| Toy Caldwell | |
|---|---|
Toy Caldwell during a 1974 concert. |
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 13, 1947 |
| Died | February 25, 1993 (aged 45) |
| Genres | Southern rock Rock |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1973–1993 |
| Associated acts | The Marshall Tucker Band, Toy Caldwell Band |
Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. (13 November 1947 - 25 February 1993) was the lead guitar player and a founding member of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band.[1] He was a member of the band from 1973 to 1983.
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Caldwell was born November 13, 1947 in Spartanburg, SC to Mr. and Mrs. Toy Talmadge Caldwell Sr. He began playing guitar before his teen years with his younger brother Tommy Caldwell. Toy played basketball and football in high school with friends George McCorkle, Jerry Eubanks, and Doug Gray. While interested in sports deeply, the boys eventually became interested in music including jazz and blues. By age sixteen, Toy became deeply passionate about music, sports, and his other obsession: motorcycles. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. In 1966, Caldwell decided to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam as an infantryman and continued to play guitar. He was wounded in 1967 and spent seven months in Japan. He was then redeployed to Vietnam. 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 soldier.[2]
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 rocker and Caldwell's personal friend, Charlie Daniels. The album was digitally re-released in 2009 through Hopesong Digital / GMV Nashville. As guitarist for Marshall Tucker, Caldwell wrote almost all of their songs. Caldwell was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was the brother of Marshall Tucker co-founder and bass guitarist Tommy Caldwell. His death in 1993 was reported as respiratory failure.[3][4]
Caldwell married his wife Abbie and they had 2 daughters, Cassidy and Geneal.