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7/1/2007, 07:30 AM
Southern rock guitarist McCorkle dies at 60He co-founded, wrote anthem for the Marshall Tucker Band
By PETER COOPER
The Tennessean
George McCorkle, a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band who wrote the Southern rock anthem "Fire on the Mountain," died Friday morning at University Medical Center in Lebanon. He was 60 and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Mr. McCorkle leaves behind a substantial musical legacy. The Tucker Band's songs and sound have influenced scores of performers — including Travis Tritt, Hank Williams Jr. and Kid Rock — and Mr. McCorkle's guitar work was an integral element in the group.
"George was such a big, big part of the sound of that original Marshall Tucker Band," said Charlie Daniels, a longtime friend of Mr. McCorkle. "If you took him out of it, the Tuckers would not sound like the same band. He played that electric guitar wide open."
Mr. McCorkle and the Tuckers' other guitarist, Toy Caldwell, wove their instruments together like a twangier version of the Rolling Stones' guitar duo of Ron Wood and Keith Richards. In the mid-1970s, the Tucker Band was a bridge between musical styles, helping bring rock fans to country and to bring country fans to rock and blues.
"Kids aren't ashamed of country anymore, and they're not ashamed of blues," Mr. McCorkle told interviewer Frye Gaillard in an interview that was included in Gaillard's 1978 book, Watermelon Wine: The Spirit of Country Music. "And when you mix it all together and the music gets to cooking, it's a pretty … exciting thing to be around."
Knowing that Daniels was working on an album called Fire on the Mountain, Mr. McCorkle quickly wrote a song by that name in hopes that it would be included on Daniels' album. Daniels didn't use it, but in 1975 the Tucker Band put it on the Searching For A Rainbow album. "Fire on the Mountain" became the Tuckers' first Top 40 hit single, and it remains one of the best-known songs in the Southern rock lexicon.
In 1984, Mr. McCorkle, Caldwell and drummer Paul Riddle quit the Marshall Tucker Band. Mr. McCorkle moved to Middle Tennessee in the 1990s, and began working full time as a songwriter. His co-written "Cowboy Blues" was recorded by Gary Allan for Allan's Smoke Rings in the Dark album, and his songs had recently been recorded by John Corbett and Beverley Mitchell. He also played with The Renegades of Southern Rock, a band made up of original members of Wet Willie, the Outlaws and other groups.
Tuckers have died young
Mr. McCorkle is the third member of the Tucker Band to die relatively young. Bass man Tommy Caldwell was killed in a 1980 car wreck, and Toy Caldwell died of a heart attack in 1993. The current, touring version of the Marshall Tucker Band contains only one original member, singer Doug Gray, though the band still records some of Mr. McCorkle's compositions.
While his music often contained plenty of swagger, Mr. McCorkle's friends knew him as kindhearted and reflective.
"He was a very gentle soul, and sweet sort of person," Daniels said. "Always so even-keeled. I don't know hardly what else to say about George. He was one of the good guys."
Mr. McCorkle, who resided in Carthage, is survived by his wife, Vivienne, and son, Justin McCorkle, of Pauline, S.C.
By PETER COOPER
The Tennessean
George McCorkle, a founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band who wrote the Southern rock anthem "Fire on the Mountain," died Friday morning at University Medical Center in Lebanon. He was 60 and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Mr. McCorkle leaves behind a substantial musical legacy. The Tucker Band's songs and sound have influenced scores of performers — including Travis Tritt, Hank Williams Jr. and Kid Rock — and Mr. McCorkle's guitar work was an integral element in the group.
"George was such a big, big part of the sound of that original Marshall Tucker Band," said Charlie Daniels, a longtime friend of Mr. McCorkle. "If you took him out of it, the Tuckers would not sound like the same band. He played that electric guitar wide open."
Mr. McCorkle and the Tuckers' other guitarist, Toy Caldwell, wove their instruments together like a twangier version of the Rolling Stones' guitar duo of Ron Wood and Keith Richards. In the mid-1970s, the Tucker Band was a bridge between musical styles, helping bring rock fans to country and to bring country fans to rock and blues.
"Kids aren't ashamed of country anymore, and they're not ashamed of blues," Mr. McCorkle told interviewer Frye Gaillard in an interview that was included in Gaillard's 1978 book, Watermelon Wine: The Spirit of Country Music. "And when you mix it all together and the music gets to cooking, it's a pretty … exciting thing to be around."
Knowing that Daniels was working on an album called Fire on the Mountain, Mr. McCorkle quickly wrote a song by that name in hopes that it would be included on Daniels' album. Daniels didn't use it, but in 1975 the Tucker Band put it on the Searching For A Rainbow album. "Fire on the Mountain" became the Tuckers' first Top 40 hit single, and it remains one of the best-known songs in the Southern rock lexicon.
In 1984, Mr. McCorkle, Caldwell and drummer Paul Riddle quit the Marshall Tucker Band. Mr. McCorkle moved to Middle Tennessee in the 1990s, and began working full time as a songwriter. His co-written "Cowboy Blues" was recorded by Gary Allan for Allan's Smoke Rings in the Dark album, and his songs had recently been recorded by John Corbett and Beverley Mitchell. He also played with The Renegades of Southern Rock, a band made up of original members of Wet Willie, the Outlaws and other groups.
Tuckers have died young
Mr. McCorkle is the third member of the Tucker Band to die relatively young. Bass man Tommy Caldwell was killed in a 1980 car wreck, and Toy Caldwell died of a heart attack in 1993. The current, touring version of the Marshall Tucker Band contains only one original member, singer Doug Gray, though the band still records some of Mr. McCorkle's compositions.
While his music often contained plenty of swagger, Mr. McCorkle's friends knew him as kindhearted and reflective.
"He was a very gentle soul, and sweet sort of person," Daniels said. "Always so even-keeled. I don't know hardly what else to say about George. He was one of the good guys."
Mr. McCorkle, who resided in Carthage, is survived by his wife, Vivienne, and son, Justin McCorkle, of Pauline, S.C.