Everybody has a soundtrack to their youth, and for those of us that grew up during the ‘70s, Boston was one of the biggest bands on the planet. Over the weekend, we received the unsettling news that Brad Delp, lead singer for the classic rock band Boston, was found dead in his Atkinson NH home on Friday, March 9th at the young age of 55 years old. According to Atkinson Police, there is no evidence of foul play, but the cause of death was not readily apparent. The state medical examiner’s office is investigating the death and performing a toxicology test.

Although Boston didn’t ‘wow’ critics with their self-titled 1976 debut album, hit songs like “More Than A Feeling,” “Peace Of Mind,” “Rock And Roll Band” and “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” took the album to the number three slot on the charts. It ended up selling 17 million copies and the abovementioned songs have earned permanent rotation on classic rock radio. The band’s follow-up album, 1978’s Don’t Look Back, went to number one on the Billboard charts, yielding hit songs in the title track and “A Man I’ll Never Be,” subsequently selling more than 7 million copies.

Although much has been made of guitarist/producer Tom Scholz’s carefully-crafted production of the Boston debut – going so far as to create his own basement twelve-track recording studio with which to layer vocals and instruments on tape – it was Delp’s easily recognizable voice that was the band’s signature sound. Although the guitar riffs and textured rhythms are immediately familiar when a Boston song comes on the radio, Delp’s fine vocal control and wide range made the songs instantly memorable.

In 1980, while Scholz was dinking around in the studio with what would eventually become the third Boston album, Delp helped Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau with his solo album. The pair later resurfaced in the band Orion The Hunter, recording an album in 1984, with Delp singing background vocals behind Fran Cosmo. Delp provided vocals for Boston’s Third Stage album, released in 1986, which peaked at number three and yielded a number one hit with “Amanda.” Delp and Goudreau once again reunited in the band RTZ, which released the 1992 album Return To Zero featuring Delp’s vocals.

After a lengthy legal battle with Sony Music, combined with Scholz’s typical perfectionist production, Boston’s fourth album Walk On wasn't released in 1994. The album featured former Orion The Hunter vocalist Fran Cosmo; not surprisingly, without Delp’s friendly and familiar vocals, the album peaked at number seven but failed to chart a hit single. Delp later toured with Boston in support of Walk On, sharing vocals with Cosmo; Delp returned in 2002 to share vocals with Cosmo on Corporate America, Boston’s last album. Ever the Beatles fan, between Boston tours, Delp performed with a cover band called Beatle Juice, recreating classic Beatles songs on stage.

My old buddy Bruce was a huge fan of Boston, and he had me listening to the band’s first two albums in an entirely new light, appreciating the craftsmanship of the songs as well as the memories of old girlfriends that the songs dredged up. Before his death, Bruce and his daughter attended a Boston show in Nashville and rocked out, having a great time. Brad Delp had that positive effect on people. Boston may be dismissed by critics and faux hipsters alike, but long after people have forgotten Sam Beam or Connor Obst, “More Than A Feeling” will still be blasting from car radios. Thanks Brad!