Tommy DeCarlo, the longtime lead vocalist of the rock band Boston, has died at 60 after a battle with brain cancer, the band’s family announced on social media. DeCarlo, who took over as Boston’s lead singer after the band’s original vocalist Brad Delp died in 2007, had been diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2025. He passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Family Pays Tribute to DeCarlo’s Strength

DeCarlo’s family shared a message on social media expressing their grief, stating, ‘It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026. After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end.’ The statement, signed by his wife Annie, daughter Talia, and son Tommy DeCarlo Jr., also asked for privacy as the family grieves.

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up in December 2025, DeCarlo suffered a sudden brain bleed in September 2025, leading to emergency surgery. During the procedure, doctors discovered cancerous masses, and DeCarlo underwent treatment until he was hospitalized from November through December after another brain bleed. He later resumed treatment after completing acute inpatient therapy.

A Journey from Fan to Frontman

DeCarlo’s career with Boston began as a fan. Born in upstate New York, he was 12 when he first listened to Boston’s early releases. Decades later, he started recording covers and posting them on his daughter’s MySpace page, according to his Spotify artist profile.

It was after writing a tribute song to Delp, Boston’s original lead singer, that DeCarlo caught the band’s attention. With encouragement from his daughter, he posted the track on MySpace and sent the link to the band, along with an offer to perform it at their upcoming tribute show.

‘I truly have to thank Brad Delp for helping me develop that gift,’ DeCarlo said on Boston’s website. ‘When I first began to listen to Boston as a young teenager, I absolutely loved Brad’s voice and how he would sing those classic hits whenever there was a Boston song on the radio.’

Founder Tom Scholz heard DeCarlo’s cover of ‘Don’t Look Back’ weeks later and was shocked by the singer’s talent and resemblance to Delp’s voice. Scholz said, ‘I haven’t heard anyone else sing like that in 35 years.’

Legacy in Rock History

DeCarlo performed ‘Smokin” and ‘Party’ at the tribute concert, which took place at what was then known as the Bank of America Pavilion, and the rest is history. He went on to tour with Boston for more than a decade, becoming a central figure in the band’s legacy.

Boston’s most recent tour was the 2017 Hyper Space Tour. This year, the band is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its self-titled debut album, which featured hits ‘More Than a Feeling’ and ‘Peace of Mind.’ The album, released in 1976, is one of the best-selling debut albums in U.S. history and was followed by two Billboard chart-topping albums: 1978’s ‘Don’t Look Back’ and 1986’s ‘Third Stage.’

Outside of Boston, DeCarlo had other musical ventures, including a band he started with his son, Decarlo, which released two records: ‘Lightning Strikes Twice’ (2020) and its 2022 follow-up, ‘Dancing in the Moonlight.’

The band’s website now features a tribute to DeCarlo, listing his dates as April 23, 1965, to March 9, 2026. USA TODAY has reached out to Boston’s representative for further comment.