Boston lead singer, who was discovered on MySpace, dies at 60
Tommy DeCarlo, a Boston fan who used the power of the Internet to land his dream gig as the band’s lead singer, died Monday at the age of 60, his family said in a statement on Facebook.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our father, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9, 2026,” the statement read. “After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage until the end. During this difficult time, we kindly ask that friends and fans respect our family’s privacy as we grieve and support each other. Rest in peace dad. Love Annie, Talia and Tommy Jr.”
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Born on April 23, 1965, DeCarlo’s rise to rock and roll stardom followed a unique and atypical path. DeCarlo was working in North Carolina as a credit manager when Boston founder Tom Scholz discovered videos of him singing the band’s hits, which his daughter Talia had posted on MySpace.
Boston’s original lead vocalist, Brad Delp, had died in 2007, and Scholz said he couldn’t believe his ears when he heard DeCarlo’s voice singing the band’s tunes.
“My wife was at her computer playing our songs, and I asked her if that was us playing live,” Scholz told ABC News in 2008. “She said, ‘That’s a guy in North Carolina singing your songs.’ I said, ‘I know Brad’s voice, and that’s Brad.’”
Before joining the band, DeCarlo was a big fan of the 1970s rock giants, known for hits like “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and “Foreplay/Long Time.” He was inspired to make the videos that caught Scholz’s attention after hearing about a Delp tribute concert.
“Dreams are what give us hope and inspiration,” DeCarlo said in a 2015 interview with the Pensacola News Journal. “That’s something to hold on to.”
After discovering the videos, Scholz approached DeCarlo and invited him to perform at the concert. DeCarlo agreed and would be the band’s lead singer from 2007 until his death. In a strange coincidence, DeCarlo died on the same day as Delp, 19 years later.
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In addition to his duties as lead singer in Boston, DeCarlo performed with his son, Tommy DeCarlo Jr., on guitar under the name DeCarlo.
In a statement to News Monday night via email, Scholz said DeCarlo was a “top-notch live performer” and a “dedicated father to his children.”
“This morning, Tommy lost his fight with cancer. Everyone who has heard Tommy sing on stage or on BOSTON albums knows how talented an artist he was, but few know how hard he worked to fill that role as BOSTON’s lead vocalist,” Scholz said.
“While many people will remember Tommy giving his audiences incredible live performances, I will remember him as the incredible singer who came out of nowhere to rescue BOSTON in 2007 and gave all of us with the band an additional 10 years of most memorable live performances. Rest in peace, Tommy, did “I know what it takes to be a man,” he added.
DeCarlo announced last October that he would be retiring from live performances due to health issues.
“This was not an easy choice, as playing and sharing music with all of you around the world has been one of the greatest joys of my life, but right now it is important that I take the time I need to recover and feel better again, so that when I return to the stage I can give you everything I have,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“I can’t thank you enough for the incredible love, support and understanding you have shown me and my family during this time,” she continued. “It really means a lot to us.”