ROCKINGHAM — Shortly after the news broke Wednesday evening that the Marshall Tucker Band would not be performing at ThunderFest Thursday, the band released a statement why.
“Doug Gray, the lead singer and founding member…will be taking a hiatus from the road due to health concerns,” reads the statement, without going into detail.
The 76-year-old has fronted the South Carolina band since its formation in 1972.
“Taking care of business as I always do,” Gray said in a statement. “Thanks and see you soon."
The show at ThunderFest was one stop on the band’s All Our Friends Tour for 2025.
The band had three more concerts scheduled for April in Florida and Georgia before taking a short break and heading out west.
According to the release, the band will be back on tour, with Gray off stage, starting with a May 9 concert in Nevada.
"The band can’t wait to jam with JJ Grey & Mofro, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Jefferson Starship,” Gray added. “It’ll be a jam you’ll never forget!"
On short notice, ThunderFest organizers from the city of Rockingham and Richmond County Tourism Development Authority were able to secure another singer from the Palmetto State: Edwin McCain.
The event, a celebration of NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway, begins at 4 p.m. in downtown Rockingham’s Harrington Square, with several drivers from the upcoming weekend races slated to sign autographs: Rajah Caruth, Matt Mills, Bayley Currey, Andres Perez de Lara, Kaden Honeycutt and Connor Mosack from the Craftsman Truck Series; Dean Thompson from the Xfinity Series; Zachary Tinkle and Austin Vaughn from the ARCA Menards Series East.
Former NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, hosts of the Herm and Schrader podcast, will also be at ThunderFest, as well as the races.
When it comes to music, there are several bands and solo artists playing post-race concerts this weekend:
April 18
Good Company - Rockingham Dragway
Kyle Garris - Norton Farms
EchoVibe - Axe to Grind
Skyler Whitfield - Double Vision
April 19
Jonathan Robinson - Norton Farms
