The actual Marshall Tucker has passed away at 99

[underpants]

https://americansongwriter.com/marshall-tucker-namesake-of-the-marshall-tucker-band-dies-at-99/

Marshall Tucker, the man who gave the Marshall Tucker Band their name, died on Jan. 20 at the age of 99. No cause of death was revealed.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of someone very special to our hearts, for very obvious reasons,” read a post on the band’s Instagram page. “Our band’s namesake, Mr. Marshall Tucker, passed away peacefully yesterday morning at the age of 99. Though he was never a member of our band, we wouldn’t be here today without his historic name.”

Though Tucker, who was born Nov. 12, 1913, was never a musician nor a part of the band, the Southern rock pioneers chose to call themselves by his name soon after forming in 1972. At the time, original Marshall Tucker band members Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, Doug Gray, Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle, and Paul Riddle rented an old warehouse as a rehearsal space where they came across his name.


“I was renting warehouse space from a fellow named Abe Smith around 1967 or ’68. This warehouse was on Spring Street right behind Mr. Smith’s pawn shop on Magnolia Street. I would rebuild and tune pianos in this space. Unknown to me, there was a band that would come and practice there. The key that I used to get into this warehouse had a tag on it that had my name on it, Marshall Tucker. And how the story went that was told to me the band was going under the name The Toy Factory, which was named after founding member Toy Caldwell, and they said that name just wasn’t going over. So they had been seeing my name on that key tag, and one of them said, “let’s just name it the Marshall Tucker Band…I’m hungry…let’s go eat.” And that was it. Our paths crossed and we didn’t even know it.”

[CrispyQ]

1. Great story about the band name.

I always assumed Marshall Tucker was a band member.

RIP, Mr. Tucker. What an amazing tribute during your life!

[Glorfindel]

2. "...Tucker, who was born Nov. 12, 1913..."

Wouldn't that make him 109 years old instead of 99? Anyway, thanks for sharing such an interesting story.

[underpants]

4. Thank you. I listen to that often. That had to be big for them.

[SergeStorms]

6. I loved the Marshall Tucker Band.

They made some sweet music back then. I never knew the story of how the band got it's name. It never mattered much. Bands always named themselves in some pretty strange ways.

Rest in peace, Mr. Marshall Tucker.

[SergeStorms]

7. Take the Highway - The Marshall Tucker Band

Probably my favorite song by the Marshall Tucker Band.

[Lunabell]

8. Cool trivia!

I love it. Thanks.