Tommy DeCarlo’s son, Tommy DeCarlo Jr., praised the late Boston frontman’s “incredible legacy” in an emotional statement.
“Some of my most cherished memories with my father are the ones we shared through music,” the 35-year-old musician exclusively told Page Six about the performer, who passed away earlier this month after a battle with brain cancer.
“Whether it was touring the world or working side by side in the studio, those moments meant everything to me.”
The vocalist “constantly inspired” the child to “go the extra mile and never compromise.”
DeCarlo Jr. recalled, “One of his favorite pieces of advice was, ‘If you wait for opportunities to come to you, you’ll be waiting your whole life. You’ve got to go out and create opportunities for yourself.'”
He went on to gush about the journey his father, a longtime Boston fan, took to becoming the band’s lead singer in 2007, and how it felt to be “standing off stage” at a concert.
“We often looked at each other and said, ‘I still can’t believe this is real,'” DeCarlo Jr. said. “It was a shared sense of awe, and how we went from sitting in nosebleed seats to standing on stage watching my dad sing for the very band we had admired for so long.”
“My father left behind an incredible legacy, and I intend to honor him and carry on that legacy. I know he wants me to continue making music and pursue my dreams with the same passion and determination he had.”
News of Mr. DeCarlo’s death broke on March 9th. Mr. DeCarlo, a native of Utica, New York, was 60 years old.
In addition to DeCarlo Jr., the rocker is survived by his wife, Annie, and daughter, Talia.
DeCarlo’s loved ones announced his death “with heavy hearts” and shared on Facebook how “he fought with incredible strength and courage to the very end.”
The family added: “During this difficult time, we ask that our friends and fans please respect our family’s privacy as we grieve and support each other. Rest in peace, Dad.”
DeCarlo Jr. shared his own eulogy on Instagram last week, with the caption: “I’m finally at peace, Dad. Thank you for always looking out for me and for being not only the best father, but also my best friend.”
A GoFundMe was set up to cover DeCarlo’s expensive medical bills before his death, and it was revealed that DeCarlo suffered back-to-back brain hemorrhages in September and November 2025.
He returned home from the hospital in December last year, but says he has a “long road ahead.”
