- - Iconic '70s Rock Band's 'Secret' Singer Says He's Still Owed Thousands Over 40 Years Later

Jacqueline Burt CoteJanuary 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM

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Photo by Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music on Getty Images

Decades after churning out a long string of chart-topping hits like "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind," classic rock band Boston is still just as beloved as ever. But fans might be shocked to know that the band had a "secret" singer for a period of time...and all these years later, he's finally speaking out about his experience (and why he's still owed thousands of dollars).

As Mark Dixon revealed in a new documentary video from journalist Brendan Borrell, he was a singer with a covers band in late 1980 when he saw an ad in the back of Rolling Stone magazine reading:

“Wanted: 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.”

According to Dixon, he recorded three songs in his basement — including "Lights" by Journey and Boston's "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" — and sent the tape off to the address in the ad.

A few months later, Boston's main songwriter and composer Tom Scholz gave him a call.

“I recognized his voice,” Dixon said. “He goes, ‘I’m producing a project for a band.’ He wouldn’t tell me who the band was.”

Apparently, Scholz was searching for a singer who had the "identical vocal sound as [Boston lead singer] 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’t feel like going out.”

“One day I’m just gigging in my own city…and now I’m hanging around this pop star. [He had] every modern convenience you could see as far as recording goes down in his basement," Dixon said.

As Dixon recalled, after their recording session, “[Scholz] turned around with a look on his face. He said, ‘I don’t believe it — you sound just like Brad. This is amazing! I’ve never heard anyone sound like Brad.’”Scholz and Dixon agreed to keep the latter's work with the band a secret, but Dixon had a bit of a problem keeping the news to himself.“My band at the time was all mad at me. ‘You’re leaving us!’ I couldn’t tell them…but I told them," Dixon admitted. "Somehow it got back to Tom. He called me up one day, furious. ‘What are you doing running around your city telling people you’re my singer?’”

After warning him not to tell anyone else, Scholz continued to work with Dixon on recordings. But then, after a few more months of silence, Dixon got another call from Scholz, saying, "As of tonight you won’t be the lead singer of Boston anymore. Brad’s coming back. But I’ll send you another check…”“I was on top of the world…and then I’m back where I started on the ground," Dixon said. Even worse, it seems that check never came, as he only received about the half the money he was promised (though he considered suing, he ultimately decided against it).

Ultimately, it seems he benefitted from the experience nonetheless.

“People knew me…around the area as the ex-lead of Boston," he said. "They knew that, and that really helped.” And even though Dixon went on to say that he would have liked the "fame" and "money," he's still "happy" with his life today.

Related: This Singer-Songwriter Didn't Get Credit for Pink Floyd's 'Cosmic Masterpiece' Until 30 Years Later

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”