Marshall Tucker Band to perform at Jaycees Cole County Fair

The Marshall Tucker Band will perform at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 2 on the Xtreme Body & Paint/Bud Light Stage.
The Marshall Tucker Band will perform at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 2 on the Xtreme Body & Paint/Bud Light Stage.

The Marshall Tucker Band started working on their first album in 1972 and released their self-titled record one year later. Before the band became the group we know today, the lead singer, Doug Gray, went to high school in Spartanburg, South Carolina with original band members Toy and Tommy Caldwell. They were in different bands, but they were not competing against each other, Gray said.

After Toy and Gray served in Vietnam, they decided to get together to "give it one more shot before we have to go out and find a real job," Gray said in jest. The two were already working real jobs, Gray as a banker and Toy as a plumber with his father.

"I think everybody was doing a different thing," Gray said. "But we all got together for two nights week to rehearse and one night a promoter came down and asked us to open for the Allmand Brothers."

The band got their name from a blind piano tuner who went by the same moniker. Marshall Tucker was educated at a South Carolina trade school and his name was on a key ring for the keys to the warehouse where the band rehearsed. Ten years ago, Gray and the band met Tucker, who said he was quite proud of their work, Gray said.

The original band was composed of Gray, the Caldwells, Jerry Eubanks, George McCorkle and Paul Riddle. Tommy, Toy and McCorkle have all died. Eubanks retired in 1996 and Riddle in 1984. Gray is now performing with Pat Elwood, Rick Willis, B.B. Borden, Marcus Henderson and Chris Hicks.

"I have lost a lot of friends to death," Gray said. "Their special moments were hanging out with us. I don't regret knowing all of these people, and I don't regret them requesting our music for burial songs."

Gray said that their music is also requested for weddings, and that he cannot even count the number of fans who have named their children - or their horses - Marshall Tucker.

This will not be the first trip to Jefferson City for the band, maybe not even their first trip to the fair. The city had a familiar ring to it, Gray said.

"We always love it out there, we have people we know and friends that live in surrounding areas," Gray said. "After 40-something years, you make friends and they will come and hang out with us. We have people drive like 100 miles to come see us because we played in St. Louis before."

They have never done fewer than 100 shows per year for the 40 years that they have been touring, and this year they have 141 scheduled, Gray said. The band has played across the country and in the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Awards. Their music has also been featured in many motion pictures.

The group is constantly providing new material for fans, which includes new songs and releases of tracks that have been held in the band's vault. For instance, their latest album will be recordings from a concert with the Grateful Dead in New Jersey from 1977, Gray said.

Recently the Marshall Tucker Band has enjoyed a rebirth of their popularity. Gray said he is approached by young kids asking how many albums they have on the market or if they have even put an album out yet. He also said he has seen performances of his music on episodes of American Idol and The Voice, which still excites him no matter how many times he sees it.

"I don't know why I am so excited about it, hell I am 66 years old," Gray said. "People want to hear good music, no matter what era it is, no matter when it came out."

When the group is not touring, they focus on resting and being with family. They have lunch with friends and play with their grandchildren. They try to stay connected with reality, Gray says.

"Every time you come back home they park the buses and trucks in a big warehouse and you touch base with reality," Gray said. "And that is everyday life... and so it goes. We have held on to the ability to keep real life in our music as well as in our home life."

The Marshall Tucker Band will perform at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 2 on the Xtreme Body & Paint/Bud Light Stage at the fair.

For more information, pick up Sunday's News Tribune or check Sunday's e-newspaper online to view the 2014 Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair Guide.

See also:

Variety of entertainment on tap for Jaycees fair