Tommy DeCarlo

Tommy DeCarlo Speaker Biography

Born in Rome, New York, and raised in Utica, Tommy DeCarlo’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 his grandmother had given him. And as far as singing goes, DeCarlo explains, “When I first began to listen to BOSTON as a young teenager, I absolutely loved Brad Delp’s voice and loved to sing along with him whenever a BOSTON song would play on the radio." As Tommy tells it, "it was Brad who taught me how to sing, even though he never knew it."

Tommy's journey that led to BOSTON happened many years later, when in 2007, his daughter suggested he post his BOSTON cover songs on a MySpace page, in addition to writing 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 that included covers of the songs Smokin' and Don't Look Back, never thinking I’d get a reply."

Several weeks later, Tom Scholz, the founder of BOSTON, happened to hear Tommy’s cover of Don’t Look Back. Tommy was invited to sing two 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, MA, to sing with the band BOSTON. Are you kidding me?"

Tommy was asked to join BOSTON on their 2008 tour and has sang on every tour since, including 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and the latest tour in 2017. In 2013, Tommy sang four songs on BOSTON's sixth and latest studio album, Life, Love & Hope, including the title track. Whoever said you have to give up on your dreams? Tommy didn't. When he got his big break, DeCarlo told "Good Morning America" that he always had dreams but never dreamed this big. Tommy has been touring and singing ever since. Prior to joining BOSTON, 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.