The Doobie Brothers

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The Doobie Brothers

Origin San Jose, California
Country United States
Years active 1970-today

The Doobie Brothers are an American rock group, best known for hit singles like "Black Water," "China Grove," "Listen to the Music," "Long Train Runnin'," and "What a Fool Believes." They have sold millions of records from the 1970s to the present. [1]

Contents

[edit] Original incarnation

In 1969, singer, guitarist and songwriter Tom Johnston and drummer John Hartman formed the nucleus of what would become The Doobie Brothers. Skip Spence of Moby Grape (formerly of the Jefferson Airplane) introduced them to one another after Hartman arrived in California determined to meet Spence and join an aborted Grape reunion. New bandmates Johnston and Hartman called their fledgling group Pud and experimented with different lineups and styles as they performed in and around San Jose. They were briefly a power trio, and briefly worked with a horn section. In 1970, they teamed up with bass player Dave Shogren and singer, guitarist and songwriter Pat Simmons. Simmons, who had belonged to several area groups and also performed as a solo artist, was already an accomplished fingerstyle player whose approach to the instrument complemented Johnston's rhythmic R&B strumming. In a recent interview, Tom Johnston attributed the band's eventual name to friend and housemate Keith "Dyno" Rosen, who considered it an improvement over Pud.

The Doobie Brothers honed their chops by performing live all over northern California in 1970. They attracted a particularly strong following among local chapters of the Hells Angels and scored a recurring gig at one of the bikers' favorite venues, the rustic Chateau Liberte in the Santa Cruz Mountains. An energetic set of demos (some of which were briefly released on Pickwick Records in 1980 under the title Introducing the Doobie Brothers), showcased fuzz-toned, dual lead electric guitars, three-part harmonies and Hartman's frenetic drumming and earned the rock group a contract at Warner Bros. Records.

At this point in their history, the band's image reflected that of their biggest fans - leather jackets and motorcycles. However, the group's 1971 self-titled debut album departed significantly from that image and their live sound of the period. The album, which failed to chart, emphasized acoustic guitars and frequently reflected country influences. The bouncy lead-off song "Nobody," the band's first single, has surfaced in their live set several times over the ensuing decades and even appears on the 2004 DVD Live at Wolf Trap.

The following year's sophomore album, Toulouse Street (which spawned the classic rock staples "Listen To The Music," "Rockin' Down the Highway" and "Jesus Is Just Alright"), brought the band their breakthrough success. In collaboration with manager Bruce Cohn, producer Ted Templeman, and engineer Don Landee, the band put forward a more polished and eclectic set of songs. They also made necessary improvements to the line-up. First, they replaced Shogren with singer, songwriter and bass guitarist Tiran Porter. Second, they supplemented Hartman's drumming with that of Navy veteran Michael Hossack. Porter and Hossack were both stalwarts of the northern California music scene. Pianist Bill Payne of Little Feat contributed keyboards for the first time, as well. (He added keys to their studio recordings for many years to come and once briefly joined their touring band.) With an improved rhythm section and the songwriting of Johnston and Simmons, the Doobies' trademark sound - an amalgam of R&B, country, bluegrass, heavy metal and rock and roll - emerged fully formed.

A string of hits followed, including Johnston's "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove," from the 1973 album The Captain and Me. Other noteworthy songs on the album were Simmons' country-ish ode "South City Midnight Lady" and the explosive, heavy metal raveup, "Without You," for which the entire band received songwriting credit. (Onstage, the song would stretch into a 15-minute jam with additional lyrics ad-libbed by Johnston. A 1974 appearance on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert featured one such epic performance of the tune.)

Simmons' signature tune "Black Water" (from 1974's What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits) became the band's first #1 single. "Black Water," which featured the memorable refrain, "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty mama come and take me by the hand," eventually propelled the album to multi-platinum status. This was in spite of the fact that none of the remaining songs achieved success on the singles charts. Among the tunes that failed to take flight were Johnston's lyrical "Another Park, Another Sunday" (as a single, "Black Water" was its B-side) and his horn-driven funk song "Eyes of Silver."

Before completing the Vices recording sessions, Hossack abruptly departed the band. Drummer, songwriter and vocalist Keith Knudsen was recruited quickly and left with the Doobies on a major tour within days of joining. Both Hossack's drums and Knudsen's voice are heard on Vices.

Also in 1974, Steely Dan co-lead guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter learned that his band was retiring from the road and that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker intended to work almost exclusively with session players in the future. In need of a steady gig, he segued into the Doobie Brothers as third lead guitarist in the middle of their current tour. He had previously worked with the band in the studio, adding pedal steel guitar to both Captain ("South City Midnight Lady") and Vices ("Black Water," "Tell Me What You Want"). During this period and for several subsequent tours, the Doobies were often supported onstage by Stax Records legends, The Memphis Horns. Live recordings with the horn section have aired on radio on the King Biscuit Flower Hour, though none has been officially released. They also appeared as session players on multiple Doobies albums.

[edit] Michael McDonald years

By the end of 1974, Johnston's health was suffering from the rigors of the road. He was absent when the band joined the Beach Boys, Chicago and Olivia Newton-John on "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve" that December. By then, the western-themed Stampede had been completed for release in 1975. It featured yet another hit single, Johnston's cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland-written Motown hit "Take Me in Your Arms" (also covered by Blood, Sweat, and Tears). The song included a distinctive Baxter guitar solo. Simmons contributed the atmospheric "I Cheat the Hangman," as well as "Neal's Fandango," an ode to Santa Cruz, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady. Ry Cooder added his slinky slide guitar to Johnston's cowboy song, "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues."

By the start of the 1975 promotional tour for Stampede, Johnston's condition was so precarious that he required emergency hospitalization. With Johnston convalescing and the tour already booked, Baxter proposed recruiting a fellow Steely Dan alum to fill the hole: singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael McDonald. Simmons, Knudsen, Porter and McDonald divvied up and sang Johnston's parts on tour, while Simmons and Baxter shared lead guitar chores.

Under contract to release another album in 1976, the Doobies were at a crossroads. Their primary songwriter and singer remained unavailable, so they turned to McDonald and Porter for material to supplement that of Simmons. The resulting LP, Takin' It to the Streets, debuted a radical change in their sound. Electric guitar-based rock and roll gave way to blue-eyed soul and soft rock emphasizing keyboards and horns. Baxter contributed jazz-inflected guitar stylings reminiscent of Steely Dan. Above all, McDonald's voice became the band's new signature sound. Takin' It featured McDonald's title track and "It Keeps You Runnin'," both hits ("It Keeps You Runnin'" was later covered by Carly Simon on her album Another Passenger). Bassist Porter wrote and sang a tribute to the absent Johnston, entitled "For Someone Special." A greatest hits compilation, Best of the Doobies, followed before year's end. (In 1996, the Recording Industry Association of America certified Best of the Doobies "Diamond" for sales in excess of ten million.)

Their new sound was further refined and McDonald's dominant role cemented with their 1977 album, Livin' on the Fault Line. It featured a cover of the Motown classic "Little Darlin' (I Need You)," "Echoes Of Love" (a Simmons composition written for, but not recorded by Al Green), and "You Belong To Me" (later a hit for McDonald's co-songwriter Carly Simon). To help promote Fault Line, the band performed live on the PBS show Soundstage and even appeared (as themselves) in a classic, two-part episode of the series "What's Happening!!" The episode decried the evils of bootlegging live concerts, depicting the bootleggers as hoodlums who pressure Rerun to surreptitiously record a Doobies show under threat of violence. The band performed several tunes, mixing live vocals and instrumentation with prerecorded backing tracks. The Season 2 DVD presents the episode at its original length, preserving a live vocal performance of "Take Me in Your Arms" (featuring McDonald) that is often omitted when the show airs in syndication.

Restored to fitness and briefly back in the fold, Johnston contributed one original song to Streets and also added a vocal cameo to Simmons' tune "Wheels of Fortune." Johnston also made limited live appearances with the band in 1976, documented in a concert filmed that year at the Winterland in San Francisco (excerpts from which appear occasionally on VH1 Classic). None of Johnston's songs appeared on Fault Line, although he received credit for guitars and vocals and was pictured on the album sleeve. Before the Fault Line tour began, Johnston departed the band that he co-founded for a solo career that eventually yielded two modestly successful Warner Bros. albums: Everything You've Heard is True and Still Feels Good.

After almost a decade on the road, and with seven albums under their belts, the Doobies' career unexpectedly soared with the success of their next album, 1978's Minute by Minute. It spent five weeks at the top of the music charts and dominated several radio formats for the better part of two years. McDonald's song "What a Fool Believes," written with Kenny Loggins, was the band's second #1 single and earned the songwriting duo a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The breezy, McDonald-penned title song received the Grammy for Pop Vocal Performance by a Group and the album was honored with an Album of the Year nod. Among the other memorable songs on the album were "Here to Love You," "Dependin' On You" (co-written by McDonald and Simmons), "Steamer Lane Breakdown" (a Simmons bluegrass instrumental workout) and McDonald's "How Do the Fools Survive?" (featuring an epic, career-defining guitar lead by Jeff Baxter). Nicolette Larson (whose best-known hit was "Lotta Love") and departed former bandleader Johnston contributed guest vocals on the album.

The triumph of Minute by Minute was bittersweet, however, because it coincided with the near dissolution of the band. The pressure of touring while recording and releasing an album each year had worn the members down. Before Minute by Minute's monumental success had become apparent, founding drummer Hartman and longtime guitarist Baxter exited through the revolving door. A two-song set on the January 27, 1979 broadcast of Saturday Night Live with guest host Michael Palin marked the final television appearance, and one of the last live performances, of the band in its middle-period configuration. (Hartman subsequently joined Johnston's touring band in time to tape an appearance on Soundstage.)

With the surprise smash album embedded in the charts and more money to be earned on the road, the remaining Doobies (Simmons, Knudsen, McDonald and Porter) decided to forge ahead. In 1979, Hartman was replaced by session drummer and vibraphonist Chet McCracken, and Baxter by multi-instrumental string player John McFee (late of Huey Lewis' early band Clover); Cornelius Bumpus was also recruited to add vocals, keyboards and saxophone to the line-up. In addition, they elevated their former roadie turned vocalist, songwriter and percussionist Bobby LaKind from sideman to full member of the band. This line-up toured throughout 1979, including stops at Madison Square Garden and New York City's Central Park for the No Nukes benefit shows with like-minded artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and John Hall.

In 1980 the Doobies released their ninth studio album, entitled One Step Closer. The LP featured the Top Ten hit "Real Love" (not to be confused with the John Lennon composition), but did not dominate the charts and the radio as Minute by Minute had two years earlier. Long frustrated with the realities of relentless touring and yearning for a stable home life, Porter left the band during the recording of Closer. Renowned session bassist Willie Weeks stepped in and the Doobies continued touring throughout 1980 and 1981. (Post-Doobies, Weeks has performed with the Gregg Allman Band, Eric Clapton and many others.)

By 1982, even Simmons had resigned from the band. Fewer of his tunes had graced the recent albums and he did not appear to relish the role of session musician for the Michael McDonald Band. Now faced with the prospect of calling themselves "The Doobie Brothers" with no remaining original members, the group elected instead to disband. The reluctant Simmons, already hard at work on his first solo album, was drafted for a farewell tour on the promise that this truly would be the end. At their last concert in San Francisco, they were joined onstage by founder Tom Johnston for what was presumed to be the final rendition of his staple, "China Grove." Former members Porter, Hossack and Hartman subsequently took the stage for an extended version of "Listen to the Music." Knudsen sang while Simmons, Johnston and McFee traded licks on guitar. Of all the members through the years, only Baxter and Shogren were absent when the group took its "final" bow. A live album, Farewell Tour, followed in 1983.

[edit] Reunion years and beyond

The Doobies hibernated for the next five years, reuniting in different configurations only for annual Christmas season performances for the patients and staff at the Stanford Children's Hospital. Simmons released a fine but commercially disappointing solo album, Arcade, in 1983. Knudsen and McFee formed Southern Pacific and recorded four albums that found success in the country charts. (Former Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook would join the band after the first album in 1986.) Out of print for decades, Arcade was reissued on compact disc in early 2007 by specialty label Wounded Bird Records, which is also the home of Southern Pacific's catalog as well as Johnston's solo efforts. McDonald became established as a solo artist. His voice dominated adult contemporary radio throughout the eighties, though his star faded in the nineties. (He has experienced a renaissance of popularity over the last several years as an interpreter of Motown classics.)

Doobie Brothers in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on August 31, 2006.
Doobie Brothers in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on August 31, 2006.

The reformation of the Doobies was scarcely premeditated. On a personal quest for a worthy cause, Knudsen had become active in Vietnam veterans' affairs. Early in 1987, he persuaded eleven of the thirteen other Doobie alumni to join him for a concert to benefit veterans' causes. Answering the call were Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, Jeff Baxter and John McFee (vocals, guitars and strings), John Hartman, Michael Hossack and Chet McCracken (joining organizer Knudsen on drums), Michael McDonald (keyboards and vocals), Cornelius Bumpus (keyboards, vocals, saxophone and flute), Bobby LaKind (vocals and percussion), and Tiran Porter (bass and vocals). There were no surplus bass players, as Weeks had other commitments and long-absent Shogren reportedly was not invited. They soon discovered that tickets were in great demand, so the "one concert" quickly evolved into a brief tour. This expanded lineup was able to perform selections from every album using a smorgasbord of instrumentation that they could not have previously duplicated onstage. Baxter and McFee played pedal steel and fiddle, respectively, during "Black Water" and "Steamer Lane Breakdown." "Without You" featured no fewer than four drummers and four lead guitarists. Producer Templeman, a musician in his own right, banged percussion and LaKind sometimes played Knudsen's trap set while the latter came to the front of the stage to join the chorus. The tour culminated (sans McDonald, McFee and Knudsen) at the glasnost-inspired July 4 "Peace Concert" in Moscow, with Raitt and Santana sharing the bill. Excerpts appearing later that year on the Showtime cable network included a performance of "China Grove."

The successful reunion sparked discussions about reconstituting the band. They eventually decided to replicate the Toulouse Street/Captain and Me incarnation, settling on a line-up featuring Johnston, Simmons, Hartman, Porter and Hossack plus more recent addition LaKind and released Cycles on Capitol Records in 1989. It featured a Top Ten single, "The Doctor," which showcased Johnston's unmistakeable voice and soaring lead guitar, and appeared calculated to remind listeners of the band's pre-McDonald triumphs. Musically, the song is essentially the "China Grove" chord progression played in reverse. (The aural connection to "China Grove" is further enhanced by guest Bill Payne's tinkling piano.) Cycles was certified gold. Bumpus participated as a sideman in the 1989 tour, adding his distinctive voice, keyboards, saxophone and flute to the proceedings. His presence bridged the gap between the current band and the McDonald era; he sang lead vocals on the song "One Step Closer" in performance while Simmons took McDonald's part.

The success of Cycles led to the release of 1991's Brotherhood, also on Capitol. By this time, LaKind had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and retired from the band. The remaining members grew their hair back out, donned denim and leather, and attempted to revive their biker image of 1970. In spite of the makeover and strong material led by Simmons' now trademark "Dangerous" (featured in the Brian Bosworth film vehicle, Stone Cold), Brotherhood was unsuccessful. The accompanying tour was ranked among the ten least profitable tours of the disappointing 1991 summer season by the North American Concert Promoters Association, according to an article published in Billboard Magazine on December 14 of that year. The 1987 Doobie alumni band reunited one last time in 1992 to perform a benefit for LaKind's children shortly before his passing that year. Noticeably frail, LaKind nevertheless joined the group on percussion for a few numbers. The concert was recorded and subsequently broadcast on the Superstars in Concert radio series accompanied by a plea for contributions to the LaKind family fund.

A brief period of hiatus followed, during which Simmons collaborated with bassist and songwriter John Cowan on a project that remains unreleased. When the band emerged yet again for a 1993 co-headlining tour with the partially reunited Foreigner, Porter and Hartman had exited for good but veteran drummer Knudsen and guitarist McFee had rejoined as permanent members. As a sideman, Cowan played bass in 1993 and 1994. (Porter still performs in and around northern California, occasionally with Moby Grape and regularly with Stormin' Norman and the Cyclones and the Beatles tribute band the Santa Cruz White Album Ensemble. His only solo album, the self-produced Playing to an Empty House, has become a collector's item.) With renewed energy, the band began to experiment with different arrangements of several tunes. They even sampled McDonald's songbook from time to time, eventually restoring "Takin' it to the Streets" to the set on a semi-permanent basis with Simmons and bassist Skylark subbing for McDonald. Bumpus and McCracken stepped in as sidemen on occasion, depending on the band members' schedules and their onstage needs.

The band has toured incessantly since 1993. In 1995, they reunited with McDonald for a brief co-headlining tour with the Steve Miller Band. The "Dreams Come True" tour featured all three primary songwriters and singers and reflected all phases of the band's career. McDonald remains an occasional "special guest" and has joined the group for benefits, private corporate shows and parties (such as the wedding reception of Liza Minnelli and David Gest), as well. A 1996 double live album, Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert, featured guest star McDonald on three of his signature tunes. Baxter has also sat in with the band during concerts, and the band have stated that they have an "open door" policy for guest appearances by former members.

In the late 1990s, the current band was forced to obtain an injunction preventing confusing or misleading uses of its name in advertisements promoting a tribute band featuring former members McCracken, Bumpus and Shogren accompanied by several lesser known musicians. Unfortunately, this unpleasant episode appeared to have burned bridges between the band and the aforementioned former members (of whom only McCracken survives today).

In 1999, Rhino Records released the group's first box set, entitled Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000. The box featured remastered tunes from the band's entire catalog, a new studio recording of the live concert staple "Little Bitty Pretty One," and an entire disc of previously unreleased studio outtakes and live recordings. Rhino's 2000 release, Sibling Rivalry, offered the band's first new studio album in nine years. The material, which reflected significant contributions from both Knudsen and McFee, ranged from hard rock and hip-hop to jazz and adult contemporary. The album sold poorly, reflecting the declining sales throughout the adult-oriented rock musical scene. The band and its supporters felt it did not find the large audience it deserved.

To date, four members of the Doobies family are deceased: percussionist LaKind of cancer in 1992; original bassist Shogren of unreported causes in 1999; and Bumpus of a heart attack in 2004 while in the air on route to California for a solo tour. Drummer and activist Keith Knudsen passed away in 2005 following a lengthy struggle with chronic pneumonia. Former Vertical Horizon drummer Ed Toth was selected to fill Knudsen's drum seat as the band soldiered on.

Given the history of turnover, the current version of the band has proven to be remarkably stable in its core membership since 1993. It features one-half of the four original members - Johnston (1970-1977, 1987-present) and ever-present Simmons (1970-present, with only a brief hiatus in 1982) - plus veteran drummer Hossack (1972-1974, 1987-present) and longtime guitarist McFee (1979-1982, 1987, 1993-present). They are supported by Skylark on bass and vocals (joined 1995, replacing Cowan), keyboardist Guy Allison (joined 1996, replacing Dale Ockerman), and Marc Russo on saxophone (joined 1997, replacing Danny Hull). With Hossack, newest member Toth (joined 2005) keeps the trademark double-drummers driven sound going. The group continues to tour heavily and remains a popular concert draw. In 2005 and 2006 they headlined benefit concerts at manager Cohn's winery in Glen Ellen (once again sharing the stage with "special guest" McDonald in 2006). They have maintained a continuous and active presence on the Internet through their official website since 1996.

The Doobie Brothers have been eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1996 but have yet to be nominated.

[edit] Band

[edit] Current members

[edit] Additional personnel

[edit] Past members

[edit] Additional personnel over the years

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

  • Best of the Doobies (1976) (US #5)
  • Best of the Doobies, Vol. 2 (1981) (US #39)
  • Listen to the Music: the Very Best of the Doobie Brothers (1993)
  • Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000 [Box Set] (1999)
  • Greatest Hits (2001) (US #142)
  • Doobie's Choice (2002)
  • Divided Highway (2003) (consisting of tunes from Cycles and Brotherhood)
  • The Very Best Of (2007)

[edit] Singles

  • "Listen To The Music" (1972) #11 US
  • "Jesus Is Just Alright" (1972) #35 US
  • "Long Train Runnin'" (1973) #8 US
  • "China Grove" (1973) #15 US
  • "Another Park, Another Sunday" (1974) #32 US
  • "Eyes Of Silver" (1974) #52 US
  • "Nobody" (1974) #58 US
  • "Black Water" (1975) #1 US
  • "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)" (1975) #11 US
  • "Sweet Maxine" (1975) #40 US
  • "I Cheat The Hangman" (1976) #60 US
  • "Takin' It To The Streets" (1976) #13 US
  • "Wheels Of Fortune" (1976) #87 US
  • "It Keeps You Runnin'" (1977) #37 US
  • "Little Darling (I Need You)" (1977) #48 US
  • "Echoes Of Love" (1977) #66 US
  • "What A Fool Believes" (1979) #1 US
  • "Minute By Minute" (1979) #14 US
  • "Dependin' On You" (1979) #25 US
  • "Real Love" (1980) #5 US
  • "One Step Closer" (1980) #24 US
  • "Wynken, Blynken And Nod" (1981) #76 US
  • "Keep This Train A'Rollin'" (1981) #62 US
  • "Here To Love You" (1982) #65 US
  • "You Belong To Me" (1983) #79 US
  • "The Doctor" (1989) #9 US
  • "Need A Little Taste Of Love" (1989) #45 US

[edit] Awards & Recognition

The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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