{"id":55528,"date":"2026-01-13T14:24:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/13\/meet-mark-dixon-bostons-one-time-secret-singer\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T14:24:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:24:55","slug":"meet-mark-dixon-bostons-one-time-secret-singer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/13\/meet-mark-dixon-bostons-one-time-secret-singer\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Mark Dixon, Boston\u2019s One-Time Secret Singer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A man who spent a year as the lead singer of Boston<\/a>, but wasn\u2019t allowed to tell anyone, said he still wasn\u2019t sure why the deal collapsed.<\/p>\n

Mark Dixon was hired by Boston mastermind Tom Scholz<\/a> in 1981 after original vocalist Brad Delp appeared to have quit. Scholz was impressed with Dixon\u2019s ability to sound almost exactly like Delp.<\/p>\n

But around a year later DIxon was told he wasn\u2019t required, and dismissed without receiving all the pay he\u2019d been promised.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> How Tom Scholz Navigated Tension Recording Boston\u2019s \u2018Third Stage\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

The situation arose during a period of unrest in the Boston organization. Scholz was in dispute with a former manager who claimed he was entitled to a share of songwriting credits.<\/p>\n

He was also in dispute with record label CBS, who were suing him for his failure to deliver a third Boston album on time. With the band unable to operate, Scholz had suggested to his colleagues that they work on their own projects, which led to rumors that the band had split \u2013 raising more concerns at the label.<\/p>\n

Scholz eventually won the court case, but it took six years and added to the delay over Third Stage<\/em><\/a>, which finally arrived in 1986 via the MCA label.<\/p>\n

In a new YouTube documentary (embedded below) journalist Brendan Borrell suggested that Scholz had been forced into continuing with Delp, rather than working with Dixon or both singers.<\/p>\n

In late 1980 Dixon saw an ad in Rolling Stone which read: \u201cWanted: rock singer. $50,000 minimum guarantee first year. Highly successful U.S. recording artist adding another vocalist. Male high range capable of Chicago, Foreigner, Boston, new Starship, Bad Co. style vocals. Tape quality, material and accompaniment unimportant. Acceptable applicants will be auditioned live, expenses paid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Partly attracted by the promise of a paycheck worth around $200,000 today, Dixon \u2013 then a singer with a covers band \u2013 recorded three songs in his basement. \u201cTwo of them I can remember,\u201d he said. \u201cOne was Journey, \u2018Lights\u2019 \u2013 I always liked that one \u2013 and Boston, \u2018Let Me Take You Home Tonight.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He sent the tape to the address in the ad and forgot about it, until Scholz called him a few months later. \u201cI recognized his voice,\u201d Dixon said. \u201cHe goes, \u2018I\u2019m producing a project for a band.\u2019 He wouldn\u2019t tell me who the band was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Tom Scholz Wanted A New Brad Delp<\/h3>\n

Having been chosen from around 3,000 applicants, Dixon was flown to Scholz\u2019s home in Massachusetts to record a version of Boston\u2019s \u201cA Man I\u2019ll Never Be.\u201d He said of the trip: \u201cOne day I\u2019m just gigging in my own city\u2026 and now I\u2019m hanging around this pop star. [He had] every modern convenience you could see as far as recording goes down in his basement.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he session concluded, he continued, \u201c[Scholz] turned around with a look on his face. He said, \u2018I don\u2019t believe it \u2013 you sound just like Brad. This is amazing! I\u2019ve never heard anyone sound like Brad.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Borrell quoted Scholz\u2019s later comments during the legal dispute with CBS: \u201cI mounted a one-man campaign to canvas the country and find a vocalist who had the identical vocal sound as Brad Delp, for the purpose of using both of them on the record, and then having this fellow do the live touring when Brad didn\u2019t feel like going out.\u201d<\/p>\n

His completed version of \u201cA Man I\u2019ll Never Be\u201d contained Dixon and Delp\u2019s vocals alternating line by line. When he played it to his label boss, Scholz said, \u201cHe couldn\u2019t tell the difference. Neither could I.\u201d<\/p>\n

CBS \u2013 anxious to keep Boston\u2019s signature sound \u2013 agreed that Dixon should remain aboard. \u201cWe discussed also whether or not this fact should be a secret for the time being,\u201d Scholz said. \u201cI felt it should. He agreed, and also suggested that\u2026 we not tell anyone else at CBS\u2026 which I agreed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Top 10 Boston Songs<\/a><\/p>\n

Scholz then flew to Niagara Falls to tell Dixon: \u201cI want to let you know \u2026 that you will now be the new lead singer of Boston. \u2026 But you have to keep this quiet.\u201d The singer\u2019s response: \u201cI said, \u2018Really? Keep this quiet? Okay, I\u2019ll do the best I can.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He set about living as healthily as he could \u2013 \u201cAll I drank was Diet Pepsi. No smoking, no nothing\u201d \u2013 but broke his promise to Scholz when he felt he had to explain things to his local colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy band at the time was all mad at me \u2013 \u2018You\u2019re leaving us!\u2019 I couldn\u2019t tell them\u2026 but I told them. Somehow it got back to Tom. He called me up one day, furious. \u2018What are you doing running around your city telling people you\u2019re my singer?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Dixon was let off with a warning not to do it again. During the year he received a demo from Scholz for the song \u201cDon\u2019t Say Goodbye,\u201d with Delp\u2019s vocals. He flew to Scholz\u2019s studio, recorded his own vocal parts in a few hours, and flew home the same day.<\/p>\n

Then, after months of silence, he got another call from Scholz, who told him: \u201cAs of tonight you won\u2019t be the lead singer of Boston anymore. Brad\u2019s coming back. But I\u2019ll send you another check\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark Dixon Considered Suing Boston<\/h3>\n

He recalled thinking, \u201cI was on top of the world\u2026 and then I\u2019m back where I started on the ground.\u201d Scholz put him in touch with another band, but nothing came of it. Dixon considered suing Boston since he\u2019d only ever received about half the money he\u2019d been promised, but decided against it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI developed a drinking habit,\u201d the vocalist admitted, saying it was partly because he felt he\u2019d never been given a complete explanation.<\/p>\n

Around 45 years on, though, he reflected: \u201cPeople knew me\u2026 around the area as the ex lead of Boston. They knew that, and that really helped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delp eventually left Boston after completion of their Third Stage tour in 1988, returning in 1994 and remaining until he took his own life in 2007. Tommy DeCarlo has been fronting the band since 2008, briefly sharing duties with Stryper\u2019s Michael Sweet.<\/p>\n

Dixon, who\u2019s received a number of honors including being inducted into two local halls of fame, added: \u201cI\u2019d like the fame. I\u2019d like the money. You know what? I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the Mark Dixon Documentary<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Boston Albums Ranked<\/h2>\n
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Their debut album remains an all-time bestseller, but over the next four decades, they’ve released only five more LPs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n