The Marshall Tucker Band Brings Southern Rock To The Paramount
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Doug Gray, third from left, will lead The Marshall Tucker Band on stage during the band’s show at The Paramount in Huntington on Thursday, Dec. 7.
By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
The Southern rock sound that was produced with great popularity in the ’70s has always been a distinct blend of both country and rock, and no band captured the essence of the genre better than The Marshall Tucker Band.
Best known for hits like “Can’t You See” (1973) and “Heard It in a Love Song” (1977), the band combines elements of rock and roll, blues and country into a sound that helped to establish Southern rock after their first album was released in 1973.
And they’re bringing that sound to Huntington on Thursday, Dec. 7.
Original band member Doug Gray, lead singer and the only original member who still tours with the band, said that the band’s origins in Spartanburg, South Carolina greatly influenced their music.
“The country came out of us, from where we grew up,” Gray said.
Southern rock was, and continues to be, more than just a style of music, according to Gray. Southern rock bands would help each other out by covering each other’s shows in emergencies or going miles out of the way to pick up a band whose bus had broken down.
“Very stiff and very rigid concern for each other to make sure that everybody got everything done that they needed, that’s what Southern rock was really all about,” Gray explained.
Gray said the current makeup of The Marshall Tucker Band does a good job of carrying on its musical legacy, as well as the respect that has always been an important aspect of the band’s tradition.
“If anyone has respect for the band it’s the people who listened to us on LIR and BAB in the very beginning. Those people were listening to Marshall Tucker Band on the radio, and digging hearing Marshall Tucker Band,” Gray said.
The Marshall Tucker Band released the song “Long Island Lady” in 1983, and Gray said the band has always felt welcomed by their fans on Long Island.
“Coming to Long Island is more like coming to see a second family for another Thanksgiving,” Gray said. “On Long Island, we have many very loyal fans, and the reason that they’re loyal, I think, is because we showed them respect when we first came to town.”
The Marshall Tucker Band continues their legacy of entertaining fans through live performances, and Gray hinted that the band would be on the road touring again in 2018.
Thursday’s show at The Paramount is set to begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening an hour earlier. Tickets are $25-$95 each and available at the box office or online ParamountNY.com.
