Breaking News; Red Sox Broadcaster Honored by Popular Mass Band with Tribute Song | By Matt Vautour

As he reflected on the end of a remarkable 42-year legacy, Brian Scully did what he does best—he wrote a song.

“Castiglione” isn’t just about retiring Red Sox Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Castiglione, whom Scully, the lead singer of Dalton and the Sheriffs, has never met. Yet, he’s shared hundreds, maybe thousands, of car rides with him through the radio. The song is about more than just Castiglione’s retirement; it’s a tribute to baseball, the Red Sox, and how a shared passion for both has connected generations of Scullys, from Brian’s grandfather, Charlie, to his own three children.

Dalton and the Sheriffs are a Massachusetts-based band, rooted in the South Shore suburbs and South Boston bars. Their genre? Well, that depends on the listener. Some may hear country-rock, others Americana-country or alt-rock-country. Scully describes them as “a rock band that tells country stories” or “what you’d expect a country band from Boston to sound like.”

Their music is full of nods to their Bay State roots, with songs like “Boston” and “Ted’s Last Game” — the latter a tribute to Scully’s grandfather Charlie, who witnessed Ted Williams’ legendary final game at Fenway Park.

“Castiglione” captures the essence of those moments spent driving with the ball game on the radio. Memories of trips to Hingham’s old Building 19 in a family truck with his grandfather, listening to games on WRKO; the early days of the band, driving to gigs around New England; and now, rides with his own children.

The idea for the song first came to Scully on Opening Day 2024, before Castiglione had even announced his retirement. But it wasn’t until last week that he finally put the thought into music. He recorded it with just an acoustic guitar—minimalist and raw. With more time, there might have been more production, additional instruments. But with Castiglione set to bid farewell to the airwaves on Sunday, there wasn’t time to perfect it.

In a way, the unpolished recording suits the subject—a man who spent much of his career calling games on AM radio.

“It’s a demo, but I think the bones of what I was trying to do are there,” Scully said. “It’s not the best recording, but I really like the song.”

“It’s been the soundtrack to my drives,” Scully added. “When you’re in a band, all you do is drive. Having Joe on the radio was like having a friend with you on those late-night drives to gigs.”

At 44, Scully’s life as a fan parallels Castiglione’s 42-year career. Like many New Englanders, Scully remembers important life events in relation to significant Red Sox games—a sentiment captured in his song.

Thanks to modern technology, the recording quickly made its way from Scully’s guitar to streaming platforms. By Friday morning, Spotify listeners could hear it for themselves.