HOKES BLUFF– Doug Gray remembers a young fan whose grandfather still talked about meeting him decades earlier. He also remembers writing a song on a Burger King bag, a keepsake he says he still has.

Those stories helped bring more than five decades of music into focus during his interview with WEIS Radio. Speaking with Crystal Wells on Wednesday, Oct. 14, The Marshall Tucker Band vocalist discussed the people and experiences behind the songs.

The conversation came ahead of the band’s Saturday, Oct. 17, appearance at the first Loblolly Fest. The Bluff Amphitheater in Hokes Bluff will host the festival, which also features Drake White, Randy Houser, and Kassi Ashton.

However, Gray’s reflections reached well beyond the upcoming performance. He talked about returning from Vietnam, finding an audience, and watching the band’s music pass from grandparents to younger listeners.

A Young Fan and Her Grandfather’s Memory

For Gray, one encounter after a fair performance illustrated how long those connections can last.

During an autograph session, he noticed a girl who looked about 13 standing by herself. But when he asked about it, she pointed toward her grandfather nearby.

The grandfather had already met Gray years earlier. In fact, the girl told him her grandfather repeatedly shared a photograph and the story of that meeting.

At Thanksgiving gatherings, she explained, the memory would come up again. Although many years had passed, her grandfather still remembered the impression Gray had made.

Gray recalled the exchange while describing a fan base that now includes several generations. He also said young listeners, including teenagers, continue discovering the music.

For him, that relationship centers on the meaning people find in the songs. Instead of simply watching the musicians, he wants audiences to listen to the messages they share.

Gray described the atmosphere surrounding the band as a family. In addition, he said he regularly thanks concertgoers for becoming part of the musicians’ lives.

“We just want to be part of their family and just stay that way,” he said.

Still Having Fun on the “While I’m Young” Tour

That sense of connection also helps explain why Gray continues touring.

Wells asked about the name of the band’s 2026 “While I’m Young” tour. Gray answered with a joke about being 78 and hearing people say he does not look his age.

“Everything that I do is in fun,” he said.

Speaking from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Gray also talked about enjoying time with family. His easygoing humor continued throughout the interview, even as the conversation turned to the band’s longevity.

Although he recalled difficult moments and mistakes along the way, he repeatedly described his life and career as blessed.

Later, Gray reflected on learning that anger does little good. He said experience had helped him appreciate people who smile, laugh, and enjoy themselves.

“I like everybody to laugh and have a good time,” he said.

He also emphasized that the musicians sharing the stage deserve credit. Some band members, he said, have worked with him for decades.

Gray compared the happiness visible in early band photographs with what audiences still see onstage. For him, the people playing the music share a desire to keep that history alive.

From Vietnam to a Band With Its Own Sound

When Wells asked when he first realized the group could become something special, Gray resisted taking too much credit.

Instead, he expressed gratitude that people continue buying and streaming the music after so many years.

He then looked back to his return from Vietnam and the decision to pursue music. Gray recalled dissatisfaction with the jobs the musicians were doing and a desire to play the music they enjoyed.

According to the band’s official biography, the group formed in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 1972. Gray has fronted it since the beginning.

The original six members included Gray, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle, Paul T. Riddle, and Jerry Eubanks. Their self-titled debut followed in April 1973.

The band’s name also came from an unlikely source. The musicians found a piano tuner’s name on a key to their rehearsal space and adopted it for themselves.

During the interview, Gray recalled touring with the Eagles and performing alongside artists from different musical backgrounds. He also pointed to appearances at jazz festivals and the Grand Ole Opry.

That variety, he explained, reflected a group that did not set out to follow a rigid musical formula.

Gray also recalled other artists recording the band’s songs, mentioning Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Kitty Wells. He saw those interpretations as evidence that the songs’ meanings reached beyond the original recordings.

Today, the band’s catalog includes more than 20 studio albums, along with numerous live releases. Its best-known songs include “Can’t You See,” “Heard It in a Love Song,” and “Fire on the Mountain.”

The Song Written on a Burger King Bag

One of the interview’s most memorable stories began with an ordinary ride down the road.

Gray recalled coming up with “I Should Have Never Started Lovin’ You” while traveling with his first wife. He said they were in an old 1955 Chevrolet pickup when the song came to him.

But when he asked her to write it down, they had little available for paper. A Burger King bag became the solution.

“I still have the bag, by the way,” Gray said. “I don’t have her, but I have the bag.”

Wells laughed at the story and suggested the fast-food connection offered material for a jingle. Gray then joked about the song continuing to bring in money.

He also contrasted that old pickup with the more dependable vehicles he rides in now. With characteristic humor, he suggested that worrying about whether the truck would finish a trip belonged to a different songwriting era.

Hearing the Audience Sing Back

Wells also asked what Gray feels when a crowd sings “Heard It in a Love Song” back to him.

He said the response feels good, especially when the audience gets loud. Then, knowing listeners have the words, he sometimes holds out the microphone and lets them take over.

Gray also joked about the surprise he could cause by changing the lyrics after audiences had learned them so well.

Meanwhile, he pointed to the band’s reach through streaming as another measure of its continuing audience. He recalled receiving recognition at the Grand Ole Opry for surpassing a billion streams on Pandora.

But throughout those reflections, Gray kept returning to gratitude for listeners and his fellow musicians.

When Wells asked what younger fans should understand about the group, he emphasized enjoying the performance and letting the music carry the experience.

Bringing the Music to Hokes Bluff

Looking toward Loblolly Fest, Gray said he welcomed the opportunity to perform and thought the festival was a good idea.

He also discussed the other artists on the bill. Although he said he had not yet met Drake White, he had heard a recording of White singing “Can’t You See.”

Organizers describe Loblolly Fest as a hometown event for White, who grew up in Hokes Bluff. In addition, a portion of festival proceeds will support his Benefit for the Brain.

White’s recovery from a stroke in 2019 inspired that effort. It supports awareness and fundraising surrounding brain and mental health, with an emphasis on awareness, recovery, and research.

The Bluff Amphitheater is at 1820 U.S. Highway 278 East and has a Gadsden mailing address. Tickets are available through the festival’s iTickets listing.

The outdoor event will proceed rain or shine. However, general admission seating is first come, first served, and organizers do not guarantee a seat.

Guests may bring lawn or stadium chairs, but must remove them from carrying bags for security screening. The festival also requires clear bags and prohibits outside food and beverages.

Before traveling, guests should check the venue and ticket listing for updates and complete entry policies.

As the interview ended, Gray encouraged listeners to take their time and enjoy the day. He then offered a straightforward preview of the band’s approach: “We’ll play everything that they want to hear.”

Listen to the full WEIS Radio interview below as Crystal Wells talks with Doug Gray about the music, memories, and people behind The Marshall Tucker Band.

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