Tommy DeCarlo, Longtime Boston Singer, Dies at 60
Tommy DeCarlo, who served as a singer for the rock band Boston for nearly two decades, died on Monday at the age of 60. His family confirmed his passing on social media, stating he had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in September.
DeCarlo's family confirmed his passing, revealing he had been battling brain cancer since September.
Early Life and Connection to Boston
Born Thomas DeCarlo, he was a self-taught piano player and choir vocalist, and had been a long-time admirer of the band Boston. He credited the band's original lead singer, Brad Delp, with influencing his vocal style. Prior to joining Boston, DeCarlo worked at Home Depot in Charlotte, North Carolina.
DeCarlo's association with Boston began in 2007, following the death of Brad Delp. At the age of 43, DeCarlo posted a tribute song and covers of Boston songs on his MySpace page and sent a link to the band.
Founding guitarist and songwriter Tom Scholz subsequently contacted DeCarlo, noting the similarity of his voice to Delp's. Scholz invited DeCarlo to perform at a tribute concert for Delp, and he was later asked to join the band permanently. DeCarlo clarified that his intention was not to imitate Delp, but rather that he enjoyed singing in his style.
His journey to Boston's stage began with a MySpace tribute, where his voice's similarity to Brad Delp's caught Tom Scholz's attention.
Tenure with Boston
DeCarlo toured with Boston for approximately 20 years. During his tenure, he contributed vocals to their 2013 album, Life, Love & Hope.
Other Projects and Family
In 2021, DeCarlo released an audiobook titled "Unlikely Rockstar -- The Tommy DeCarlo Story," which chronicled his life up to his initial performance with Boston.
He also formed a band with his son, Tommy DeCarlo Jr., and they released two albums: Lightning Strikes Twice in 2020 and Dancing in the Moonlight in 2022.
His children, Annie, Talia, and Tommy Jr., were among those who announced his death on his Facebook and Instagram pages. His family requested privacy during this time.