Tommy DeCarlo, a longtime fan of the rock group Boston who landed his dream job when he was tapped to join the band after original singer Brad Delp’s death in 2007, died Monday of brain cancer in Charlotte, NC. He was 60.
His death was announced on Facebook by his children Annie, Talia and Tommy Jr.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026,” the post reads. “After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end. During this difficult time, we kindly ask that friends and fans respect our family’s privacy as we grieve and support one another. Rest in peace, Dad.”
Born April 23, 1965, DeCarlo first encountered Boston — one of the top rock bands of the 1970s with such hits as “More Than a Feeling,” “Don’t Look Back” and “Peace of Mind,” among others — at age 12. By the 1990s DeCarlo was self-recording cover versions of the songs as well as an original tribute song to the late Delp. Encouraged by his daughter, DeCarlo posted the recordings on MySpace.
Upon learning that a special tribute concert was planned for Delp, who died by suicide at age 55, DeCarlo sent his MySpace link with the original song to the band’s management. The song was rejected, so DeCarlo, then working as a credit manager at Home Depot, was surprised when Boston co-founder Tom Scholz got in touch weeks later with an invitation to perform at the concert.
DeCarlo would continuing performing with the band at live shows for years thereafter. He also sang lead on “The Way You Look Tonight,” a track from Boston’s 2013 sixth album, and shared vocals on two of its other songs.
In a 2015 interview, DeCarlo said: “Dreams are what give us hope and inspiration. That’s something that you got to hang on to.”
In addition to his work with Boston, DeCarlo also performed solo and with his guitarist son Tommy DeCarlo Jr. under the band name DeCarlo.
In a Facebook post in October, DeCarlo announced that he was stepping back from performing due to his health issues. “This was not an easy choice, as performing and sharing music with all of you around the world has been one of the greatest joys of my life, but right now, it’s important that I take the time I need to recover and get back to feeling my best, so that when I return to the stage, I can give you everything I’ve got,” he wrote.
“I can’t thank you all enough for the incredible love, support, and understanding you’ve shown me and my family during this time,” he continued. “It truly means the world to us.”
Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
