Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948)
is an American musician best known as a founding member of the rock band
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, ...
. Born in
Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen () is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,013 at the 2020 census. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. Aberdeen is occasi ...
, he has been the only consistent member of the band throughout their tenure. Simmons wrote and sang many songs for the Doobie Brothers, including "South City Midnight Lady", "Dependin' On You", "
Echoes of Love", "
Wheels of Fortune" and "
Black Water", the group's first #1 record.
The Doobie Brothers initially disbanded in 1982, largely on account of Simmons's decision to leave the group, as he was its sole remaining original member. In 1983, Simmons released his first solo album, ''Arcade'', on
Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...
. It yielded his only top 40 hit, "So Wrong", which peaked at #30 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. "So Wrong" was also a surprise hit on the US
dance/disco chart, peaking at #8. The album was reissued on compact disc in Japan in the early 1990s and again in 2007, by the label
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is an American compact disc only re-issue record label that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York.
They re-release lesser known albums from popular and lesser known artists, including Paul Butterfield, Cactus, Herbie ...
. Simmons also formed the band Skin Suit during this period. In 1998, Simmons released a second solo album titled ''Take Me to the Highway''. He was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
as a member of The Doobie Brothers in 2020.
Personal life
Simmons was raised in San Jose, California, where his father was a high school educator. He attended
San José State University
San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
where he was a member of the
Theta Xi
Theta Xi () is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. It was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on April 29, 1864. Of all the social fraternities today, Theta Xi was the only one founded during the Civil War. It ...
fraternity and lived for many years in
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County (), officially the County of Santa Cruz, is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 270,861. The county seat is Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz County comprises the Santa ...
. In 1981 he opened a vintage motorcycle shop with author
William J. Craddock. Simmons moved to
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County (; ''Mendocino'', Spanish language, Spanish for "of Antonio de Mendoza, Mendoza) is a County (United States), county located on the North Coast (California), North Coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United Sta ...
in 1990 after the
Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, and later to Hawaii.
He met his wife Cristine in 1989 in
Sturgis, South Dakota
Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 7,020 as of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Meade County and is named after Samuel D. Sturgis, a Union general during the Civil War.
Sturgis is notable ...
at the
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, and the surrounding Black Hills region of the United States. It began in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and ...
. They both enjoy riding antique motorcycles, participating in the 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Ride. They participated in the 2016 Motorcycle Cannonball, riding from
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497. to
San Diego, California
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...
.
With Tom Johnston, Simmons wrote ''Long Train Runnin': Our Story of The Doobie Brothers'' (2022).
Discography
With the Doobie Brothers
Solo albums
*1983 - ''
Arcade
Arcade most often refers to:
* Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine
** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware
** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board
* Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games
* ...
''
*1995 - ''Take Me to the Highway''
Solo singles
*1983 - "So Wrong"
*1983 - "Don't Make Me Do It"
References
1948 births
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
Living people
People from Aberdeen, Washington
Musicians from San Jose, California
American male singers
American rock singers
Elektra Records artists
The Doobie Brothers members
Lead guitarists
Fingerstyle guitarists
Guitarists from California
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American male musicians
The Sky Kings members
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