert
By Trevor Anderson trevor.anderson@shj.com
Published: Saturday, October 9, 2010
A banner of stars hung above the main stage at Barnet Park on Friday night as Spartanburg's the Marshall Tucker Band belted out “Blue Ridge Mountain Sky.”
And for the nearly 3,000 people in attendance — as well as the band — it was proof that “home's always the best place to go.”
The group, founded in Spartanburg nearly four decades ago, served up the main course of music and fun during a headline concert for this weekend's 2010 South Carolina Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rally.
“This is wonderful,” said Linda Poag, ticket sales coordinator for the concert. “Everyone is having a great time. The weather is perfect and the community has come out because they want to see their hometown boys.”
Poag said ticket sales for the event started to pick up at 3 p.m., right about the time the more than 1,000 bikers in town for the rally started to wind down a day full of activities, including demo rides, racing simulators, games and contests.
Just before the concert, hundreds of people meandered up and down newly paved streets connecting the rally's host hotel the Marriott at Renaissance Park to Barnet Park. The streets were lined with vendors selling everything from biker garb and gear to hot and tasty food.
HOG coordinators for the state rally hope to make Spartanburg the host city for one of the organization's upcoming national rallies, an event that could bring in between 15,000 and 20,000 members.
New MTB Box Set Available to Pre-Order!
MTB: The Capricorn Years Box Set
Just in time for the holidays, Ramblin' Records brings you the ultimate MTB collection!
MTB: The Capricorn Years Box Set contains:
- The first 7 albums of MTB's career containing all of their biggest hits; all remastered with extensive liner notes.
- It also contains the 3 disc CD/DVD "Carolina Dreams Tour '77", which was recorded during their groundbreaking tour of 1977.
- The package also contains a limited edition 2011 MTB calendar, suitable for framing, all for a special low price!
Contained in an attractive box for gifting, this extraordinary new value is just in time or the holidays! Pre-Order now and receive it in time to give a holiday gift to your favorite Tuckerhead!
The Box Set is in our web store now, just mouse over to MERCHANDISE and then scroll down an click on ALBUMS to place your order now!
Or Click Here:
http://marshalltucker.com/i-5941672-mtb-the-capricorn-years-box-set.html
ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE TO SET SAIL LATER THIS YEAR WITH ALL-STAR BAND LINE-UP
ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE TO SET SAIL LATER THIS YEAR WITH ALL-STAR BAND LINE-UP
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION TAPS
ZZ TOP, GEORGE THOROGOOD, THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND AND OTHERS TO ROCK THE WAVES ABOARD LIBERTY OF THE SEAS
The first-ever Rock Legends Cruise in support of the work of the Native American Heritage
Association is slated to depart Fort Lauderdale on December 1 of this year aboard The Royal
Caribbean Line’s Liberty of the Seas. Headlining the five day cruise is "That little ol' band from
Texas," Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and George Thorogood and The Destroyers who bring
their “Bad To The Bone” approach to the high seas.
The unprecedented cruise will benefit NAHA’s mission to provide emergency assistance and selfhelp
programs to the Sioux Native Americans living on reservations in South Dakota. Along with ZZ
Top and Thorogood, the Rock Legends Cruise includes multiple performances from John Kay and
Steppenwolf, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Johnny Winter,
Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Blackfoot, Pat Travers, and SwampDaWamp.
It is expected that upwards of 3,200 music fans will be aboard the ship, one of the most biggest,
fastest and luxurious passenger vessels in service today, served by a crew of 1,300 on 18 decks.
With a gross tonnage of 160,000, it can truly be said that the rock-themed benefit voyage will be a
"heavy" experience for both bands and fans. The ship, almost as long as four football fields, cruises
at 21.6 knots, is scheduled for port stops in the Bahamas that include Coco Cay and Nassau. The
main attraction of the cruise is, of course, multiple performances by the Rock Legends bands aboard
in four different on-board venues, The Deck, The Platinum Theater, Studio B and The Sphinx. The
ship also features on-board surfing thanks to its FlowRider wave generator, an ice skating rink, a
boxing ring, a full-sized volleyball/basketball court, cantilevered whirlpools and range of gourmet
restaurants.
NAHA President David G. Myers commented, “We are very excited to be offering music fans and
friends a unique opportunity to experience five days of brilliant musical performances from these true
Rock Legends in a setting that is without equal. Our hope is that this innovative approach to
fundraising will increase our ability to serve Native American communities in need tenfold.”
Rock Legends Cruise info/ticket purchase: www.rocklegendscruise.com
Rock Legends Cruise toll free number (888) 666-1499
About the artists:
ZZ Top – Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard came together as ZZ Top in Houston, TX 41
years ago and have the distinction of being the longest running unchanged personnel line-up of any
major band in history. Their numerous hits include “LaGrange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man,”
“Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and others. The band has been named Official Heroes of the State
of Texas and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 by Keith Richards of the
Rolling Stones.
George Thorogood and The Destroyers – George Thorogood has released twenty-six albums over
the course of a career that began thirty-five years ago in his native Delaware. Among the hits
associated with Thorogood are “Bad to the Bone,“ “Move It On Over,” “House Rent Boogie,” “Who
Do You Love,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” Band members include Jim Suhler, Buddy
Leach, Jeff Simon and Billy Blough. The last named members have been with The Destroyers since
the mid-1970s.
John Kay and Steppenwolf – The origins of the band date back to 1968 when East German-born
John Kay (nee Joachim Fritz Krauledat) formed the original Steppenwolf in Los Angeles. Their initial
hits included the biker anthem “Born To Be Wild,” (featured in the film Easy Rider) as well as “Magic
Carpet Ride, “Rock Me” and “Monster.” The band’s current line-up includes Michael Wilk, Ron Hurst,
Danny Johnson and, of course, “the alpha wolf” John Kay.
The Marshall Tucker Band – The band, since its formation in Spartanburg, SC in 1971 has been one
of the standard-bearers of ‘Southern Rock.” Their eclectic approach which fused jazz and country
with rock has earned them legions of fans as did their touring with the Allman Brothers Band. Their
albums have sold in the millions and their big hits “Can’t You See” and “Heard It In A Love Song” are
staples of the classic rock radio format. The current MTB line-up is Doug Gray, Pat Elwood, B.B.
Borden, Marcus James Henderson, Stuart Swanlund and Rick Willis.
Dickey Betts & Great Southern - A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts is
the writer and voice of the group’s breakthrough hit “Ramblin Man.” He also wrote the band’s
Grammy-winning “Jessica” and, among other compositions, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and
“Blue Sky.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and is listed by Rolling
Stone magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Foghat - Founded in the UK as a spin-off from Savoy Brown in the 1970s, Foghat’s bluesrock/
boogie approach earned the band five gold albums. Their hits include “I Just Wanna Make Love
To You” and “Fool For The City” and their current Anglo-American line-up, including founding
member Roger Earl, has been in place for the past six years.
Johnny Winter – Beaumont, TX was where Winter began a musical career that is totally rooted in the
blues. Widely known along his native Gulf Coast, his big break came in 1968 when Mike Bloomfield
invited him to join with him at the Fillmore East for a “Super Session” concert that included Al
Kooper. He was soon signed directly to Columbia Records and given what was then the largest
advance in the history of the recording industry. He was a featured performer at the Woodstock
Festival in 1969 and was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1988
Molly Hatchet – The band was founded in Jacksonville, FL in 1975 and would, after signing with Epic
Records, chalked up a string of three consecutive Platinum-certified album: their self-titled
debut, Flirtin’ with Disaster, the follow up that went Double Platinum, and Beatin’ The Odds. Today,
Molly Hatchet is Bobby Ingram, Phil McCormack, John Galvin, Dave Hlubek, Tim Lindsey and Shaw
Beamer.
The Outlaws – Formed in Tampa, FL in the earlier 1970’s, The Outlaws broke through nationally
with “Green Grass and High Tides” and earned a reputation as one of the greatest touring live bands
of all time fuels by guitar-driven country-rock and stellar three-part harmonies. Today’s Outlaws are
original singer/guitarist Hendry Paul and original drummer Monte Yoho with Chris Anderson, Billy
Crain, Randy Threet and Jon Coleman.
Blackfoot – Jacksonville was also the site of Blackfoot’s founding. The band transcended the
Southern Rock genre with its hard-edged approach. The group’s name is a reflection of the Native
American heritage of three of its founding members including Greg T. Walker who is of Creek
ancestry and remains with the band today. Other current members include Mike Estes, Charlie
Hargrett and Kurt Pietro.
Pat Travers – As a child, the Toronto-born guitar great saw Jimi Hendrix live in Ottawa in 1968, an
event that changed the course of his life. He was a proficient guitarist by the age of 14 and moved
to London to pursue his rock ‘n’ roll dreams in the 1970s and has released more than 30 albums
during the course of his career. His music is metal-infused so it’s no surprise that Metallica’s Kirk
Hamment called Travers one of his favorite guitarists.
SwampDaWamp – Though their history does not extend as far back as the other Rock Legends
Cruise bands, this six-piece group from Charlotte, NC band reflects the blues/rock/country heritage
that all of the bands have in common. Their blue-collar ethos and fun-loving sound make the party
band, nonpareil. Their self-assigned mission is to “ROCK THIS COUNTRY!”
About the Native American Heritage Association:
Since 1993, Native American Heritage Association worked with Lakota (Sioux) Reservations
strengthening the Native American communities and families one member at a time. The challenges
are difficult as unemployment rates on the Reservations are at 80%, 70% have no transportation, the
average life expectancy is 58 years of age, infant mortality is 10 times the national average and 31%
of Native American children under the age of 4 are obese because of lack of proper nutrition. NAHA,
a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, in partnership with Feeding America and Gifts In Kind
International, has provided food, clothing, heating assistance, personal care items and home care
items to the many Native Americans in need. NAHA has a 17-year history of executing its mission in
a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charities. Thanks to its financially sound
business practices, NAHA has earned 6 consecutive 4 star rating
with www.charitynavigator.org 92.4% of all NAHA revenue goes toward its program services. More
at www.naha-inc.org
Pure Southern Rock - Marshall Tucker Band - Greatest Hits
Having grown up in the hey day of southern rock I remember when Bunky Odom, who was the Allman Brothers Band’s Tour Manager in 1969/71, sent his kid brother Robert promo copies of the first Allman Brothers Band and the first Boz Scaggs LP’s and which I traded a Four Tops live album for them because Robert liked the Motown scene and did not like that hippy music. LOL
From that day forward I was into southern rock, however when The Marshall Tucker Band came along with Can’t You See, I really did not like it. I liked other songs by them but not that classic track from their first LP and maybe their most popular track. As time rolled on and the second Marshall Tucker album came out, they had grown and matured and were really the second best Southern rock band, yes ahead ofLynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie, and Charlie Daniels Band of the known groups. There were plenty of excellent bands that faded into obscurity like Cowboy, Hydra, Potliquor, Swallow, and Eric Quincy Tate just to name a few that could have competed with the southern rock elite.
The Marshall Tucker Band proved that they were one of the best of the southern rockers, with a diversity that few other than the Allman Brothers displayed. MTB meshed together rock, soul, blues and jazz like the Allmans did, but MTB put more country into some of their songs. This pushed them into a slightly different direction and they were able to produce more hit records. Talent sometimes is not appreciated until time shows the way. For anyone who has never heard this band there is not a bad song on this CD, oh sure some are more enjoyable than others but that is personal taste.
Music is adventure, a journey, or a passage back into time. The journey that Marshall Tucker Band takes you on is one of the most enjoyable you will ever want to hear if you like a band who can play a diverse array of music. Looking back in time I actually listen to Marshall Tucker as often as I listen to the Allman Brothers. Standing tall playing his guitar Toy Caldwell was a fine guitar player, with great musicians playing along with him and Doug Gray with his soulful vocals pushing MTB in ways others never went. The Marshall Tucker Band stands the test of time and sound just as good today as the day they were recorded. Enjoy the Greatest Hits and believe me they are all hits. Sit yourself down into your easy chair on the porch and turn back the hands of time.
Review by Vernon Tart
DIRECT LINK: http://www.puresouthernrock.com/album-reviews/marshall-tucker-band-greatest-hits
Digital Rodeo - Greatest Hits by The Marshall Tucker Band
Greatest Hits by The Marshall Tucker Band
Wow…what an album! The Marshall Tucker Band has influenced many modern country stars through their music over the years; such greats as Garth Brooks, Toby Keith Randy Houser and The Zac Brown Band to name just a few. When you put together a collection of songs with some of the classics like “Heard it In A Love Song” and “Can’t You See” along with “This Ol’ Cowboy”, you are sure to get some fires stirred up.
In celebration of 40 years of music, the Greatest Hits album with 14 of the best Marshall Tucker Band songs has been released through the band’s Ramblin’ Records and Shout! Factory and produced by Ron Rainey and Buddy Strong. Greatest Hits also features a guest spot from Charlie Daniels on fiddle on “In My Own Way”. Many fans may own all five of the MTB past albums with all the songs but this is a great addition for any collection. It just might bring in a whole new group of “younger” people as new fans for the classic band.
For more information see www.marshalltucker.com
Greatest Hits by The Marshall Tucker Band
1. Take The Highway
2. Blue Ridge Mountain Sky
3. In My Own Way
4. Fire On The Mountain
5. Heard It In A Love Song
6. Ramblin'
7. Searchin' For A Rainbow
8. I Should Have Never Started Lovin' You
9. 24 Hours At A Time
10. Long Hard Ride
11. Can't You See
12. Too Stubborn
13. This Ol' Cowboy
14. Desert Skies
DIRECT LINK: http://www.digitalrodeo.com/articles/1945#fbid=z15o6c3UjT0
Digital Rodeo - Soul of the South by Doug Gray
Soul of the South by Doug Gray
At the same time The Marshall Tucker Band is releasing their Greatest Hits album, Doug Gray has also released Soul of the South. The story behind this album is in 1981, Doug Gray was offered an “opportunity to sign a solo record deal by top music executives to sing pop and soul songs which were very popular at the time”. It was shortly after Tommy Caldwell had passed away and The Marshall Tucker Band was taking a break. During the down time, Gray chose 8 songs and worked with Billy Sherrill to put together an album of Pop/Rock and R&B songs. The MTB guys also came to the studio and lent their vocals for the project. Gray stopped short of finishing the album, never signed the solo deal and The Marshall Tucker Band went ahead with their next album.
Gray notes that the Spiral Staircase’s 1969 hit “More Today Than Yesterday” was added to the album after Billy Sherrill bet Gray he couldn’t hit the high notes in the song.
Today, the album has been completed and is ready for all that love Doug Gray and The Marshall Tucker Band (and everyone else) to hear. The album has great instrumentation, the vocals are amazing and a must for everyone’s CD collection. I personally think “Easy Listening” should be added to the list of music types on this album.
For more information see marshalltucker.com
Soul Of The South by Doug Gray
1. Let Me Be The Fool
2. Who
3. Sandman
4. Guilty
5. Don’t Blame It On The Rain
6. Never Enough
7. Still Thinking of You
8. More Today Than Yesterday
DIRECT LINK: http://www.digitalrodeo.com/articles/1945#fbid=z15o6c3UjT0
Pure Southern Rock - Doug Gray, Soul of the South
I grew up listening to soul music, and was a big fan of the artists that Doug Gray states as his influences. This CD was recorded in the early 1980’s and certain parts have that feel to it and seem stuck in time but most of the songs are as valid today as they were when they were recorded.
The singer of The Marshall Tucker Band has turned his attention to music of a different style, dipped in the R&B of his and Toy Caldwells youth. The dip into soul by Doug forces MTB fans to face the fact that this band could easily have emerged as a soul band instead of a southern rock act. Let Me Be the Fool leads off the CD with straight ahead mid tempo soul rocker and then Sandman has a Delbert McClinton, Boz Scaggs feel to it as does Guilty with its straight ahead R&B.
Don’t Blame It On the Rain has a more pop approach but never loses its roots feel. Though the CD never really breaks new ground for R&B or soul music it certainly is a different feel than anything Marshall Tucker every did. Never Enough explores classic Soul sounds with a bit of slap funk. Turning it into an upbeat happy track, that is hard not to enjoy. The last track is a popular classic track and Doug does a solid version of it.
I listened to this album twice before really digging the grooves he laid down but make no mistake about it Doug Gray proves he could have been a soul singer as this CD is a fine addition to any collection, specially soul music fans of the 70’s and 80’s should dig this music but Marshall Tucker fans should take the plunge as the backing band is superb and he had Toy playing lead guitar and to hear Toy Caldwell in this venue is as interesting as hearing Doug. This disc wears on you with each play and you will find yourself just digging the groove. Doug Gray is the Soul of the South.
Review by Vernon Tart
DIRECT LINK: http://www.puresouthernrock.com/album-reviews/doug-gray-soul-of-the-south
Goupstate - Doug Gray's musical roots show on just-released solo debut
Last Modified: Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:34 p.m.
The Marshall Tucker Band was at a crossroads in 1981. The hugely successful Spartanburg-based Southern rock group had just lost its bassist, Tommy Caldwell, who died the previous April at age 30 in an automobile crash.
"Tommy had just passed away, and nobody (in the Marshall Tucker Band) really knew what the next step was," said singer Doug Gray, who has kept the group going to this day.
While the Marshall Tucker Band — whose original members also included guitarists Toy Caldwell and George McCorkle, drummer Paul Riddle and saxophone/flutist Jerry Eubanks — picked up the pieces, Gray used the down time to pursue a different musical interest.
Although there had always been a touch of soul in Gray's voice, his lifelong passion for R&B music had not been fully showcased. So in 1981, Gray decided it was time for his first solo project.
The results of the sessions — recorded in Spartanburg at Creative Arts Studio, which he co-owned — are just now seeing the light of day. Ramblin' Records, in conjunction with Shout! Factory, released the 30-year-old "lost" material last week as an eight-song mini album called "Soul of the South."
Unlike the country- and blues-tinged rock 'n' roll for which the Marshall Tucker Band was most famous, "Soul of the South" has an uptown feel firmly rooted in the then-contemporary pop and R&B sounds of the early 1980s.
From the opening strains of the soulful leadoff track, "Let Me Be the Fool," it's immediately clear that Gray created something sure to take many Marshall Tucker Band fans by surprise.
The material was chosen from hundreds of demos compiled by famed engineer Billy Sherrill and a host of Nashville, Tenn.-based publishers.
Arguably the best songs in the collection, "Sandman" and "Guilty," have an atmospheric, after-hours touch, while upbeat tunes such as "Who" and "Never Enough" have a synthesized funkiness reflective of the era.
The aching ballad "Don't Blame It on the Rain," has a Billy Joel-like pop tinge, and another ballad, "Still Thinking of You," was co-written by a then little-known Michael Bolton.
"It's different," Gray said of the CD. "People have said that they couldn't believe that I could actually do that kind of stuff."
Toy Caldwell, McCorkle, Riddle and Eubanks all contributed to the project, along with bassist Franklin Wilkie (who joined the Marshall Tucker Band after Tommy Caldwell's death) and pianist Ronnie Godfrey (who later became part of the band).
In the liner notes to the newly released CD, Gray said, "These songs are important because they are the only songs by the five living members of the band at that time that have never been released."
The album's final track is a cover of the Spiral Staircase's 1969 hit "More Today than Yesterday."
"Billy Sherrill bet me five dollars that I couldn't hit the high notes, and that's why I recorded that song," Gray said. "I wasn't going to let him beat me on that."
Gray's only regret about the project is that he didn't record more than eight songs.
"Add three more songs, and I would have been a happy camper. But I couldn't find anybody else to bet me anything," Gray said with a laugh.
Actually, the brakes were put on the solo project when the Marshall Tucker Band went to work on its next album. Though he had plenty of major-label interest for his solo work, Gray decided the band he had helped form nearly a decade earlier was more important to him.
"I had a decision to make, and it's evident 30 years later that I chose to put (the solo album) in the can," Gray, 63, said.
Memories of R&B
While Gray's solo recordings might have seemed out of character to casual Marshall Tucker Band observers at the time, the material was likely seen as a natural progression to those who knew him best.
Gray, a 1967 graduate of Dorman High School, had long been an R&B devotee, having devoured music by such artists as Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson and Al Green.
Some of his favorite memories are of him and Toy Caldwell traveling to Greensboro, N.C., to attend the Schlitz Salute to Jazz festivals in the late 1960s. "That was even pre-Toy Factory," Gray said, referring to the group that morphed into the Marshall Tucker Band.
"You could go to Greensboro for about two dollars worth of gas," he said. "You'd hear Thelonious Monk, but there would also be people like the Chambers Brothers on a jazz stage. That was the first time I ever heard Dionne Warwick, and I thought ‘There's no prettier voice than that.' "
Gray also remembers spending many sleepless nights as a teenager absorbing the sounds of Nashville, Tenn.-based radio station WLAC, which specialized in R&B and soul music and whose signal could be picked up in Spartanburg during the wee hours.
In the early 1960s, he attended a James Brown concert in the downstairs area of the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.
"I went in through one of the side doors and was probably only the second white guy there," Gray said. "But I was always accepted by black people because of my interest in the music."
Gray said Brown's electrifying performance that evening was so powerful, "it changed my life."
As a teenager, Gray frequently visited the Upstairs Club, an intimate downtown Spartanburg venue that hosted some of the most legendary soul singers of the 1960s.
"That's where I saw Jerry Butler; that's where I saw the Tams and the Four Tops," said Gray, who also recalled his parents throwing a surprise party for him at the Upstairs Club when he returned home from military service in Vietnam in 1968.
After the Upstairs Club closed, XL 100 became a favorite hangout for Gray to experience soul music performances.
And even before he was old enough to go to clubs on his own, Gray remembers being bitten by the R&B bug.
"My dad worked in the mill, and on Saturday, we'd all go up to Rainbow Lake," Gray said. "Mom would pack a picnic. There was no such thing as picking up a bucket back then. You couldn't just go to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Somebody had to fix that stuff. … But what I remember most is the jukebox that was up there."
Gray starts singing, "gonna find her, gonna find her," reciting the famous refrain from the Coasters 1957 hit "Searchin'."
"Those were the kind of songs that would make everybody run toward the jukebox," he said as his face lit up with a nostalgic smile.
Thirty years after recording the material that comprises "Soul of the South," Gray said his affection for R&B music was the driving force behind the project.
"I just wanted to do something that showed my true background," he said. "And my background was going to places like the Upstairs Club."
Along with "Soul of the South," a new Marshall Tucker Band "Greatest Hits" package — to celebrate the group's 40th anniversary — was released last week. The 14-track collection features such classics as "Take the Highway," "Fire on the Mountain" and "Heard It in a Love Song."
Direct Link: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20110410/ARTICLES/110409763/1097?p=1&tc=pg
The Tennessean - Marshall Tucker Band’s Doug Gray takes a trip down memory lane
With ’70s radio hits including “Can’t You See,” “Heard It in a Love Song,” and “Fire on the Mountain,” it’s been more than 30 years since the Marshall Tucker Band has seen commercial success. But the band’s singer Doug Gray believes the fans are still there, and he wants to help them — and himself — remember the good ole days.
Gray says it’s for them that he recently released The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits and new eight-song CD Soul of the South, a decades old recording of him singing R&B songs.
Gray recorded the songs shortly after band member Tommy Caldwell died in a car crash in 1981 and then put them in a vault until someone reminded him about them a few months ago.
“I did that record because I had loved rhythm and blues stuff ever since I had gone to see Dionne Warwick in 1965,” he says. “Someone said, ‘What ever happened to that stuff you did?’ So, I brought it back out, shined it up a little bit and put it out.”
As for the greatest hits package, Gray says: “Everybody who bought those records has a memory,” he says. “We created more good memories than I ever would have thought. Marshall Tucker started in high school, and all we wanted to do was have enough money to buy beer on the weekend. It wasn’t because we had talent. We’re just lucky people liked our little bowl of soup we have our personalities mixed into.”
Both albums are in stores now.
DIRECT LINK: http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2011/04/08/marshall-tucker-bands-doug-gray-takes-a-trip-down-memory-lane/
Roughstock - Doug Gray, Soul Of The South
By: Matt Bjorke
In addition to releasing the Marshall Tucker Band’s Greatest Hits this week, Doug Gray also has unleashed “Soul of the South,” an album that is certain to surprise some fans of the band as it presents Doug Gray in a different, albeit completely fitting, light. The story behind Soul of the South is interesting in that it was recorded not long after Tommy Caldwell had passed away and The Marshall Tucker Band was taking a break; in 1981. Offered the chance to record an album of then-popular pop and R&B songs, Gray selected 8 tracks and worked with Billy Sherrill and Ron Rainey to craft the record. The four other MTB members all joined in performing on the album as well.
It’s a very interesting look into a ‘long-lost’ recording from an era that was heavy on synthesized keyboards and features some interesting songs including “Who” written by Roger Cook (“I Just Wanna Dance With You”) and Earl Bud Lee (who would years later write “Friends in Low Places” and “Who Are You When I’m Not Lookin’). 80’s country heavyweight songwriters Randy Goodrum and DaveLoggins contribute “Don’t Blame It On The Roain” while a then-unknown Michael Bolton contributed the power ballad “Still Thinking of You.” A piece of Marshall Tucker Band lore, Soul of the South was recorded for major label deal that was later turned down in 1981 and thus, the sessions were never completed, leaving these eight recordings. For people who love the Marshall Tucker Band, this is likely a must have and for people who like 1980s pop and R&B, you may dig this record as well. It’s a quality endeavor and as the last remaining unreleased sides from Marshall Tucker Band members, it’s an interesting historical document as well.
DIRECT LINK: http://www.roughstock.com/reviews/doug-gray-soul-of-the-south
Roughstock - The Marshall Tucker Band, Greatest Hits
By: Matt Bjorke Last Updated: April 7, 2011 10:04 AM
With classic songs like “Heard it In A Love Song” and “Can’t You See,” The Marshall Tucker Band had an influence on a wide variety of modern country stars, from multi-decade stars like Garth Brooks, Toby Keith and Mark Chesnutt to more recent stars like Randy Houser, The Zac Brown Band and Gretchen Wilson. So it makes great sense for us, then, to be highlighting the re-issued and expanded release of the Marshall Tucker Band’s Greatest Hits.
Released through the band’s Ramblin’ Records and Shout! Factory, the new expanded edition of Greatest Hits is an altogether different animal than the 8-track one K-Tel put out a time ago. It features the single versions of the classic hits like “Can’t You See,” “This Ol’ Cowboy” and “Heard It In A Love Song” along with a sprinkling of other classic country rockers like the expansive opening “Take The Highway.” A true band in the sense that all the musicians were allowed solos and periods within many of the songs from the group’s peak period of time as Capricorn Recording artists, when the original members Doug Gray, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle, Paul Riddle and Jerry Eubanks were all in the band. When you consider that feat, it’s hard not to think of The Zac Brown Band as a modernized version of The Marshall Tucker Band. It’s also hard to fathom that their peak output of four years is better than the output many other bands have a decade or longer to achieve.
To balance out the hits, Doug Gray, producer Ron Rainey and Buddy Strong have added in some delightful ‘album cuts’ like “In My Own Way,” complete with a fantastic guest spot from Charlie Daniels on Fiddle and the jazzy “I Should Have Never Started Lovin’ You.” While fans of The Marshall Tucker Band may already own these songs and could probably make playlists of the album on their own, for newer and/or younger fans or people wanting just one album from this versatile band, there’s not a finer, more complete compilation of The Marshall Tucker Band’s music to own than this fantastic and expanded edition of Greatest Hits.
DIRECT LINK: http://www.roughstock.com/reviews/marshall-tucker-band-greatest-hits
Cashbox Magazine - Soul of the South
With this new release, the Marshall Tucker Band's Doug Gray goes from southern rock into more of an R&B vibe. Gray exhibits blue-eyed soul like Daryl Hall and Michael McDonald throughout the whole album.
It was recorded with all of the original Marshall Tucker Band members, except for Tommy Caldwell who died the year before, as the back-up band and while they were in-between record deals in 1981. Then it was later re-mastered by veteran studio session players in Nashville and has been tucked away for 30 years and is just now being released.
There are eight R&B covers ranging from "More Today Then Yesterday," originally done by the Spiral Staircase's in 1969, which showcases Gray's soulful upbeat vocals. He then slows the tempo with "Still Thinking of You," where his sensuality peaks.
It is everything you would expect out of early '80s R&B: driving funky bass, synthesizers and a vast vocal range. To a traditional Marshall Tucker fan, this album may seem cheesy. But you can hear Gray's soul all throughout his regular southern rock music and also "Soul of the South."
1. LET ME BE THE FOOL
2. WHO
3. SANDMAN
4. GUILITY
5. DON'T BALME IT ON THE RAIN
6. NEVER ENOUGH
7. STILL THINKING OF YOU
8. MORE TODAY THEN YESTERDAY
Joseph Hett
No Depression Review - Soul Of The South
Soul Of The South (Shout! Factory)
The Marshall Tucker Band's Doug Gray
A Review
Jim Moulton
This is an eight song EP, that Doug Gray recorded with the other remaining members of the MTB, except for Tommy Caldwell, who had died in a vehicle accident. This was a project of R&B songs that he was working on for a major label. The songs were picked from a large number of catalog demos. They're recorded by country great recording engineer of Nashville, Billy Sherrill in Spartanburg. The band was in between labels and Doug was using this time for the project, intentions were for it to be a full album, but the MTB was signed by Warner Brothers and he felt his responsibility to move on with the band. Pianist Ronnie Godfrey, and local guitarist Rusty Milner were also involved in the project, Milner later took Toy's place as lead guitarist for the MTB.
Gray says that he picked seven songs from three hundred demos. He said he did "More Today Than Yesterday", because Sherrill bet he could not hit the high notes. Gray then takes the tape to Nashville and changes it, adding, almost a totally different band. Riddle is still very evident as the only drummer. There is a song that I like alot called "Sandman," a bouncy sounding, jazzy piece that sounds like Toy on lead guitar, some very nice lead guitar, I might add. I can't say that I hear Toy anywhere else on the CD.
"Let Me Be The Fool" is another jazzy sounding number. It has some great sax on it, which I am thinking is Jerry Eubanks. Bassist Bob Wray was added in Nashville and sounds good playing with Riddle. "Who" has a lot of synth in the mix and he has some backup singers called "The Cherry Sisters," who add a Motown touch to the mix.
"Guilty" is a funk, disco type song with funky disco groove going on. Doug Gray sounds good on this type of material.
"Don't Blame it on The Rain" has lots of orchestration from the synthes. The funky bass is excellent, good guitar here, definitely not sounding like Toy or George.
"Still Thinking Of You" (Michael Bolton) sounds good, excellent song by the star to be. It is a slower number, fit's Doug's voice well.
"More Today Than Yesterday" is one of the best sounding songs on the EP. Doug's vocals really do justice to the popular cover song. The rhythm guitar could be McCorkle, sounds like his style. This CD along with the New MTB Greatest Hits CD are both available on Amazon and the MTB website. This CD is a good recording in the end, I would have loved to hear the version before it left Spartanburg.
Houston Press
While they were often tagged strictly as "Southern Rockers" after starting out in the early '70s, the Marshall Tucker Band also freely incorporated blues, jazz, country, and other sounds into their music. They had a flute player, for chrissakes!
Led by guitarist and chief songwriter Toy Caldwell, the group's classic six-man lineup scored a string of hits including "Take the Highway," "Fire on the Mountain," "Heard It in a Love Song," "Searchin' for a Rainbow," "This Ol' Cowboy," and "Can't You See."
When Toy's bassist brother Tommy died in 1980 from injuries sustained in a car wreck, the band soldiered on before splitting up in 1983. With Toy's blessing, singer Doug Gray and flute/sax player Jerry Eubanks resurrected the group five years later, continuing the MTB's "long hard ride" on stage and in the studio. A new greatest-hits compilation has just been released, along with Soul of the South, a Gray solo effort.
Rocks Off spoke with the affable vocalist and torch-bearer from his home in Spartanburg, S.C., where the band started, about Toy's legacy, souvenir women's panties, and the realMarshall Tucker.
Rocks Off: You're playing here on a double bill with Blue Oyster Cult. How the hell did that booking happen?
Doug Gray: You're telling me (laughs)! We have played festivals with them before and I'm familiar with them. But we used to open for bands like Golden Earring and Slade in the early days. We'll see how the show works!
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RO: As the only original member still in the band, do you feel an extra weight in terms of carrying on the legacy?
DG: Of course. I think it's very important for me to please the audience. And if I was the one that was no longer around and any other of the original members wanted to keep it going, I'd roll over in my box and go "Good job!" (laughs).
I mean, this ain't a jerk-off contest. But one of the guys has been with me for 27 years. I even had my nephew for awhile [Clay Cook], but he's in the Zac Brown Band now. He's best friends with John Mayer. John came over and had Thanksgiving with us several times. We still sell music - and downloads!
What it boils down to is that if you keep pleasing the audience, they'll keep coming back. When we started, we just wanted to make enough money to buy beer.
RO: What about women?
DG: Well (laughs) we don't sell Marshall Tucker panties at our shows for nothing! But things have changed. Instead of people bringing an extra bottle of booze or a line of cocaine to party with Marshall Tucker, they bring whatever their wife cooked.
RO: Tell me about Soul of the South.
Gray: I went into this studio with some of the guys from the band and I wanted to do something different with some of the [soul music] that I'd loved. We had B.B. King open for us on a lot of dates. And I loved watching him. B.B. told me I needed to let some of that soul out of my body!
It was recorded at a time we weren't sure if the band was going to continue after Tommy died. Toy and I used to go to all these jazz and blues festivals, us country rednecks, then we went to service in Vietnam and came back. And we learned a lot from watching those guys. I still miss Toy a great deal.
RO: Which song do you still like singing the best personally?
DG: I have to start with the one that I have the audience sing first, and it's the one Toy used to sing, and that's "Can't You See." But some of the old ballads like "In My Own Way," and "24 Hours at a Time," which is all about Houston [opening line: "I've been down around Houston, Texas/ Where the sun shines most of the time"] are great. We also like to do a lot of jams live, depending on how much time we have.
RO: Any particular memories about playing Houston?
DG: I've got tons of friends down in Houston, and that's from the days of the original Holiday Inn downtown before they imploded it. I'd get out on 59 when there were just a few buildings out there. And some of our finest shows were at Rockefeller's. The Summit was the first show that we played after Tommy died, and we recorded that.
RO: Finally, the famous story of how you got the band name is that you found a key ring in a rehearsal space with the name "Marshall Tucker" on it, and it turned out he was a blind piano tuner who had rented the space before you. Did you ever meet him?
DG: Oh yeah, several times. The first time was when CBS flew him in. He's blind and his wife is blind too. So we talked in a restaurant and they filmed it. I remember he leaned into me and whispered "You've never let me down yet, don't let me down now!"
He retired two years ago, and we sent him a gold record and some stuff. And it's the least I could do because when we started out, they spelled his name wrong. We were opening for the Allman Brothers, and the [marquee] just had "Marshal" We told the promoter it was wrong, and he said, "But I only have one 'L'!"
Marshall Tucker Band to Entertain Troops in Iraq & Kuwait
Marshall Tucker Band to entertain troops in Iraq, Kuwait by Dan Armonaitis While carrying on the legacy of one of the most admired bands in the history of southern rock, the current edition of the Marshall Tucker Band routinely boards airplanes to play gigs all over the world.
But when the Spartanburg-based band departed from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport early Tuesday morning, it was hardly a typical experience.
The Marshall Tucker Band was on its way to Washington where it would board another plane en route to the Middle East.
The legendary band, led by founding member Doug Gray, will spend the next several days entertaining U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait.
The trip is sponsored by Stars for Stripes, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing celebrity entertainment to internationally deployed U.S. military forces. “Going over there is going to be a treat,” Gray said Monday night.
“I feel really honored to have this opportunity. … We’re 100 percent ready to go.” Years before he helped form the Marshall Tucker Band, Gray served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War. “I know how it feels to be far from home, and I know how it feels to come back,” Gray said. “And I sure as hell know what it feels like to miss people.” Gray, who once got to see a USO performance by Bob Hope while stationed in Vietnam, said the band will perform five to seven shows during its stay in the Middle East. “I’ve already gotten e-mails from people over there,” he said. “And I’ve gotten phone calls from people here saying ‘my uncle’s over there’ or ‘my cousin’s over there’ or ‘my daddy’s over there.’ Those e-mails and calls mean more to me than anything.”
Gray said the Marshall Tucker Band has been trying to put together a trip to visit military personnel in the Middle East for the past few years but it never worked out because of scheduling conflicts.
This week’s trip has been planned for the last three months, long before anyone could have anticipated that it would occur just days after the death of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
“I lost a lot of my friends – firemen up there in New York City – when 9/11 happened, so I’m very, very proud that we did the job that we set out to do,” Gray said.
Ramblin’ Records, in conjunction with Shout! Factory, released a new Marshall Tucker Band “Greatest Hits” package last month, along with a collection of 30-year-old lost solo recordings by Gray called “Soul of the South.” Here’s a link to a story about the latter project published recently by the Herald-Journal and GoUpstate.com: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20110410/ARTICLES/110409763/1097?p=1&tc=pg
Country Music Tattle Tale
The Marshall Tucker Band Heads to Kuwait Posted by TawnyTucker on May 4th, 2011 With Sunday’s late-breaking news of the assassination of Osama bin Laden, millions around the world continue to celebrate in approval of served justice.
This week, U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait will get the chance to let off some steam and celebrate as the Stars for Stripes organization brings southern rock’s legendary multi-platinum selling Marshall Tucker Band to the region.
“In light of recent events, I can’t even tell you how honored we are to perform for our men and women in uniform,” says Marshall Tucker lead singer, founding member and Vietnam veteran Doug Gray.
“We are so excited to be able to bring a smile and a taste of home to these fine folks. This will be a very special time for us.” With four stops in Iraq and one in Kuwait, The Marshall Tucker Band will depart tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3 and return May 11. Troops can expect Marshall Tucker classics including “Can’t You See,” “Heard It In A Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain” and “24 Hours At A Time.” 2011 marks the band’s 40th year since forming in 1971.
In celebration of the milestone, The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits was released in April 2011, in addition to Doug Gray’s 30-year-old lost solo recordings, Soul Of The South.
Doug Gray New York Media Trip 2011 - May 16-18
Monday, May 16
FREE
Tuesday, May 17
6:00 AM EST Arrival (LIVE HIT TIME TBA)
Outlet: Fox & Friends (Fox News Channel)
Address:
1211 Ave of the Americas
NYC, NY 10012
11:00 AM EST Arrival
Outlet: Sirius-XM Satellite Radio (Road Dog Trucking)
Address:
1221 Ave of the Americas
NYC, NY 10020
3:00 PM EST Arrival
Outlet: Goldmine Magazine / Goldmine.com
Address:
38 East 29th Street
4th floor
NYC, NY 10016
Wednesday, May 18
10:00 AM EST Arrival (LIVE HIT TBA)
Outlet: Varney & Co. (Fox Business Network)
Address:
1211 Ave of the Americas
NYC, NY 10012
8:45 PM EST Arrival (PANEL LIVE AT 9:40 PM EST)
Outlet: Hannity (Fox News Channel)
Address:
1211 Ave of the Americas
NYC, NY 10012
MTB Middle East FOX NEWS Coverage
Check it out! From the FOX NEWS 411 Country Roundup:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4680013/randy-travis-celebrates-25-years/?playlist_id=158184
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND DONATES USE OF TOUR TRUCK TO ALABAMA TORNADO VICTIMS
While members of the Marshall Tucker Band are more than 6,000 miles away, working hard to entertain American troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait, the group's tour truck isn't exactly sitting in wait. After the band left for the Middle East this past week, Marshall Tucker Band lead singer and founding member Doug Gray donated the use of the group's tour truck to Spartanburg, SC's Restoration Church. The church is currently utilizing the Marshall Tucker tour vehicle, loading it to the brim with emergency supplies and food and delivering the goods directly to Alabama tornado victims.
Last week, more than 200 deadly tornadoes ripped through the south, killing 297 people throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Alabama was hit the hardest, with 210 confirmed deaths.
A Few Words From a Fan...
DOUG GRAY VISITS WITH FOX & FRIENDS
The Marshall Tucker Band's lead man visits with Steve, Gretchen and Brian on Fox & Friends to discuss the band's recent performances in Iraq and Kuwait for the troops there. click the image to view the clip:
Or Click here:
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html#/v/4697742/marshall-tucker-band-boosting-morale-overseas-and-at-home/?playlist_id=86912
Doug Gray Visits with Stuart Varney & Co on Fox Business Network
The Marshall Tucker Band's Doug Gray Visits with Stuart Varney & Co on Fox Business Network and discusses how to make money in the digital age of music and why the band is going back to vinyl records.
New MTB in Iraq Photos Posted
The Marshall Tucker Band went to play some shows for the troops in Kuwait and Iraq. We just posted some fresh new photos in the gallery from this amazing trip...
The Petition to Bring a Memorial Wall Home from Iraq
Bring the Memorial to Fallen U.S. Soldiers and Airmen Home from Iraq Petition
There are 4,336 names of American Heroes on a memorial wall located in Kirkuk, Iraq.
The memorial, created in 2009 as a joint project by U.S. Army and Air Force troops stationed in Kirkuk, is painted on 22 cement barriers and spans over 280 feet. This memorial is going to be painted over as the base closes and U.S. troops pull out of Iraq. This petition is an attempt to convince the government to bring this wall home for Americans at home.
The wall is quite a thing to see. As the band toured the base, we were taken to this wall. Each of us was immediately silenced at first glance of the staggering number of names before us. The wall is longer than your peripheral vision. When standing before it, one quickly begins to understand the sacrifice; what a huge number of American men and women who have given their lives in this war.
Please show your support and sign this petition!
To learn more visit www.facebook.com/savethememorialatkirkuk
Marshall Tucker Band Rocks Nashville w/ Bo Bice, Katie Armiger
Marshall Tucker Band Rocked Nashville w/ Bo Bice, Katie Armiger on Friday Aug, 26th 2011.
Marshall Tucker Band Celebrates 40 Years!
Marshall Tucker Band Celebrates 40 Years!
In 2012 the MTB will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their formation in Spartanburg, SC, and we have something very special to announce. In 2012 we are re-issuing all of the original Capricorn Records releases on vinyl!
First up is The MTB's Greatest Hits, it's a double vinyl album and has three live tracks that were not included on the CD version. This new release comes out on November 22, 2011. It will be available on the streets where you buy music (your local record shop, Best Buy, etc) and by mail-order in our web store.
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND BRINGS 40 YEARS OF SOUTHERN ROCK TO FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S HUCKABEE THIS WEEKEND!
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND BRINGS 40 YEARS OF SOUTHERN ROCK TO FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S
HUCKABEE THIS WEEKEND
Governor Huckabee to Perform with Marshall Tucker Band on
His National TV Show this Saturday
This Saturday, October 8, the Fox News Channel’s Huckabee gets a taste of southern rock as the legendary Marshall Tucker Band performs in the former Arkansas Governor’s New York City television studio.
In observance of its 40th anniversary, the band will hit national television airwaves this weekend, performing one of their fan favorite classic hits, “Fire On The Mountain,” as well as “Sandman,” a song from Marshall Tucker Band lead singer Doug Gray’s lost solo album.
“We're looking forward to celebrating 40 years of Marshall Tucker with Governor Huckabee performing with us this weekend. I hear he’s one heck of a bass player. We might be asking him to join us on a few dates if all goes well!” laughs Doug Gray. “Since we’re dropping in on him, maybe he can drop in on us when we play the Arkansas State Fair later in the month.”
Last May, the band, in recognition of four decades, released The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits and lead singer Doug Gray’s lost solo recordings, Soul Of The South. The legendary southern rock band continues to tour regularly and recently returned from a five-concert tour of Iraq and Kuwait, where they entertained thousands of United States military personnel.
TUNE IN:
Saturday, October 8
8:00 PM EST
Fox News Channel – Huckabee
Rebroadcast:
Sunday, October 9
8:00 PM EST
MTB Greatest Hits on 12" 180 Gram Vinyl Out Now!
Four decades ago, during the early days of The Marshall Tucker Band (MTB), the multi-platinum selling southern rock group never had the option of releasing their music on CD or digitally through online retailers. Those were the years when the MTB and every musical act on the planet depended on the trusty vinyl record as the vehicle for delivering music to the consumer. In celebration of 40 years, the MTB comes full circle with the release of the vinyl edition of The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits (Ramblin' Records/Shout Factory).
“As we continue to tour, more and more fans are showing up in the autograph lines with their original Marshall Tucker vinyl records, even more so than CDs,” says MTB lead singer and founding member, Doug Gray. “There’s just something cool about vinyl. It’s very retro and I think most people out there will agree that in today’s day and age, retro is ‘in.’ This is an appropriate release for us, especially since we’re celebrating 40 years.”
The 17-track album, a Gatefold Double-LP 180 gram vinyl record, contains some of the MTB’s most notable hits including “Can’t You See,” “Heard It In A Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” “24 Hours At A Time” and “Take The Highway.” Three of the 17 tracks are previously unreleased live concert recordings from an earlier overseas tour.
In the fall of 1976, the MTB traveled to the UK and Europe for the band’s maiden voyage of those territories. The tour featured Bonnie Bramlett and Grinderswitch as supporting acts to the MTB. The band was red hot in America and the time was right to spread the word to other countries. Doug Gray remembers, “We didn’t know what to expect but from the people at the hotel to the crew at Hammersmith Odeon and finally the sold out crowd all made us feel so welcome, we couldn’t believe it. It was the same in Scotland but with a different accent.” When the band decided to release Greatest Hits in vinyl form, there was extra space available to include live tracks, recorded during tour stops in Glasgow, Scotland and London.
Since turntable record players are no longer a mainstream commodity, the new Greatest Hits vinyl record will contain a digital download card, included to ensure consumer listening.
On coming full circle with the band’s first vinyl release since 1988, Doug Gray notes, “Hey, now for the first time in over 20 years we can say we’re releasing a new ‘record’ and really mean it!”
The vinyl edition of The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits will be available for purchase later this month in all vinyl record stores, online at Amazon and in our web store here by clicking here.
The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits (Vinyl) Track Listing:
1. Take The Highway
2. Blue Ridge Mountain Sky
3. In My Own Way
4. Fire On The Mountain
5. Heard It In A Love Song
6. Ramblin’
7. Searchin’ For A Rainbow
8. I Should Have Never Started Lovin’ You
9. 24 Hours At A Time
10. Long Hard Ride
11. Can’t You See
12. Too Stubborn
13. This Ol’ Cowboy
14. Desert Skies
15. Hillbilly Band (Live)
16. Every Day I Sing The Blues (Live)
17. Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Live)
MTB Debut on the Stage of the Historic Grand Ole Opry
November 22, 2011 – This past weekend, southern rock’s legendary multi-platinum selling Marshall Tucker Band made its official debut on the stage of the historicGrand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Held at the Opry’s most famous former home, theRyman Auditorium, a standing room only crowd was on hand for the Saturday night show that is forever etched into the history book of The Marshall Tucker Band.
"Not everyone gets asked to play at such a legendary venue and we are honored to have performed,” notes Marshall Tucker lead singer Doug Gray. "I have played many shows in my life but never one with as much history as the Grand Ole Opry.”
The Marshall Tucker Band joined the night’s star-studded lineup that included Bill Anderson, Diamond Rio, Little Jimmy Dickens, Joe Diffie, Jeannie Seely, the Del McCoury Band, Connie Smith, Jean Shepard, Jim Ed Brown, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, The Whites, Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press and The Opry Square Dancers.
Upon arriving at the Ryman for sound check, the guys were greeted with a large bouquet of flowers from longtime friend and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Daniels, congratulating them on their first ever Opry performance in 40 years.
Gray adds, “When we walked through the back door of the Ryman, I was nervous, I’m not going to lie. That building and the Grand Ole Opry have had some of the most legendary performers in the history of music performing onstage. Had Toy Caldwell still been living, he would have been very emotional. I feel like he, Tommy and George were all there with us. I’m so very proud.”
The band rocked through “Fire On The Mountain” and followed up with “Can’t You See,” to what was met with a standing ovation from the packed house.
In speaking to listeners tuned in on 650 AM WSM, Sirius-XM and online, Opry member Bill Anderson informed the radio audience of what could be seen from within the Ryman when he announced, “Folks, I know you can’t see this but that’s what the sound of a standing ovation sounds like.”
Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2011, The Marshall Tucker Band is keeping busy throughout the remainder of the year. Today, November 22, the band releases The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits in vinyl form. The 17-track record contains 14 classic Marshall Tucker hits as well as three previously unreleased live recordings.
Year End Special!
Year End Special!
MTB Special offer for you last minute shoppers still looking for good ideas. Check out the MTB Year End special -
Three great items for $35...
1. MTB Greatest Hits Vinyl Edition - 12" 180 Gram virgin vinyl, comes with download codes for your iPod.
2. MTB's Carolina Christmas CD - The great voice of Doug Gray singing your favorite Christmas tunes performed as only the MTB can do and includes the very, very special song "Christmas in Custody" as well as a reading by Doug Gray of T ’WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
3. 2012 MTB Wall Calendar/Poster.
The Marshall Tucker Band on Huckabee
MTB on Fox this weekend!
This Saturday, December 17, on the Fox News Channel's Huckabee, The Marshall Tucker Band spreads a little seasonal cheer, Southern Rock-style, when the group joins the former Arkansas Governor's national television show for a special holiday performance.
The Marshall Tucker Band will perform "Merry Christmas Baby," a song from its recent holiday album, Carolina Christmas. The special holiday edition of Huckabee also includes performances by Toby Keith, Yo-Yo Ma and Kelly Wright.
In addition to The Marshall Tucker Band's Huckabee appearance, this Monday, December 19, the band's lead singer and founding member Doug Gray will appear live on the Fox News Channel's Hannity, joining the show's "Great American Panel."
The Marshall Tucker Band wraps up its 2011 touring season this Sunday night in New York City at BB King Blues Club. This year marked the band's 40th Anniversary since forming in 1971.
LOOK FOR THE MTB IN THE FEB. 2012 EDITION OF GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
LOOK FOR THE MTB IN THE FEB. 2012 EDITION OF GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
MTB's vinyl revival in Billboard!
Click picture to read the story on Billboard.com
On newsstands now! New Stories on The Marshall Tucker Band!
On newsstands now! New Stories on The Marshall Tucker Band!
MTB Rocks the Rock Legends Cruise Again in 2013!!
The MTB is happy to announce it will be on the Rock Legend's Cruise again in January 2013!
The best cabins are available, book yours now!
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND’S DOUG GRAY TALKS NEW MUSIC, BAND CHEMISTRY AND OPRY RETURN
From UltimateClassicRock.com
by: Alanna Conaway
For decades, the Marshall Tucker Band has been one of the greatest Southern rock bands of all time, changing the sound of ’70s music with hits such as ‘Heard It in a Love Song,’ ‘Can’t You See’ and ‘Fire on the Mountain.’
Today, the band is still going strong, despite the many tragic deaths of various original members over the years. Still fronted by founding member Doug Gray, the band is gearing up for yet another full year of touring with plenty of surprises planned along the way.
Ultimate Classic Rock recently caught up with Gray to talk about what’s on the horizon for him and the guys.
Last time we talked, you mentioned some new music was getting ready to be put down in the studio. Do you have any idea when we can expect to hear some new music from you guys?
“There are three or four songs, but there’s nothing set in stone. The studio’s there. How hard is it to go into the studio and record? Everybody makes a big deal out of it. With us, it’s like when there’s a record there, we got the deal, so we just got to put the songs together. If you rush to something, it’s totally an anti-climatic thing. It’s not as much fun to go into the studio if you know that you’ve got it down pat, which we never do. If you have it just a little bit rehearsed, that’s cool because it’s inevitable that it’s going to change because we wake up every day, and there’s different things you have to face. We never plan.”
You also mentioned this South Carolina Hall of Fame album that was being finalized in recent months. Do you have a release date set for that album?
“That record’s coming out probably in the next four to six months. It sounds really cool. It’s got the Allman Brothers on there … everybody kind of came in for that project. It was a dedication to Tommy and Toy [Caldwell] because they were gone at that period in time, but South Carolina wanted to induct us, so we did it. It sounded great.”
You guys have been making music and touring for so long now. What kind of things run through your mind before taking the stage?
“It’s kind of weird … we don’t talk to each other before we go on. We sit there in the bus, and we don’t go in the dressing room too much. It’s kind of weird, but once we get on stage, it’s like, ‘Hey! How are you doing?!’ [laughs] We start talking. I don’t know why it’s that way, but the original band was that way, too. We always would get up and jam before the show in the dressing room, and that’s how we learned what songs would be on the next record.
“When we do a large show like that, most of the time we’ll sit around and maybe have a beer and talk to old friends, and then when we walk out there, everybody has their individual routine that they go through. We’re not burning chickens or nothing, you know what I mean [laughs]? We’re not hanging feathered animals and no voodoo chant, but it is kind of rare that we get real social. Then you want to kind of calm down, and then you walk out there and it’s like, ‘Hey, how you doing, man? It’s great to see you!’ It’s like meeting new friends again once that first note is played. It’s pretty cool.”
Well I guess that saves you guys from getting into any fights right before you take the stage!
“We never get mad. Me being known as ‘Doug the Peace Maker,’ nobody in my band wants to do that. Plus, it’s harder to get up now [laughs]! You hurt a lot worse when you get older [laughs].”
In June, the Marshall Tucker Band will make a return to the Grand Ole Opry, this time taking the stage at the famed Opryhouse. How does that make you feel, knowing you are being welcomed back to the prestigious stage so soon?
“I’m excited because we’re acknowledged and that really matters more. We had a wonderful thing go on that [Opry debut] night, and I couldn’t have asked for it to be any better. I was scared. If a person could be afraid, I was a little nervous. I get weirded out before I walk into an interview with most people. If you’re worth your weight, then you supposed to be a little nervous, I believe.
“But up there, it was a trip walking in and seeing Bill Anderson and all those people welcoming us like we had known them all their lives. We actually hadn’t met that many of those people because we’re in a whole different world. For our band to be acknowledged by those people that had so much history and so much understanding was an honor. Those people were there because they wanted to hear country music. They wanted to hear Bill and all these other people who were on the Opry. They didn’t really expect the Marshall Tucker Band to come out there and shine them the way we did.
“The best words to come forth was when Bill said, ‘For the folks on the radio, that’s what you call getting a standing ovation on the radio, and that’s why we didn’t talk during that.’ I was knocked down. I just can’t express it. You can’t get it out of your mind.
“I remember just standing back there waiting to go on … [country singer] Joe Diffie was there, and he’s a buddy, but when you get these other people like [Opry legend] Little Jimmy Dickens coming up and saying for me to come over to his dressing room, and we sat there and talked. That’s pretty heavy.
“Having that door open to you and actually getting to go there, and then being invited to come back and play? I have a lot people to be thankful to for that offer. I really do. I love it.”
Read the article on UltimateClassicRock.com
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/marshall-tucker-band-doug-gray-interview/
Doug Gray Interview on Animal Radio
Hey animal lovers!
In case you missed it, this just aired nationally on SiriusXM as well as on 108 radio stations. Click the link below to hear Doug's interview on Animal Radio® which, since 2003, has been America's most-listened-to pet talk.
Skip ahead to the 1 hr 12 minute mark...
http://animalradio.com/645PODCAST.mp3
Great New Concert Review from MTB Show in Orlando, FL
From www.MediaMikes.com
By
The Marshall Tucker Band
Orlando Jai Alai
Orlando, FL
April 13, 2012, 8:00PM.
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
On April 13, 2012, Southern Rock pioneers, “The Marshall Tucker Band” performed at the Orlando Jai Alai Center. The current incarnation of the “The Marshall Tucker Band” includes founding member Doug Gray, who performs as singer, lead tambourine, and emcee. Grey was fantastic as he worked the crowd with funny stories and jokes from the road that were tasteful but still elicited a loud and boisterous response from the several hundred fans in attendance. Though I can only compare the band’s performances to past albums and YouTube clips, as far as I’m concerned, Gray and company performed as well and probably better than they did 30 years ago. The vocals were sharp, the guitar solos soared, and of course the iconic flute was dead on.
The whole act performed as one experienced and cohesive unit in front of a diverse and enthusiastic crowd. Multiple generations of fans, including young children, yuppies, and retirees, all dressed in the requisite rebel flag t-shirts, cowboy boots, and basic black sang along as the band played for about 90 minutes and covered all of their hits including “Fire on the Mountain”, “Heard it in a Love Song”, and fan favorite “Can’t You See”.
As far as the venue is concerned, the Orlando Jai Alai Center has ample parking, comfortable seats, and several areas to purchase adult beverages. Interestingly enough, the Jai Alai Center, does not close down its gambling business during concerts, so you can bet on the ponies in between songs if you want to. The band performed on the wooden jai alai court and something about the structure enhanced the loud and rich acoustics. Unfortunately, tonight there were some technical difficulties with speaker feedback but all in all it’s a great place to see a show.
In short, “The Marshall Tucker Band” was and still is a great act. They are a must see for anybody who likes good music and I would definitely see them again.
CLICK BELOW TO READ THE STORY @ MEDIA MIKES WEBSITE:
http://www.mediamikes.com/2012/04/concert-review-the-marshall-tucker-band-orlando-fl/