Tommy DeCarlo, a Boston fan who used the power of the internet to land his dream gig as the band’s lead singer, died on Monday at the age of 60, his family said in a statement on Facebook.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026,” the statement read. “After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end. During this difficult time, we kindly ask that friends and fans respect our family’s privacy as we grieve and support one another. Rest in peace Dad. With Love Annie, Talia and Tommy Jr.”

Born April 23, 1965, DeCarlo’s rise to rock and roll stardom followed a unique and atypical path. DeCarlo was working in North Carolina as a credit manager when Boston’s founder, Tom Scholz, discovered videos of him singing the band’s hits, which his daughter Talia had posted to MySpace.

Boston’s original lead vocalist, Brad Delp, had died in 2007, and Scholz said he couldn’t believe his ears when he heard DeCarlo’s voice belting out the band’s tunes.

“My wife was at her computer playing our tunes, and I asked whether it was us playing live,” Scholz told ABC News in 2008. “She said, ‘It’s some guy in North Carolina singing your songs.’ I said, ‘I know Brad’s voice, and that’s Brad.’”

Before joining the band, DeCarlo was a huge fan of the 1970s rock giants, who are known for hits such as “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and “Foreplay/Long Time.” He was inspired to make the videos that got him noticed by Scholz after learning about a tribute concert to Delp.

“Dreams are what give us hope and inspiration,” DeCarlo said in a 2015 interview with the Pensacola News Journal. “That’s something that you got to hang on to.”

After discovering the videos, Scholz reached out to DeCarlo and invited him to perform at the concert. DeCarlo agreed and would serve as the band’s lead singer from 2007 until his death. In a strange coincidence, DeCarlo died on the same day as Delp, 19 years later.

Along with his lead singing duties with Boston, DeCarlo performed with his son, Tommy DeCarlo Jr., on guitar under the name DeCarlo.

In a statement to HuffPost Monday evening via email, Scholz said that DeCarlo was a “top-tier live performer” and “dedicated father to his children.”

“This morning Tommy lost his fight with cancer. Everyone who has heard Tommy sing on stage, or on BOSTON albums, knows what a gifted artist he was, but few know how hard he worked to fill that role of BOSTON’s lead vocalist,” Scholz said.

“While many people will remember Tommy giving his audience amazing live performances, I will remember him as the incredible singer who appeared out of nowhere to rescue BOSTON in 2007, and gave all of us with the band 10 additional years of performing our most memorable live shows. Rest in peace Tommy, you did know what it took to be a man,” he added.

DeCarlo announced last October that he would be stepping back from live performances due to his health issues.

“This was not an easy choice, as performing and sharing music with all of you around the world has been one of the greatest joys of my life, but right now, it’s important that I take the time I need to recover and get back to feeling my best, so that when I return to the stage, I can give you everything I’ve got,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

“I can’t thank you all enough for the incredible love, support, and understanding you’ve shown me and my family during this time,” he continued. “It truly means the world to us.”

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.