The Maggie Speaks family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tommy DeCarlo, the extraordinary voice behind the legendary rock band Boston in recent years. Tommy passed away at the age of 60 after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
Through our Celebrity Sit-In program, Maggie Speaks had the honor of performing with Tommy on multiple occasions in front of audiences around the world. Having performed in 16 countries and 35 states, we have had the privilege of sharing the stage with many incredible artists—but Tommy was truly one of the best vocalists on the planet.
Night after night he would step up to the microphone and effortlessly deliver some of the most iconic rock songs ever recorded—
“More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Rock and Roll Band,” “Foreplay / Long Time,” “Smokin’,” and “Don’t Look Back.”
These are not easy songs to sing. In fact, they are some of the most demanding vocal performances in rock history. Yet Tommy delivered them with remarkable power, clarity, and passion.
What made Tommy’s story even more remarkable was how he got there.
When Boston’s original lead singer Brad Delp tragically passed away in 2007, Tommy was not a touring musician or a seasoned frontman. He was a credit manager at Home Depot who happened to be a massive Boston fan with an incredible voice. After posting tribute performances online, he caught the attention of Boston’s Tom Scholz—and almost overnight, Tommy went from obscurity to becoming the lead singer of one of the greatest rock bands in American history.
It was a true rock and roll fairy tale.
What many people didn’t see behind the scenes was the work ethic that allowed Tommy to perform at that level. Spending time with him, we learned that maintaining a voice capable of singing Boston’s music required discipline. Tommy followed a strict vocal regimen—stretching his range, warming up constantly, and treating his voice like an athlete treats their body.
And he didn’t stop improving.
When he first stepped into the spotlight, Tommy admitted he felt awkward as a frontman. But over time he completely transformed—developing confidence, stage presence, and charisma while staying true to who he was.
Despite performing in arenas around the world, Tommy remained humble. He was first and foremost a devoted husband and father, and always kind, gracious, and appreciative to everyone around him.
There is a bittersweet symmetry to his passing. Tommy died exactly 19 years after his idol and mentor Brad Delp, who passed away on March 9, 2007.
Brad gave the world Boston’s original voice.
Tommy carried that voice forward for a new generation of fans.
Today we imagine the two of them reunited—singing those incredible harmonies together once again.
Tommy DeCarlo’s voice helped keep one of the greatest catalogs in rock history alive, and we are grateful that Maggie Speaks had the chance to share the stage with him.
Rest in peace, Tommy.
Your voice will echo forever.
—
Maggie Speaks
