Tommy Caldwell (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Caldwell
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| Birth name | Thomas Michael Caldwell |
| Also known as | Tommy Caldwell |
| Born | November 9, 1949 Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 1980 (aged 30) Moore, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Bass, vocals, drums |
| Years active | 1973–1980 |
Thomas Michael Caldwell (born November 9, 1949 – died April 28, 1980) was a talented musician. He was best known as the bassist for The Marshall Tucker Band. He played with the band from 1973 until 1980.
Tommy was more than just a bass player. He also wrote several songs for the band. Besides bass, he played percussion and guitar. He often sang backup vocals too. The song "Melody Ann" is special because it's the only one where he sang the main vocals.
His last show with the band was on April 18, 1980. This was just ten days before he passed away. You can hear this performance on the album Live on Long Island, which came out in 2006.
Tommy was famous for his unique sound. He played a white 1970s Fender Precision Bass. This bass had a special Dimarzio Split Coil Pickup. He used both his fingers and a pick to play the bass. He also used tube amplifiers, which helped create his signature sound.
Tommy was from Spartanburg, South Carolina. He died at the age of 30 due to injuries from a car accident on April 28, 1980.
The 1980 album Full Moon by The Charlie Daniels Band was dedicated to Tommy Caldwell.
About Tommy Caldwell's Family
Tommy had two brothers. One of his brothers, Toy Caldwell, was also a member and co-founder of The Marshall Tucker Band. Toy was older than Tommy.
Sadly, another brother named Tim Caldwell also passed away. Tim died in a traffic accident on March 28, 1980. This was just one month before Tommy's accident. Tim was 25 years old when he died.
