In the late 1980’s I had my first experience with Marshall Tucker Band. I am so glad I met these guys.

During the summer of 1990 we must have performed 20 shows together. Every single show still holds great memories for me.

Once (before tiny cell phones), I can remember them being late for a sound check.

You must understand, The Marshall Tucker Band was never late; in fact, most of the time they would hit the stage early because they were bored.

I got into my car and drove over to the hotel. Sitting right in front was their huge “western-style” painted tour bus. I felt a little relieved knowing they were in town.

I asked the lady at the front desk if she could ring lead singer Doug Gray’s room. The phone just rang and rang. Next, Jerry Eubank’s room…same thing, no answer. The lady said they arrived the night before and had no idea where they might be.

I went to the pool. Nobody was there, but I heard a very strange, high-pitched motor sound coming from the parking lot behind the pool. I could see the top of their truck and figured they might be fixing something with the sound I heard, being some kind of electric drill or other tools.

I walked out onto the parking lot and saw them all playing with remote-controlled cars. They were having the time of their lives, yelling and howling like little kids on Christmas morning. When they saw me they looked kind of surprised.

I was actually blown away. Here were some of the top “southern rock” musicians in the world hiding behind their hotel. Were they sneaking in some extra sex, drugs or booze before the show? Noooooo, they were playing with their toys

“Hello boys,” I joked

“Hey Cantafio, what are you doing here?” Doug asked.

“It’s five o’clock, sound check was at 4:00, and I was wondering if you guys made it to town,” I replied.

“FIVE O’CLOCK! HOLY SHIT!” They all yelled as they scrambled to pick up their cars and ran to their rooms to get dressed.

As it turned out, they had been playing outside from about 10:00 AM until I showed up. Immersed in “miniature-auto play,” they lost track of time.

MTB are one of those bands that you look forward to working with because of the personality of the group. Almost a military-run organization when they are back stage, they are childlike when the show is over. I love their southern, country drawls, and I love to hear Doug howl as he walks up on stage, “How y’all doin’? Ahhhh OOOooooo.”

We got along so well that when their lead-guitarist Stuart Swanlund needed a break, he toured with my band for a year. 

At the end of that summer we were in Lisle, Naperville and Bolingbrook, Illinois within a three-week period.

A tragedy hit that same area Labor Day weekend 1990. A tornado ripped through Plainfield, Illinois.

Eighteen hours away from Illinois on the day of the tragedy, they were all watching the news on their bus. They noticed that when a map of the area came onto their screen, Plainfield was very close to Lisle, Naperville and Bolingbrook.

Tuesday morning I got a call from Doug Gray. Doug said that if we were willing to organize a show, they would come back in a few weeks and perform for free to help the victims.

Within minutes, my partners at our production company made some calls, and within two days we had the skeleton of a disaster relief concert put together.

Mayor Roger Clair and the City of Bolingbrook would host. Ronnie Rice and the New Colony Six, Big John Howell and the Born to Boogie Band, and my group at the time, Joe Cantafio and the Giant Killers, join the heroes of the day. The Marshall Tucker Band had helped raise funds for the people of Plainfield.

Before long, a cable TV station and a local radio station turned it into a telethon. We all started at noon entertaining the viewers by showing photos of the disaster, telling stories of why we were there, and begging for money before the show started at 5:00PM.

I believe we raised over $100,000.00 that day for the city and people of Plainfield, but not one thing would have been possible without the help of some southern boys with hearts of gold. I have never seen The Marshall Tucker Band take any credit for what they had done. That goes to prove it came from their hearts.