Iconic Marshall Tucker Band Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

Wikimedia Commons

Marshall Tucker Band has been rocking since 1972. They are now celebrating their 50th anniversary and continuing to perform sold-out shows. Doug Gray, one of the founding members, opened up about the band’s legacy and future.

The 74-year-old shared, “I’ve been working my butt off for this 50th year, going to United Talent Artists (UTA) and I thought [it] was going to be difficult being an older band. Usually, you’re kind of weeded out, and you play a few dates here and there and stuff like that. When we last spoke, we talked about the ability of Marshall Tucker Band to write songs and the crowds liking the songs and the memories that we created those first eight years that keep people of all ages keep coming back because they bring their kids, and they bring their grandkids.”

Doug Gray talks about the 50th anniversary of Marshall Tucker Band

Marshall Tucker Band, portrait ca. 1980s / Everett Collection

The band is not only still touring but their music is being included in shows on streaming services for new audiences. Doug said, “We’ve got songs on two Netflix movies right now, and then we’ve got about three coming up on Amazon and on their stuff because they still like our songs.”

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Doug Gray / Wikimedia Commons

Doug, brothers Toy and Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle, Paul T. Riddle, and Jerry Eubanks were the original members of the Marshall Tucker Band. Over the years, Tommy, Toy, and George passed away while Paul and Jerry both left the band. Doug says he will play with the band for as long as he can.

Marshall Tucker Band performing / Wikimedia Commons

For all of their shows, the band has never performed the same set twice. Doug explained, “We’ve sung a ton of records and when we get up on stage and all the lights go out, I have to admit that I am completely blinded by the audience because that audience is what’s telling me what to do. I’m a puppet and a lot of people think that’s an insult, but it’s not. I’m a puppet to what the audience wants to hear.” Marshall Tucker Band is continuing their 50th-anniversary tour and set to play aboard Rock Legends Cruise X on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas next year.