Stuart Swanlund: Marshall Tucker Band Guitarist Dead At 54


Stuart Swanlund, the guitarist for the Marshall Tucker Band, passed away in his sleep of natural causes on Saturday at his home in Chicago.

USA Today reports that Swanlund joined the band in 1985 after it split up and regrouped, becoming the longest-running member of the band, except for Doug Gray, its founding member.

The group, whose sound is a mix of rock, country, and gospel, is probably best known for their 1977 Top 40 hit Heard It In a Love Song.

AntiMusic notes that Marshall Tucker Band founding member Doug Gray, stated of Stuart Swanlund’s death that:

“Stuart, or ‘Stubie’ as we called him, was the longest standing member of The Marshall Tucker Band from 1985, onward. He recently took a hiatus from the road due to health problems and even with those issues, Stuart’s enthusiasm onstage never waivered. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stuart’s family and those who knew him. We have lost a great friend.”

Swanlund also performed in Chicago with the Tone Generators when he was not touring with The Marshall Tucker Band. Doug Gray spoke of one highlight of working with the late guitarist, recalling last winter when they performed together on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Stuart Swanlund is survived by son William “Billy” Swanlund, his lifelong partner Stacey Shmaren, three grandchildren and his sister, Suzanne Spencer. Funeral services will be held on Saturday August 11th at the Good Shepherd Memorial Park in Boiling Springs, S.C.

Check out the video below to see Stuart Swanlund and the Marshall Tucker Band performing:

[iframe src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/_oJZV_Hhkzc” width=”420? height=”315?]

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