Home » Jazz Musicians » The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers

Born out of Northern California’s chaotic, late-1960s musical stew, The Doobie Brothers’ rugged, real and authentic approach to rock and roll made them biker bar stalwarts. But their self-titled debut album in ’71 went beyond just leather and motorcycles, revealing even more musical layers; sweet three-part harmonies and rootsy, introspective, acoustic flavors.

The Doobie Brothers’ legacy has been built upon not just hit records, but also an unrivaled commitment to musical integrity and a steadfast allegiance to their enthusiastic fan base. The bands ability to evolve in a constantly changing industry and connections to generations of listening audiences is a testament to their craft.

It all began in 1969, when a drummer named John Hartman arrived in Northern California. He was there to meet Skip Spence from the band Moby Grape and become part of a supposed band reunion that never quite got off the ground. But it wasn’t all for naught. Spence (who had also played in the Jefferson Airplane) introduced Hartman to his friend Tom Johnston, a local singer/songwriter/guitarist -and they connected. Hartman and Johnston began playing local Bay Area bars. They soon met singer/guitarist Pat Simmons, whose finger-style playing richly complimented Johnston’s R&B strumming-style, and the foundation for The Doobie Brothers was set.

While their debut album in 1971 did not chart, just a year a later, their second record, Toulouse Street, became a breakout sensation. Producer Ted Templeman helped the band craft a sound that was organic, yet radio friendly, and brought in Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne to add unique musical textures.

From there The Doobies hit the road, tirelessly working their way around the world. They established themselves with a breathtaking run of hits on Warner Bros. Records that tapped into a myriad of American styles. “Listen to the Music,” “Jesus is Just Alright,” “China Grove,” “Black Water,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Long Train Runnin’” and other anthemic singles confirmed their status as fine craftsman who could also rock arenas.

In 1974, Steely Dan co-lead guitarist and session legend Jeff “Skunk” Baxter joined the band as third guitarist, one of many unique and talented players who would revolve in and out of the band over the years. The group’s expanded lineup was augmented in 1975 by Michael McDonald, whose soulful vocals and songwriting led to the hits “What a Fool Believes,” “Minute by Minute,” “Takin’ It To The Streets,” and “You Belong To Me.” Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, John McFee, joined in 1978 bringing his wide range of musical styles and experience recording with Van Morrison, Steve Miller, Elvis Costello, and The Grateful Dead to The Doobies’ sound.

Read more

Tags

4
Book Review

Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music

Read "Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music" reviewed by Doug Collette


Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff 472 pages ISBN: 10: 1770414835 ECW Press 2020 It's some measure of Ted Templeman's humility that so many of the photos that appear throughout A Platinum Producer's Life in Music do not feature him. Rather, those musicians and technical personnel with whom he collaborated over the years are prominent, as are the rooms and locales where he worked ...

8
Live Review

The Doobie Brothers with special guest Mark Newman at the Paramount

Read "The Doobie Brothers with special guest Mark Newman at the Paramount" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


The Doobie Brothers with special guest Mark Newman The Paramount Huntington, NY October 13, 2016The Doobie Brothers were formed in California in 1969 after the band called Pud disbanded. Guitarist/vocalist Tom Johnston began jamming with guitarist Patrick Simmons and the guitarists decided to form the group that is now known as the Doobie Brothers. By 1971 the band had signed with Warner Brothers Records and released its eponymously titled debut album. During the past ...

Read more articles
1
Music Industry

The Doobie Brothers Sue Cover Band Claiming They Own The Word "Doobie"

The Doobie Brothers Sue Cover Band Claiming They Own The Word "Doobie"

Source: HypeBot

The Doobie Brothers do not cite the etymology of the term “doobie" in their trademark lawsuit against the Doobie Decimal System rock band, though the slang term predated the band by a few years. Doobie Brothers Corp. and Doobro Entertainment on Friday sued Roger McNamee and Jason Crosby, who perform under the name Doobie Decimal System, a classic-rock cover band. McNamee, also with Moonalice, and Crosby, a guitarist and fiddle player who has played with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Dave ...

64
Music Industry

TJay Is On A Roll! After Opening For The Doobie Brothers, TJay Is Recording A New Album with Special Guests John Popper and Ryan Macmillan

Source: ISL Public Relations

NY-based singer/songwriter TJay has good reason to be excited these days. Since the release of his debut album “Take A Seat" in 2009, TJay has toured throughout the Northeast, landing opening slots for Blues Traveler and Little Feat. Just last week, he had an encore performance opening for Blues Traveler in Ridgefield, CT. TJay's reputation as a solid live act has become so well established, he was asked to open for the Doobie Brothers at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, ...

58
Interview

The Doobie Brothers: A Brighter Day

The Doobie Brothers: A Brighter Day

Source: JamBase

By Dennis Cook When most bands hit their 40th anniversary they make a big deal about it, issuing grand statements, box sets and generally making sure folks take note. Not so with The Doobie Brothers, who hit the four decade mark this year and have chosen to focus on their first new studio album in 10 years, a European tour, festival appearances and their usual steady gigging around the States. Today's Doobies—original members Tom Johnston (vocals, guitar) and Pat Simmons ...

75
Video / DVD

Doobie Brothers: "China Grove" Video; New Album out Now

Doobie Brothers: "China Grove" Video; New Album out Now

Source: JamBase

WORLD GONE CRAZY OUT NOW In a new performance video from their recent album release event, the Doobie Brothers bring new life to one of their greatest hits, “China Grove." The original recording, with its instantly recognizable guitar riff, was a Top 15 hit for the band in the 1970s and more recently is a featured track on the video game Rock Band 3—released on the same day as the band's new album World Gone Crazy. World Gone Crazy, which ...

130
Recording

One Track Mind: The Doobie Brothers "Nobody" (2010)

One Track Mind: The Doobie Brothers "Nobody" (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By Pico As I was putting the final touches on my last New Release Roundup, I learned that yet another former arena rock act was putting out a brand new record of brand new songs. Maybe it's because the record is an indie release, but the Doobie Brothers' first new album in ten years deserves a little investigation. Especially since the current line-up contains the two most important band members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. World Gone Crazy went on ...

67
Video / DVD

Doobie Brothers: New Album, Video

Doobie Brothers: New Album, Video

Source: JamBase

SINGLE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES; ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 28 Rock legends The Doobie Brothers are back with their first album in over 10 years, World Gone Crazy, set to hit stores on September 28. Produced by Ted Templeman, the band's producer through 1980, the album was conceived over five years ago, really coming together in the last three. That extra time allowed the band to delve into new writing and recording territories, while still holding on to that vintage ...

90
Video / DVD

Sat Eye Candy: Doobie Brothers

Sat Eye Candy: Doobie Brothers

Source: JamBase

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

It'd be tough to find a better meat 'n' taters rock 'n' roll band than the Doobie Brothers. Since the dawn of the 1970s they've been delivering well built, widely appealing music that is the definition of a working rock band with serious dedication to both craft and audience satisfaction. While they've had their share of hits, what endures is their love of simply making music that makes folks shuffle and smile.

Today is longtime ...

Photos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.