Tommy DeCarlo, the longtime lead singer of Boston who joined the band following the death of the group’s original lead vocalist, Brad Delp, died today (March 9, 2026). His death, at age 60 after a brief battle with brain cancer, was announced on his Facebook page by his family. In a sad coincidence, his passing took place 19 years to the day that Delp took his own life at age 55.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026,” his children wrote. “After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end.” It was signed: “With love, Annie, Talia and Tommy Jr.”

DeCarlo suffered a sudden brain bleed in late September 2025 and underwent an emergency craniotomy. During surgery, doctors discovered two melanoma masses on his brain and another spot on his lungs. While recovering, he had another brain bleed and had been hospitalized since Thanksgiving. A GoFundMe campaign was established.

His planned concerts last fall were obviously canceled. “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,” DeCarlo wrote in October, “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.”

DeCarlo became a Boston fan not long after the release of their 1976 self-titled debut. When Delp died in 2007, DeCarlo wrote and recorded an original song about the singer, as well as several Boston covers, and posted them on his MySpace page. Word got to the band’s mastermind Tom Scholz who ultimately hired him as part of a new Boston lineup.

In an exclusive interview with Best Classic Bands in 2017, Scholz was asked about the audition process. “He came up and sang ‘Don’t Look Back’ and just blew our socks off,” he said. “He had never been in a band before. Now you look at him and you would swear he’s been doing it since he was a teenager.”

In the same interview, Scholz was asked to compare the two singers. “Tommy does for Boston on stage what Brad Delp did for Boston in the studio. Brad was the best male studio singer I’ve ever heard and Tommy is the best male stage singer I’ve ever heard.”

Watch Boston perform inn 2017