Marshall Tucker Rolls into Times Square for One Epic Night

‘Twas the holidays in the city and everything shined.

In the heart of Times Square, folks had Ramblin’ on their mind.

Fast becoming an institution as integral to the holidays as the great tree in Rockefeller Plaza, the Marshall Tucker Band returns to the stage of BB Kings this Friday night for another legendary one night only December appearance. Currently celebrating their 40th anniversary, the group continues to tour relentlessly, playing sold out shows not just around the country, but in many places all over the world.         

“It was always about the music, always about the songs and always about the fans,” founding member and lead singer Doug Gray admits. “Right now I’ve got some of the greatest musicians in the world in this band and I know the original guys - some of whom are no longer on this earth - would be extremely happy that all of it is still going on.

The Marshall Tucker Band were forerunners during the great southern rock era of the 1970’s, but unlike many of their counterparts offering up lengthy jams and blistering guitar solos, their music also infused a blend of blues, jazz, country and pop. One of the songs the band is most known for is the monster 1977 hit, Heard It in a Love Song. Gray remembers the tune being in the vault for nearly a year before putting his vocal stamp on it.

Five minutes and one take later a hit record was born; something that the singer still finds bewildering.         

“All of a sudden it was being played all over the country and now I have Toy joking around telling me, ‘well buddy, I guess you’ll be singing that for the rest of your life.’

“Toy came up one day and said, ‘write this down for me real quick.’ He starts singing this song to me, ‘Can’t you see, Can’t you see, what that woman.’ He wanted me to sing the song originally, but that wasn’t my voice. His was gruff and it was like he was testifying and just belted something out that shook the world.”

Not far from the truth, Can’t You See became iconic and has been covered countless times by artists including Waylon Jennings, Alabama, The Zac Brown Band and Kid Rock.

“It is truly strange. There are just so many things we didn’t expect, never dreamed of. 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.”

With no thought of slowing down the band continues to work on new music as well, which will undoubtedly be released somewhere down the road.

Showtime is at 8PM. Tickets can be purchased for $35.00 in advance or $40.00 at the door. For further information call BB Kings at (212) 997-4144 or visit the website at www.bbkingblues.com