Patrick Simmons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Patrick Simmons | |
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| Born | October 19, 1948 in Aberdeen, Washington |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Affiliation(s) | The Doobie Brothers |
| Years active | 1970 - present |
| Official site | *Doobie Brothers Official site |
Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948) is an American singer and guitarist for the rock band The Doobie Brothers.
Simmons co-founded the Doobies in 1970 with northern California musicians Tom Johnston, John Hartman and Dave Shogren. He specialized in fingerstyle guitar, picking intricate patterns on both acoustic and electric guitars while Johnston strummed or riffed alongside him. Simmons and Johnston both played lead guitar, as well, albeit with distinctly different yet complementary styles. In the early years, Simmons' vocal style resembled that of Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin.
Following an unsuccessful debut, the band revamped its line-up late in 1971 and hit the charts the following year with Johnston's "Listen to the Music," which featured Simmons' brief lead vocal on the bridge. Simmons also performed the gospel-style lead vocal on the hit "Jesus is Just Alright."
For several years, Simmons' compositions were essentially deep album cuts or B-Sides to Johnston's (and later, Michael McDonald's) radio-friendly singles. Among his many contributions were the title song from Toulouse Street and "Clear as the Driven Snow" and "South City Midnight Lady" from The Captain and Me. However, he is best known for writing and singing the Doobies' first #1 single "Black Water" (from 1974's What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits). (In typical fashion, the monster hit was initially released as the B-Side to the Johnston tune "Another Park, Another Sunday" that stalled at #32.) During the McDonald era, Simmons co-wrote and sang "Echoes of Love" (from 1977's Livin' on the Fault Line) and "Dependin' On You" (from 1978's enormously successful Minute by Minute).
Simmons is the one constant member of the ever-evolving Doobie Brothers. He has played on every album and participated in every tour the band has undertaken. When he finally quit after the 1981 tour, new leader Michael McDonald and the remaining members decided to disband rather than continue without him. True to form, he rejoined for a farewell tour in 1982.
In 1983, Simmons released his first solo album Arcade. It yielded a Top 40 single in "So Wrong." The album was reissued on compact disc in 2007 by specialty label Wounded Bird Records. It features guest appearances by former and future bandmates McDonald, Johnston, Jeff Baxter and saxophonist Marc Russo of the Tower of Power horns.
Simmons was among the twelve Doobie alumni who reunited in 1987 for a brief benefit tour, and rejoined when the group was permanently reconstituted the following year. The Doobie Brothers continue touring and recording today, with Simmons and Johnston back in their traditional roles.
In 1998, Simmons released a second solo album entitled Take Me to the Highway. The Japan-only release features a handful of new songs alongside new recordings of "Black Water" and several other Doobie Brothers songs. The album never saw statewide release and is currently out of print.
Simmons famously has a passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Many of his songs, including "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels" (from Minute by Minute), both "Divided Highway" and "Dangerous" (from 1991's Brotherhood), and "Wild Ride" (one of two new songs featured on the 1996 live album Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert), celebrate the joys of cycling and traveling the open road.
