On May 15, 2013, the world lost a great Southern rocker and an even greater human being, Tony Heatherly. Tony died at home sitting up in a chair, where he was preparing to have a bowl of breakfast cereal. By all appearances, he just slipped peacefully away. He was 63.
Tony enjoyed a long and varied career as a musician, playing bass with Mickey Fowler & The Variations before joining the Toy Caldwell Band, where he recorded with Toy on Caldwell’s only commercially available album. Tony was asked by Toy to sing the lead vocal on “Texas On My Mind.” He played with Toy until Toy’s death. A few years later, he was invited to join The Marshall Tucker Band, where he performe hundreds of shows and recorded with the band until his health forced him off of the road.
Visitation with family and friends of Tony Heatherly will take place today, Friday, May 17th at Robinson Funeral Home, 1425 Powdersville Rd, Easley, SC 29642. The funeral will take place Saturday at 1 PM at the same location.
- Michael Buffalo Smith
