Times-Tribune Staff Report

From their first LP in 1973 to their latest release of the “Love Songs” compilation CD in February 2009, the Marshall Tucker Band has never stopped recording or touring.

This August, the Southern rock group will find themselves in Corbin, headlining the Friday night concert of the 2009 Nibroc Festival in downtown Corbin.

The Marshall Tucker Band got its start in Spartanburg, S.C. when lead singer Doug Gray teamed up with Tommy Caldwell and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks, borrowing the name “Marshall Tucker” from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space.

In 1972, they signed with Capricorn Records, and the following year opened shows for The Allman Brothers.

With hit singles like “Heard It In a Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” “Can’t You See,” and “Take The Highway,” The Marshall Tucker Band earned seven gold and three platinum albums while they were on the Capricorn Records label. During the 1990s, the MTB scored four hit singles on Billboard’s country chart and one on Billboard’s gospel chart.

Founding member Doug Gray still leads the band. Current members also include slide guitarist Stuart Swanlund who joined the band in 1989; drummer B.B. Borden, a former member of both Mother’s Finest and The Outlaws; multi-instrumentalist Marcus Henderson of Macon, Ga., plays flute, saxophone and keyboards in addition to lead and background vocals; Pat Elwood on bass guitar and Rick Willis on lead guitar and vocals, both of Spartanburg S.C., are disciples of the Caldwell Brothers.

“The buying public never really cared whether we were country or rock and roll,” says Gray. “They called us a Southern rock band, but we have always played everything from country, jazz, blues, rock & roll and all things in-between.

“As we’ve become older,” Gray grins, “our Southern heritage seems to come out even more. But no matter how old we get, we can still rock your socks off.”

Gray also notes that people have gotten “married and buried” to classic MTB songs like “Desert Skies” and “Can’t You See.”

After 37 years, The Marshall Tucker Band continues to be played on classic rock and country radio, and they have never stopped touring.

Paul Thorn

On Tuesday, Nibroc Festival organizers also announced Paul Thorn would be opening for MTB during the Friday night concert.

Thorn’s newest CD is “A Long Way From Tupelo,” a collection of songs that illustrates Thorn’s connection to the music of the Mississippi heartland: blues, country, gospel, rhythm and blues, and rock ‘n’ roll.

The son of a Pentecostal Preacher, Paul grew up shaking his leg and tambourine while singing in his father’s revivals. His first such performance was at the tender age of three while the congregates filed past and filled his tambourine with money.

Eventually, Thorn developed other interests and actually became a professional boxer.

Music, however, remained Thorn’s true passion. He had learned the guitar as a child, and he began writing what he describes as “cheesy love songs.” These were the sparks that kindled his musical career.

During a family gathering at age 17, Paul ran into a first cousin, then a keyboardist for Parliament-Funkadelic. Recognizing Paul’s natural talent, his cousin Stan introduced him to veteran songwriter Billy Maddox. The meeting began a fruitful musical partnership that lasts through this day.

Thorn has opened for some of the most established acts touring today including Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck, Sting, John Hiatt, Robert Cray, Marianne Faithful and John Prine.

About Nibroc

The 57th annual Nibroc (that’s Corbin spelled backwards) Festival will be four days of fun, family and friends on Main Street in downtown Corbin Aug. 12-15. Nibroc is a community wide event, with activities planned to allow participation by all age groups from toddlers to the elderly.

Scheduled events include a car show; a 2K Run/Walk; closing of the streets party; Miss Nibroc Scholarship Pageant; two local stages in addition to the concert stage; contests and games for children; craft, food and activity booths; a parade; and carnival rides.