Tommy DeCarlo, the longtime lead singer of the legendary rock band Boston, has died after a battle with brain cancer. He was 60 years old.
DeCarlo passed away Monday following a six-month fight with the disease. His family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a message shared on Facebook.
“After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end,” his children Annie, Talia and Tommy Jr. wrote. “Rest in peace, Dad.”
DeCarlo’s journey to becoming the voice of Boston is one of the most unlikely stories in rock music.
He stepped into the role after the band’s original lead singer, Brad Delp, died in 2007 at the age of 55. At the time, DeCarlo was working as a credit manager at a Home Depot in North Carolina and was simply a huge fan of the band.
Encouraged by his daughter, he recorded several covers of Boston’s songs and sent them to the band’s management. Those recordings eventually made their way to Boston founder Tom Scholz.
The band was impressed, and DeCarlo was soon invited to audition. Not long after, he was officially named the group’s new lead singer.
From that point on, DeCarlo became the voice fans heard at every Boston live performance. He also recorded several songs on the band’s 2013 album Life, Love & Hope.
Outside of Boston, DeCarlo also launched a project called DECARLO with his son. The father-and-son duo released an album titled Lightning Strikes Twice.
In 2021, he shared his incredible life story in an audiobook called Unlikely Rockstar: The Tommy DeCarlo Story, which chronicled his rise from everyday fan to frontman of one of rock’s most iconic bands.
Boston is known for a string of classic rock hits including More Than a Feeling, Amanda and Peace of Mind.
Before his death, DeCarlo’s family had launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his cancer treatment. The fundraiser has already received more than $56,000 in donations from fans and supporters.
God now has a New Voice in Heaven!