The Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, known for their flexibility in performing across numerous genres and their vocal harmonies. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...

Patrick Simmons Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948) is an American musician best known as a founding member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the only consistent member of the band throughout their tenure. Simm ...

John Hartman John Hartman (March 18, 1950 – September 22, 2022)Michael McDonald (who originally joined in 1975) and guitarist/violinist

John McFee John McFee (born September 9, 1950, Santa Cruz, California) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long-time member of The Doobie Brothers. Biography Some of McFee's early and non-Doobie ...

(who originally joined in 1979). The group's touring lineup also features four additional performers: bassist

John Cowan John Cowan (born August 24, 1953) is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival. Cowan became the band's bassist in 1972 after the departure ...

(from 1993 to 1995, and since 2010), saxophonist Marc Russo (since 1998), drummer

Ed Toth Edward Arthur Toth is an American musician and drummer for The Doobie Brothers, an American rock band. Toth joined the Doobie Brothers in 2005 following his departure from Vertical Horizon. Early life Toth says that he has been drumming most of ...

(since 2005) and percussionist

Marc Quiñones Marc Quiñones is a percussionist, a longtime player in salsa music, a former member of the Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band (1991–2014) and the Gregg Allman Band. He is of Puerto Rican ancestry. Born in The Bronx, New York, he b ...

(since 2018).

Members

1970–1982

Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Dave Shogren and John Hartman founded the Doobie Brothers in the fall of 1970. After the band released its self-titled debut album and recorded two tracks for 1972's follow-up ''

Toulouse Street ''Toulouse Street'' is the second studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. It was released on July 1, 1972, by Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album with bassist Tiran Porter and second with drummer Michael Hossack ...

'', Shogren was replaced by

Tiran Porter Tiran Calvin Porter (born September 26, 1948) is an American bass and guitar player, vocalist and composer, best known as a member of The Doobie Brothers from 1972 to 1980 and 1987 to 1992. Biography Porter graduated from Leuzinger High School in ...

and

Michael Hossack Michael Joseph Hossack (October 17, 1946 – March 12, 2012) was an American drummer for the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Biography Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Hossack was known as "Big Mike" to his former band members. He started playin ...

was added as a second drummer in December 1971. ''

The Captain and Me ''The Captain and Me'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on March 2, 1973, by Warner Bros. Records. It features some of their most popular hits including "Long Train Runnin'", " China Gr ...

'' followed, after which Hossack was replaced by

Keith Knudsen Keith A. Knudsen ( ; February 18, 1948 – February 8, 2005) was an American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter. Knudsen was best known as a drummer and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers. In addition, he founded the band Southern Pacific with ...

in September 1973. ''

What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits ''What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on February 1, 1974, by Warner Bros. Records. Recording and content Tom Johnston's "Another Park, Another Sund ...

'', released in 1974, featured both Hossack and Knudsen. In September 1974, the Doobie Brothers expanded to a six-piece when pedal steel guitarist

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter (born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. More recently, he has worked as a defense consu ...

left

Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...

to join the group. During the tour in promotion of 1975's ''

Stampede A stampede () is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened. Non-human species associated with stampede behavior include zebras, cattle, elephants ...

'', Johnston was forced to take time off due to a stomach illness. Michael McDonald (singer)

With Johnston having to leave in the middle of a tour, Michael McDonald was brought in on keyboards and vocals. The group released '' Takin' It to the Streets'' in 1976. After the release of its follow-up ''

Livin' on the Fault Line ''Livin' on the Fault Line'' is the seventh studio album by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on August 19, 1977, by Warner Bros. Records. It is one of the few Doobie Brothers albums of the 1970s which did not pr ...

'', Johnston decided to leave the group due to stylistic differences, and embarked on a solo career. He was not replaced, as McDonald subsequently took over as primary lead vocalist. ''

Minute by Minute ''Minute by Minute'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman (until ''Cycles (The Doobie Brothers album ...

'' was released in 1978, before Jeff Baxter and founding drummer John Hartman left in April 1979 – the former to focus on

record production A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

, and the latter to pursue a career in

veterinary medicine Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Along with this, it deals with animal rearing, husbandry, breeding, research on nutri ...

. Baxter and Hartman were replaced by

John McFee John McFee (born September 9, 1950, Santa Cruz, California) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long-time member of The Doobie Brothers. Biography Some of McFee's early and non-Doobie ...

and Chet McCracken, respectively, while

Cornelius Bumpus Cornelius Bumpus (May 7, 1945 – February 3, 2004) was an American woodwind, brass and keyboard player and vocalist from Santa Cruz, California. Biography Bumpus began his musical career playing alto saxophone at ten for his school band, and by ...

joined on saxophone and keyboards. After recording '' One Step Closer'' in 1980, Porter was replaced by

Willie Weeks Willie Weeks (born August 5, 1947) is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also ga ...

, and backup percussionist

Bobby LaKind Robert Jay LaKind (November 3, 1945 – December 24, 1992) was an American conga player, vocalist, songwriter and occasional backup drummer with The Doobie Brothers. Originally a lighting roadie for the band, he was invited to join as a sideman f ...

became an official band member. With both leading members Simmons and McDonald beginning to focus more on their respective solo careers, it was announced in March 1982 that the Doobie Brothers had disbanded. The group returned for a final concert tour in the summer, recordings from which were released the following year as ''

Farewell Tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...

''.

1987–1998

After a five-year absence, the Doobie Brothers reunited in May 1987 for a tour to benefit the Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation, with a 12-piece lineup including Tom Johnston,

Patrick Simmons Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948) is an American musician best known as a founding member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the only consistent member of the band throughout their tenure. Simm ...

, Michael McDonald,

Jeff Baxter Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter (born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. More recently, he has worked as a defense consu ...

,

John McFee John McFee (born September 9, 1950, Santa Cruz, California) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long-time member of The Doobie Brothers. Biography Some of McFee's early and non-Doobie ...

,

Tiran Porter Tiran Calvin Porter (born September 26, 1948) is an American bass and guitar player, vocalist and composer, best known as a member of The Doobie Brothers from 1972 to 1980 and 1987 to 1992. Biography Porter graduated from Leuzinger High School in ...

,

John Hartman John Hartman (March 18, 1950 – September 22, 2022)Michael Hossack Michael Joseph Hossack (October 17, 1946 – March 12, 2012) was an American drummer for the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Biography Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Hossack was known as "Big Mike" to his former band members. He started playin ...

,

Keith Knudsen Keith A. Knudsen ( ; February 18, 1948 – February 8, 2005) was an American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter. Knudsen was best known as a drummer and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers. In addition, he founded the band Southern Pacific with ...

, Chet McCracken,

Bobby LaKind Robert Jay LaKind (November 3, 1945 – December 24, 1992) was an American conga player, vocalist, songwriter and occasional backup drummer with The Doobie Brothers. Originally a lighting roadie for the band, he was invited to join as a sideman f ...

and

Cornelius Bumpus Cornelius Bumpus (May 7, 1945 – February 3, 2004) was an American woodwind, brass and keyboard player and vocalist from Santa Cruz, California. Biography Bumpus began his musical career playing alto saxophone at ten for his school band, and by ...

. Following the tour, the group reformed permanently and signed with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

, with a six-piece lineup of Johnston, Simmons, Porter, Hartman, Hossack and LaKind. The band's first studio album in nine years, '' Cycles'', was released in May 1989. After the release of ''Cycles'', the group toured with saxophonist/keyboardist Bumpus and backup keyboardist

Dale Ockerman Dale Ockerman is a keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter who has worked with a variety of internationally recognized musicians since the late 1960s. He is best known for his association with the Doobie Brothers, where he was principal keyboardist a ...

. A few months into the tour, LaKind left due to medical issues and was replaced by Richard Bryant. Jimi Fox also joined as a second touring percussionist. For the tour in promotion of ''

Brotherhood Brotherhood or The Brotherhood may refer to: Family, relationships, and organizations * Fraternity (philosophy) or brotherhood, an ethical relationship between people, which is based on love and solidarity * Fraternity or brotherhood, a mal ...

'' in 1991, Ockerman, Bryant and Fox remained as touring members. The group toured until November 1991, at which point it disbanded for a second time. In October 1992, the band reunited to perform two shows to benefit Bobby LaKind, who had been diagnosed with terminal colon cancer; the regular lineup was joined by former members Michael McDonald, Jeff Baxter, Bumpus and LaKind himself. The percussionist died of his condition on December 24. John-McFee-2010-3

In the summer of 1993, the band reformed again with Johnston, Simmons, Hossack and Bumpus joined by

John McFee John McFee (born September 9, 1950, Santa Cruz, California) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long-time member of The Doobie Brothers. Biography Some of McFee's early and non-Doobie ...

,

Willie Weeks Willie Weeks (born August 5, 1947) is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also ga ...

and

Keith Knudsen Keith A. Knudsen ( ; February 18, 1948 – February 8, 2005) was an American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter. Knudsen was best known as a drummer and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers. In addition, he founded the band Southern Pacific with ...

; after a few shows, Weeks and Bumpus were replaced by new touring members

John Cowan John Cowan (born August 24, 1953) is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival. Cowan became the band's bassist in 1972 after the departure ...

and Danny Hull, respectively. By 1995, the group had been rejoined by McDonald and Bumpus. The tour also saw the introduction of new touring bassist Skylark, while McFee and Knudsen were substituted for select dates by

Bernie Chiaravalle Bernie Chiaravalle (born August 11, 1953) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is known for backing up Michael McDonald. Career Chiaravalle was born in Port Hueneme, California. He studied piano as a child and still plays it. Ac ...

and Chet McCracken, respectively. After the recording of '' Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert'', McDonald and Bumpus left, and Ockerman was replaced by

Guy Allison Guy Allison (born April 23, 1959) is an American musician. He was the touring keyboardist for the Doobie Brothers from 1996 to 2015 and was featured on their 2000 release ''Sibling Rivalry''. Biography His first record deal was signed with a ...

.

Since 1998

By summer 1998, Hull had been replaced by Marc Russo. The group released its first studio album in nine years, ''

Sibling Rivalry Sibling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among siblings, whether blood-related or not. Siblings generally spend more time together during childhood than they do with parents. The sibling bond is often complicated and is influenced ...

'', in October 2000. The following June, Hossack was sidelined after being injured in a motorcycle accident. He was temporarily replaced by Marvin "M.B." Gordy. After a few months, Hossack returned and Gordy remained as touring percussionist. Ed Wynne temporarily substituted for Russo during a tour in 2002. In February 2005, Keith Knudsen died of pneumonia. In April, Gordy left the band. When they resumed touring, the group was joined by former

Vertical Horizon Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band, formed in Washington, D.C. Vocalists and guitarists Matt Scannell and Keith Kane started the band in 1991 when they were students at Georgetown University. The band have undergone multiple ...

drummer

Ed Toth Edward Arthur Toth is an American musician and drummer for The Doobie Brothers, an American rock band. Toth joined the Doobie Brothers in 2005 following his departure from Vertical Horizon. Early life Toth says that he has been drumming most of ...

, who was introduced to them by Hossack. In the spring of 2010, Skylark was forced to leave after suffering a stroke, with

John Cowan John Cowan (born August 24, 1953) is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival. Cowan became the band's bassist in 1972 after the departure ...

returning to take his place on tour; Hossack temporarily left around the same time, due to continuing effects stemming from his 2001 accident, with Tony Pia substituting. It later transpired that Hossack had contracted cancer, from which he later died in March 2012. Pia subsequently remained as second drummer. Allison was replaced by

Bill Payne William H. Payne (born March 12, 1949) is an American pianist who, with Lowell George, co-founded the American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other rock pianists, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano roc ...

of

Little Feat Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving ...

in November 2015. The following summer, Pia left and Toth remained as the sole drummer. In May 2018,

Marc Quiñones Marc Quiñones is a percussionist, a longtime player in salsa music, a former member of the Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band (1991–2014) and the Gregg Allman Band. He is of Puerto Rican ancestry. Born in The Bronx, New York, he b ...

joined on percussion. In November 2019, it was announced that Michael McDonald would return for a 50th anniversary tour in 2020. However, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, the tour was postponed.

Current members

Official

Touring

Former members

Official

Touring

Timelines

Official members

Touring members

Lineups

References

External links

The Doobie Brothers official website
{{The Doobie Brothers Doobie Brothers, The *