Tommy DeCarlo, the frontman of US rock band Boston since 2007, has died of brain cancer at the age of 60. His family confirmed his death on Monday, 9 March 2026, in a statement, noting that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer last September and fought with 'incredible strength and courage' until the end.
DeCarlo joined Boston after original frontman Brad Delp's death in 2007. A lifelong fan, he had posted a tribute song and covers on MySpace, which caught the attention of founding member Tom Scholz. Scholz invited him to perform at a tribute concert, and DeCarlo later became the band's lead vocalist, singing on their 2013 album Life, Love & Hope.
Before joining Boston, DeCarlo worked as a credit manager at Home Depot in North Carolina. His first major gig was at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, a far cry from his previous karaoke performances at a local bowling alley. He described the experience as 'the most scary time' but also 'amazing'.
DeCarlo was born and raised in Utica, New York. He discovered music through school choir and taught himself piano at 14, but credited Delp with inspiring his love of singing. He said he never tried to imitate Delp, but simply loved to sing along with him.
The band last toured in 2017. Scholz has been working on a new album, and guitarist Gary Pihl had hoped for a 2026 tour to mark the 50th anniversary of Boston's debut album. DeCarlo is survived by his wife Annie and two children; he also formed the band Decarlo with his son Tommy DeCarlo Jr in 2012.
