The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce The Music of Boston with Tommy
DeCarlo, Boston singer since 2007, and The Music of Journey with American
Idol’s Rudy Cardenas on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 8 p.m.Tommy DeCarlo has been on the road touring with legendary rock band
Boston since 2007, playing to sold out audiences all over the world. This show
closes with a full set of Boston classic hits from the 1970's and 80's with a top-notch
band of touring professionals including August Zadra on lead guitar/vocals
(Dennis DeYoung Band), Steve Ferlazzo on keyboards/vocals (Avril Lavigne/Nuno
Bettencourt), John Douglas on drums (Sammy Hagar/Michael Anthony), Tommy
DeCarlo Jr. on guitar/vocals and Payton Villigan on bass/vocals.
Born in Rome, New York, Tommy’s interest in music began in elementary
school when he joined the school choir. He recalls, “Every year I would try out
for one of the lead singing solo parts and every year I never got one. They
always told me my voice was too soft.” Many years later, he would show the
world that was not the case.
Tommy started playing piano when he was 14 years old, self-taught on an old
upright in his living room. And as far as singing goes, DeCarlo explains,
“Well, I truly have to thank Brad Delp for helping me develop my vocal
abilities. I have said that I never took singing lessons but that's not exactly
true. It was Brad who taught me how to sing, even though he never knew it. When
I first began to listen to BOSTON as a young teenager, I absolutely loved
Brad’s voice and it gave me hope and inspiration at times in my life when
I needed it. It wasn’t like I was trying to sing like Brad, it was just that I
loved to sing along with him.”
His journey that led to BOSTON happened many years later when in 2007 he posted
BOSTON cover songs and other music on his myspace page, and even wrote a song
in honor of Brad Delp upon his passing. Hearing of a tribute being planned, Tommy
reached out to the band offering to sing should they need any additional
vocalists. “I sent an email to the BOSTON camp which included covers of the
songs Smokin' & Don't Look Back, never thinking I’d get a reply."
Several weeks later, Tom Scholz happened to hear Tommy’s cover of “Don’t Look
Back,” and was shocked. Knowing every nuance of Brad’s voice, he could not
believe that this was not Brad singing, exclaiming, “I haven’t heard anyone
else sing like that in 35 years.” Scholz contacted Tommy and invited him to
come and sing a few songs at the Brad Delp tribute. DeCarlo’s reaction was, “I
would have never believed this could happen in a million years. The next thing
I knew I was on my way to Boston to sing with BOSTON … are you kidding
me?"
Tommy was asked to join BOSTON on their 2008 tour and has sang on
every Tour since. Prior to that, Tommy was working as a credit
manager at The Home Depot, had never been in a band, and the largest crowd that
Tommy had sung in front of was a talent show in high school. Tommy has
been touring and playing to sold out audiences all over the world.
In a bestclassicbands.com interview with Boston founding member Tom
Scholz said, "Tommy does for Boston on stage what Brad Delp did for
Boston in the studio. Brad was the best male studio singer I've ever heard and
Tommy is the best male stage singer I've ever heard."
In 2012, Tommy co-founded with his son, Tommy Jr., DECARLO. The band
released their original debut album Lightning Strikes Twice in
2020, earning them a featured article in popular BILLBOARD MAGAZINE as 2021
Grammy® contenders. Their chart-topping hit “You Are The Fire” went viral on
streaming platforms world-wide shortly after its release.
The two show package starts with The Music of Journey with singer Rudy
Cardenas of American Idol. Rudy is a finalist from Season 6 of American
Idol, and here he'll perform a full set of Journey classic hits,
including the hits from both the Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie-eras. Rudy has a long
relationship with Journey music, starting in 2007 when he debuted on American
Idol singing "Open Arms" on national TV. He went on to cover
two Journey songs; "I'll be Alright Without You" on his album Fly (2012),
and "Separate Ways" on his album Son of a Gun (2016).
The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First
Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit
the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.
“Tommy DeCarlo
& Rudy Cardenas”
DATE: Fri., Sept. 17, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $25 – $35
LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
128
East Forsyth Street.
Jacksonville, FL
32202
(904) 355 - ARTS
(2787)
