Marshall Tucker Band Celebrates a Major Milestone at the Ridgefield Playhouse

Southern Rock may find its roots buried somewhere below the Mason Dixon line, but nowhere did the genre grow stronger than right here in Connecticut; a fact not lost on lead singer and founding member of the legendary Marshall Tucker Band, Doug Gray who brings the band back for another great night at the Ridgefield Playhouse on March 13th.

“We’ve played sold out shows at Ridgefield before and it’s always such a treat. Every time we play there it seems that the audience, the fans are as much a part of the show as we are and that really means a lot.”

For More than four decades now, Doug Gray has been blessed with the opportunity to continue a dream that began with him and five boyhood friends, and while he makes it a point at each and every performance to publicly thank fans for that honor, his gratitude runs far deeper. Recently the band mounted a major relief effort to aid many of the victims of Super Storm Sandy. Collecting clothing, supplies and more than 1500 blankets, several trucks were dispatched north from their Spartanburg, South Carolina home.

            “The Northeast has given us so much. I just can’t say that enough and had this been the original band we would have done exactly the same thing. How many times in our lives are we ever gonna be able to show our appreciation and give something back?”

            Today the Marshall Tucker Band tours relentlessly, playing to standing ovations and sold-out shows not just around the country, but in many places around the world. On several occasions they have journeyed to Iraq and Kuwait to play for the troops. Things seem to be coming back around full circle for Gray and fans as well. In 1976 the original members toured Europe for the first time. Several shows were recorded and plans had been set in motion to release a live album shortly afterwards. Their contract with Capricorn Records was due to expire however, causing a 27 year delay in seeing those tracks released. Stompin’ Room Only finally saw the light of day in 2003, allowing fans of yesterday and today a true glimpse into the peak of their career. This month the current incarnation traveled to Switzerland to play the International Country Music Festival in Zurich where tape rolled yet again. Plans are already in motion to release a new live recording in the far nearer future.

“Right now things are really meshing again and I’ve got some of the greatest musicians in the world in this band. Our personality as a group continues to touch people now as it did when we first started out. Every night I go out there and know the audience still feels the music as much as I do because they’ve shared so much with us. What a tribute that is to the writing and career that we put together.”

Showtime is at 8PM and features special guests the Sundown Band. For more information call (203) 438–5795 or visit www.ridgfieldplayhouse.org.