Toby Myers, a bass player who recorded and toured with John Mellencamp for nearly two decades, died at his home Thursday, January 16, after a long battle with cancer, Legacy.com reports. The Indiana-born musician was 75.
A tribute to Myers was posted on Mellencamp’s official website that reads, “Sadness has entered the Mellencamp band and John over the passing of a long time member. Toby was a great contribution to the music, and the band. We will miss him as a friend, and a fellow musician.”
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Myers joined Mellencamp’s band in 1982 and played bass on everyone of the singer/songwriter’s studio albums from Uh-Huh (1983) through Rough Harvest (1999). Toby also contributed upright bass to John’s 2003 album, Trouble No More.
Myers played on many of Mellencamp’s best-known songs, including “Pink Houses,” “Authority Song,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Cherry Bomb,” and “Get a Leg Up.”
Myers also wrote the song “Emotional Love,” which appeared on Mellencamp’s 1996 album Mr. Happy Go Lucky. This marked the first time John recorded a song written by a member of his band. In addition, Toby co-wrote “Days of Farewell,” which was the last track on the 1998 John Mellencamp album.
Myers also had a role in the 1992 film Falling from Grace, which was directed by and starred Mellencamp.
More About Myers
Myers was born in Indianapolis and grew up in the area. In 1971, he joined the local band Pure Funk, which in 1974 changed its name to Roadmaster.
Roadmaster was discovered by Todd Rundgren, which led to the band getting a label deal. Roadmaster released four albums between 1976 and 1981. After the band was dropped by the Mercury label in the early 1980s, Myers was recruited to play bass with Mellencamp, who at the time was known as John Cougar.
Myers’ only child, a son named Cash, was born in 1999. He decided to stop touring then to be a stay-at-home dad. At the time of his death, Toby still had a music studio and rehearsal space in his hometown of Nashville, Indiana. He also played in a number of local bands.
Myers is survived by his son and his ex-wife, Roberta Chirko. A celebration of Toby’s life will be announced at a later date. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Myers name to The Brown County Art Guild, where he liked to volunteer.