Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. (November 13, 1947 – February 25, 1993) was the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band.[1] A founding member of the band, Caldwell remained with the group until 1983. In addition to his role as lead guitarist, he was also the band's steel guitarist and performed lead vocals including on one of the band's best-known hits, "Can't You See."
Caldwell was born November 13, 1947, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Mr. and Mrs. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Sr. He began playing guitar before his teen years with his younger brother Tommy Caldwell. He developed a unique style of playing, playing the electric guitar using his thumb rather than a pick. Toy played basketball and football in high school with friends George McCorkle, Jerry Eubanks, and Doug Gray. While very involved in sports, the boys eventually became interested in music including jazz and blues. By the age of sixteen, Caldwell was passionate about music, sports, and his other obsession, motorcycles. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Caldwell decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. In 1966, he reported for recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After being wounded in Vietnam in September 1968, he was evacuated for two weeks, then returned for duty. Caldwell was discharged in 1969 and once again began playing music with his high school buddies. The Spartanburg chapter of the Marine Corps League is named the Hutchings-Caldwells Detachment in honor of Toy, his brother Tommy and another Marine, Pvt Nolan Ryan Hutchings, who was killed during the Iraq Invasion in 2003.[2]
Career
The Marshall Tucker Band
Returning to Spartanburg from his military service Caldwell formed the Toy Factory band with Franklin Wilkie, Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks. Younger brother Tommy Caldwell joined in 1973 when Wilkie left and the band became the Marshall Tucker Band. Toy Caldwell was the group's lead guitarist and main songwriter.[3]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2012)
Later career
He later formed the Toy Caldwell Band and released an eponymous CD in 1992; the record was later renamed Son of the South by Southern country rocker and Caldwell's personal friend, Charlie Daniels. The album was digitally re-released in 2009 through Hopesong Digital / GMV Nashville.
Personal life
Caldwell married his wife Abbie on September 12, 1969. The song "Ab's Song" from The Marshall Tucker Band's debut album was written for her. He was also the father of two girls, Cassady and Geneal Caldwell.[4]
He was the older brother of co-founder and bass guitaristTommy Caldwell, who was killed at age 30 in an automobile accident on April 28, 1980, and to Tim Caldwell, who on March 28, 1980, one month prior to Tommy's death, was killed at age 25 in a collision with a Spartanburg County garbage truck on S.C. Highway 215.[5][6][7]
Death
Toy Caldwell was found dead in bed by his wife, Abbie, on February 25, 1993, at his home in Moore, South Carolina.[1] The cause of death was reported as cardio-respiratory failure due to viral myocarditis, by Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett.[8][9][10] Nevertheless, a toxicologist's report found that the cause of death was a cardiac arrest brought on by cocaine use.[11]
^Country Music: The Encyclopedia By Irwin Stambler, Grelun Landon. p. 285
^The tombstone tourist: musicians By Scott Stanton. p 164.
^"Cocaine blamed in death of Caldwell". GoUpstate. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
January 06, 2023
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This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr November 13 1947 February 25 1993 was the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band 1 A founding member of the band Caldwell remained with the group until 1983 In addition to his role as lead guitarist he was also the band s steel guitarist and performed lead vocals including on one of the band s best known hits Can t You See Toy CaldwellToy Caldwell during a 1974 concert Background informationBirth nameToy Talmadge Caldwell Jr Born 1947 11 13 November 13 1947Spartanburg South Carolina U S DiedFebruary 25 1993 1993 02 25 aged 45 Moore South Carolina U S GenresSouthern rock country rock rockOccupation s Musician songwriterInstrument s Guitar vocals pedal steel guitarYears active1972 1993 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 The Marshall Tucker Band 2 2 Later career 3 Personal life 4 External links 5 ReferencesEarly life EditCaldwell was born November 13 1947 in Spartanburg South Carolina to Mr and Mrs Toy Talmadge Caldwell Sr He began playing guitar before his teen years with his younger brother Tommy Caldwell He developed a unique style of playing playing the electric guitar using his thumb rather than a pick Toy played basketball and football in high school with friends George McCorkle Jerry Eubanks and Doug Gray While very involved in sports the boys eventually became interested in music including jazz and blues By the age of sixteen Caldwell was passionate about music sports and his other obsession motorcycles He also enjoyed hunting and fishing Caldwell decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps In 1966 he reported for recruit training at Parris Island South Carolina After being wounded in Vietnam in September 1968 he was evacuated for two weeks then returned for duty Caldwell was discharged in 1969 and once again began playing music with his high school buddies The Spartanburg chapter of the Marine Corps League is named the Hutchings Caldwells Detachment in honor of Toy his brother Tommy and another Marine Pvt Nolan Ryan Hutchings who was killed during the Iraq Invasion in 2003 2 Career EditThe Marshall Tucker Band Edit Returning to Spartanburg from his military service Caldwell formed the Toy Factory band with Franklin Wilkie Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks Younger brother Tommy Caldwell joined in 1973 when Wilkie left and the band became the Marshall Tucker Band Toy Caldwell was the group s lead guitarist and main songwriter 3 Main article The Marshall Tucker Band This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it April 2012 Later career Edit He later formed the Toy Caldwell Band and released an eponymous CD in 1992 the record was later renamed Son of the South by Southern country rocker and Caldwell s personal friend Charlie Daniels The album was digitally re released in 2009 through Hopesong Digital GMV Nashville Personal life EditCaldwell married his wife Abbie on September 12 1969 The song Ab s Song from The Marshall Tucker Band s debut album was written for her He was also the father of two girls Cassady and Geneal Caldwell 4 He was the older brother of co founder and bass guitarist Tommy Caldwell who was killed at age 30 in an automobile accident on April 28 1980 and to Tim Caldwell who on March 28 1980 one month prior to Tommy s death was killed at age 25 in a collision with a Spartanburg County garbage truck on S C Highway 215 5 6 7 DeathToy Caldwell was found dead in bed by his wife Abbie on February 25 1993 at his home in Moore South Carolina 1 The cause of death was reported as cardio respiratory failure due to viral myocarditis by Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett 8 9 10 Nevertheless a toxicologist s report found that the cause of death was a cardiac arrest brought on by cocaine use 11 External links EditToy Caldwell at Find a GraveReferences Edit a b Toy Caldwell Jr 45 a Founder of the Marshall Tucker Band New York Times February 26 1993 p A17 Marines salute Hutchings Caldwells Dudley Brown Herald Journal Jun 29 2003 Toy Caldwell Jr 45 a Founder of the Marshall Tucker Band The New York Times 26 February 1993 Toy T Caldwell Jr 1947 1993 Find a Grave Find a Grave Abbie Caldwell Interview tuckerhead com 1998 retrieved 23 January 2015 The Gamecock 30 April 1980 Page 11 Image 19 retrieved 23 January 2015 Tim Caldwell gravestone photo slobotabouttown com retrieved 23 January 2015 http goupstate com article 19930716 NEWS 307160325 Country Music The Encyclopedia By Irwin Stambler Grelun Landon p 285 The tombstone tourist musicians By Scott Stanton p 164 Cocaine blamed in death of Caldwell GoUpstate Retrieved 2020 02 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toy Caldwell amp oldid 1107380824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
