The Doobie Brothers Artistfacts

The Doobie Brothers song list

timeline

The Doobie Brothers Artistfacts

1970-1982, 1987-
Tom JohnstonVocals, guitar1970-1977, 1987-
John HartmanDrums1970-1979, 1987-2022
Patrick SimmonsGuitar, vocals1970-
Dave ShogrenBass1970-1971
Tiran PorterBass1971-1992
Michael HossackDrums1971-1973, 1987-2012
Keith KnudsenDrums1973-1982
Jeff "Skunk" BaxterGuitar1974-1979
Michael McDonaldVocals, keyboards1975-1982, 2019-
John McFeeGuitar1979-1982, 1993-
Chet McCrackenDrums1979-1982
Cornelius BumpusSax, keyboards1979-1982
Bobby LaKindPercussion1987-1992
The Doobie Brothers became of the top rock bands in America in the early '70s, but the touring took a toll on lead singer Tom Johnston, and he had to leave the band for health reasons in 1975. His replacement was Michael McDonald, who turned the band more towards blue-eyed soul. McDonald was with the group until they split up in 1982; when they re-formed a few years later, Johnston returned.
McDonald, who along with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter had recorded with Steely Dan, joined the Doobies to play keyboards, sing backing vocals, and maybe contribute some songs. He became their frontman at the urging of guitarist Patrick Simmons, who was expected to take over that role. In the studio, when McDonald sang his song "Takin' It To the Streets" for producer Ted Templeman, there was no question he was their new lead singer.
In a 1986 Los Angeles Times poll, the Doobie Brothers were the band that readers most wanted to reunite, behind Led Zeppelin. They first got back together in 1987 to play a benefit concert for the Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation at the Hollywood Bowl, which was the fastest show to sell out there since the Beatles played in the mid-1960s. Over the next year, they worked on a new album and hashed out plans for a tour. That album, Cycles, was released in 1989 and landed them a hit with "The Doctor."
Tom Johnston and John Hartman met through a mutual friend: Moby Grape guitarist Skip Spence. Early on, they wanted to emulate that band. Sax player Cornelius Bumpus, who joined the Doobies in 1979, was in a late version of Moby Grape.
The band's name, suggested by a friend (apparently as a joke), was taken from a slang term for a marijuana joint. "Doobie" was a popular word in California culture. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA
When doing press for straight-laced radio stations and publications, they came up with a handy response to the inevitable question, "How did you get your name?" They said it came from the children's TV series Romper Room, which had a character called Do-Bee (a bee).
They were first eligible in 1996, but The Doobie Brothers didn't make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2020. The members inducted are: Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons, John McFee, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Keith Knudsen, Tiran Porter and Skunk Baxter.

Nancy Wilson of Heart was among those paying tribute at the ceremony. "They're such a seminal treasure of a rock band," she said. "They deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because they invented that s--t."
Because of their name, they were often mischaracterized as a hippie band, but thanks to their song "Jesus Is Just Alright," they were also sometimes thought of as evangelicals. They did not push any religion: That song is a cover that the band adapted because they liked how it sounded.
There is a lot of Brother-hood in this band, which avoided infighting for the most part. When they broke up in 1982, it was amicable - they did a goodbye tour and went their separate ways. McDonald always speaks well of his time in the band and has joined them for various reunions.
Bobby LaKind was a Doobie Brothers lighting man before joining the band on percussion in 1979. He died of cancer in 1992.
In 1983, John McFee and Keith Knudsen formed the country group Southern Pacific, later adding Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook.
Before landing on the name The Doobie Brothers, the band originally went by Pud.
Following his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter became a self-taught ballistic missile expert who went on to chair a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense.
The Doobie Brothers' origins were humble: Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston started the band in a house on 12th Street in San Jose, playing biker bars like the Chateau Liberté just to pay rent and put gas in their Volkswagen.

Comments: 13

L E Mack from OhioHey, I love the Doobie Brothers music before Michael MacDonald became lead singer. Both I and my spouse never cared for his voice.
G2mike from Olympia, WaLoved this band, What once were vices are now habits is my favorite. Black Water was good, but my favorite on the album was Another Park Another Sunday.
Jimmy LynchI saw a DB show in Lakeland fl 1976 or 77 Michael Mc was in place. Front & center stage at the $8.50 gen admission show I was digging communicating via gesture with the band members. Not knowing who skunk Baxter was enjoying his guitar work, suddenly Jeff broke into Steely Dan's Reeling in the year's catchy guitar riff. very cool later found he did work with SD however he is not credited with that song I don't believe
Turbooffy from Alma Co.Very sorry to hear Doobies drummer Tom Hartman died.
Jds from ChicagoAfter Johnston left, the band would have folded, McDonald saved the band from dying. and got them their only Grammy.
I love the group before and after the change in in leads.
Nic from Sydney, AustraliaNo doubt not a new thing, but the intro for the Doobie's version of "Jesus is Just Alright" (released in Nov 1972) has a very similar beat to Steely Dan's "Do It Again", released the same month but recorded in August of 1972 (listen to the intro's one after the other). The songs are totally different though and "Do It Again" kept the Bossa Nova going throughout the whole song. There was no such beat in the earlier versions of "Jesus is Just Alright" by the Byrds, or Art Reynolds. Clearly just a little coincidence, but there was a fascination with that beat throughout the early sixties and Steely Dan brought it back to great effect.
Dana from Woodbury, Mn, MnBoth incarnations of the band have their qualities. As for the downhill part, I think that happened by the end of the 1970's when the harder drugs came into prominence. The band needed a break by the early 1980's. "What A Fool Believes" is one of my all-time favorite songs by the group as is "China Grove" and "Long Train Running".
Kevin from Cowan, TnThe Doobie Brothers were the greatest with Johnston and Simmons paired together. McDonald added a few good tunes but nothing beats the original.
Tom from La Grange, CaUh, Actually...Hartman was a cop north of SF for a while after he left the band.
Aj from Cleveland, GaThe Doobie Brothers are awesome
Malik from Philadelphia, PaThe Doobie Brothers are one of the greatest bands in the seventies and maybe of all time. What A Fool Believes is one of the best singles that the Doobie Brothers has ever recorded. It's one of the greatest singles of all time. I like the Doobie Brothers when they had Micheal McDonald in the group. That's when they were propelled to superstardom when they had him.
Don from Pittsburgh, PaAnother awesome band of the 70's. IMO,when they recorded the "Captain and Me" and "what were once vices are now habits" there was'nt a better band at the time. Then they brought in Michael Mcdonald and it when downhill from that point.Still the albums mentioned are a great listen.
David from Lubbock, TxOriginal group is from the Dallas,Tex area. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is listed as a guitarist but his forte is the pedal steel guitar.