Born and raised in Utica, New York, Tommy DeCarlo lived and breathed sports, playing baseball, football and basketball throughout his school years. His 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 about 14 years old. Self-taught, one could usually find him picking out chords on an old upright when he wasn't playing sports. As far as singing goes, DeCarlo explains, "I truly have to thank Brad Delp for helping me develop that gift. When I first began to listen to Boston as a young teenager, I absolutely loved Brad's voice and I would sing those classic hits whenever there was a Boston song on the radio. It wasn't like I was trying to sing like Brad, it was just that I loved to sing along with him," Tommy explains. "Although I never took any singing lessons, it was Brad Delp who taught me how to sing, even though he never knew it."
In 2007, Boston founding member Tom Scholz happened to hear Tommy's cover of "Don't Look Back," and he was shocked. Knowing every nuance of Brad's voice, he could not believe that this was not Brad singing. "I haven't heard anyone else sing like that in 35 years," said Scholz. In August of 2008, following an appearance on stage with Boston at the Brad Delp Tribute Show, Scholz invited Tommy to join Boston as their lead vocalist, and the rest is history.
