The Marshall Tucker Band...

[JimGinPA]

Last edited Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Posted a link to this article to their FB page a couple days ago, on his 97th birthday;

https://www.coladaily.com/lifestyle/marshall-tucker-columbia-s-blind-piano-tuner-not-the-band/collection_d9858a13-9c11-5484-9d80-c9f83b2384bb.html?fbclid=IwAR2Uly_HF5JcNsxC6AIn-S670JEhaWox6eCzyCq98Hlu04yZeB9sbO2ChEI

Marshall Tucker, Columbia’s blind piano tuner, not the band

The Marshall Tucker Band was one of the innovators in the genre of Southern Rock music. From Spartanburg, the band had hit singles including “Heard It In a Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” “Can’t You See,” and “Take The Highway.” The band earned seven gold and three platinum albums. The Marshall Tucker Band has also influenced major country acts, including Alabama and Travis Tritt, among others.

However, the band’s name did not come from anyone who was actually a member.

Marshall Tucker, the man, is still alive and well. Now, 94-years-old, he and his wife Lois live in Columbia and remain active. There is much more to Tucker’s story than just his name being used for a popular band.

Tucker was a full time piano tuner for almost 50 years, and has been blind since birth.

~snip

Tucker said he found out that the band had been using a work space he had formerly rented for piano tuning. His landlord had accidentally left the old tag on the key when giving it to the new tenants. The band was using the space one day, discussing their name.

“When they found my name on the key tag, I was told one of them said, ‘I tell ya what, let’s just name it the Marshall Tucker band and go eat supper.” Tucker said he was not there at the time, but that was what he was told.

~more at link

I saw these country boys a few times when I was younger & they were all fantastic musicians (most of them are featured in the song below). I didn't know the story of their name though.

[underpants]

1. Tuning pianos was a big focus of blind vocation training 50ish years ago

50 years ago was 1970 of course. It was about that time (maybe earlier or later) that there were a lot of blind trained to tune pianos.

I had never heard what the band was named after. Thank you.

[MaryMagdaline]

2. I never knew that. I grew up in Macon and they were signed with Capricorn records

[stevil]

3. I dig this story

That is one of the better band name origin stories.

[LakeArenal]

4. Great Band.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Thank you.

Enjoyed the story and the music.

[gratuitous]

6. I first heard the Marshall Tucker Band on a loss-leader record from Warner Brothers

Way back in the beforetimes, record companies sold music on vinyl disks or records, popularly known as LPs, the LP stood for Long Playing. The records were so-called because they held a lot more music than 45 rpm or 78 rpm records, which typically had one song per side.

In addition to putting out records by singers and groups, record labels also put out loss leader sample records, featuring songs by new or obscure artists. Warner Bros. records put out a loss leader 2-disk record called "The Force" in the early 1970s (pre-Star Wars). The liner notes mimicked a potboiler 1940s detective story, with the protagonist name checking the various artists on the record. I don't remember how I got hold of a copy (coupon in National Lampoon magazine?), but as I recall it was two bucks for two records, which was a good deal.

Anyway, one of the artists was the Marshall Tucker Band and their song "This Old Cowboy." From the opening damped guitar strums, I really like the song.

A little more about the loss leader albums here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner/Reprise_Loss_Leaders

And the cut list from the album:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Force/master/1003371