Marshall Tucker Band guitarist Stuart Swanlund passed away in his sleep on Saturday while in Chicago at the age of 54. No further information on his passing have been released.
Stuart Swanlund by Chris Joles
Founding member Doug Gray said in a statement “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.”
Gray also posted on Facebook “My thoughts and prayers today will be with Billy Swanlund, Stacey Schmaren, his best friend for more years than I can remember, and all of Stuart’s family. We all have lost a friend. Please take a moment to remember Stuart’s one and only great laugh and certainly his everlasting smile. Testify with that slide guitar in that band you will be joining!”
Charlie Daniels tweeted, “I just got word before I went on stage that my friend Stuart Swanlund guitar player with the Marshall Tucker Band had passed away,so sad”
Swanlund, who was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Spartanburg, SC, didn’t join the band until 1985 but, according to reports, was a lifelong friend of Gray’s and would listen to the band practice while sitting on his grandmother’s porch.
He is survived by a son Billy, his girlfriend Stacey Schmaren, his sister Suzanne Spencer and three grandchildren.
