John McFee
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John McFee (born September 9, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. One of his first exploits was playing pedal steel guitar on Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey, he later played on the title track of Morrison's next album Saint Dominic's Preview. He played with Huey Lewis in Clover and also played lead guitar on Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim is True (most notably on "Alison"). However, McFee is probably best known for his work with the Doobie Brothers.
He joined the Doobies in 1979, replacing the departing pedal steel guitarist Jeff Baxter. McFee featured on the Doobie's ninth studio album One Step Closer. Although he was not heard to do a lead vocal, he co-wrote the title track with Doobies drummer Keith Knudsen and Carly Simon as well as the instrumental "South Bay Strut" with co-drummer Chet McCracken. The album's relative lack of success compared to its predecessor Minute by Minute helped lead to the band's eventual demise in 1982.
After the Doobies disbanded, McFee and Knudsen formed the country-rock group Southern Pacific, which also included ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook. The collaboration scored a few hits on the country charts. Though McFee and Knudsen were committed to Southern Pacific, they co-wrote the song "Time Is Here And Gone" on the Doobies' 1989 reunion album Cycles with late Doobies percussionist Bobby LaKind. The song did not enter the charts.
By 1993, Southern Pacific had disbanded and both men had rejoined the Doobie Brothers. So far, barring live albums, the only fruit of this line-up has been 2000's Sibling Rivalry. McFee sings on a tune he co-wrote called "Angels of Madness." In 2007, McFee assumed a role onstage as a relief lead vocalist for ailing Tom Johnston.
John McFee's long-term partnership with Keith Knudsen was terminated by Knudsen's death from chronic pneumonia in 2005.
John and his wife Marcy live near Santa Barbara, California.[1]
[edit] Discography
[edit] with The Doobie Brothers
- One Step Closer (1980) (US #3)
- Farewell Tour [Live] (1983) (US #79)
- Rockin' down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert [Live] (1996)
- Best of the Doobie Brothers Live [Live] (1999) (single CD of Wildlife Concert tunes)
- Sibling Rivalry (2000)
- Live at Wolf Trap [Live] (2004)
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