Guitarist and Songwriter. He was the lead guitar player and primary songwriter for The Marshall Tucker Band, which was founded in 1972 and became one of the stand-out bands of that decade, fusing country, blues, jazz, and rock. He served in the U.S. Marines in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969 and then formed a band with his brother Tommy and high school friends Doug Gray, George McCorkle, and Jerry Eubanks, who would later be the bassist, singer, rhythm guitarist, and sax and flute player in Marshall Tucker. He picked with his thumb and had a uniquely melodic and powerful style of soloing, as can be heard on live numbers such as "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "24 Hours at a Time" on the live portion of their album "Where We All Belong." He wrote "Can't You See" (on which he sang the lead), "Take the Highway," "24 Hours at a Time," "Searchin' for a Rainbow," "Heard It in a Love Song," "This Ol' Cowboy," "Long, Hard Ride," "Desert Skies," and "Fly Like an Eagle." Toy left the band in 1985 to pursue a solo career. His longtime bandmate George McCorkle said of him: ″He loved playing in front of people. He loved watching people and people listening to what he did. It wasn't for the money; it wasn't for the glory. He loved it.″
Guitarist and Songwriter. He was the lead guitar player and primary songwriter for The Marshall Tucker Band, which was founded in 1972 and became one of the stand-out bands of that decade, fusing country, blues, jazz, and rock. He served in the U.S. Marines in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969 and then formed a band with his brother Tommy and high school friends Doug Gray, George McCorkle, and Jerry Eubanks, who would later be the bassist, singer, rhythm guitarist, and sax and flute player in Marshall Tucker. He picked with his thumb and had a uniquely melodic and powerful style of soloing, as can be heard on live numbers such as "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "24 Hours at a Time" on the live portion of their album "Where We All Belong." He wrote "Can't You See" (on which he sang the lead), "Take the Highway," "24 Hours at a Time," "Searchin' for a Rainbow," "Heard It in a Love Song," "This Ol' Cowboy," "Long, Hard Ride," "Desert Skies," and "Fly Like an Eagle." Toy left the band in 1985 to pursue a solo career. His longtime bandmate George McCorkle said of him: ″He loved playing in front of people. He loved watching people and people listening to what he did. It wasn't for the money; it wasn't for the glory. He loved it.″
Bio by: Keith Fitzgerald
Family Members
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