The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band from San Jose, California. Formed in the fall of 1970, the group was originally a quartet that featured lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Johnston, guitarist and second vocalist Patrick Simmons, bassist Dave Shogren, and drummer John Hartman. The current lineup features Johnston and Simmons alongside vocalist and keyboardist Michael McDonald (who originally joined in 1975), and guitarist/violinist John McFee (who originally joined in 1978). The group's touring lineup also features four additional performers: bassist John Cowan (from 1993 to 1995, and since 2010), saxophonist Marc Russo (since 1998), drummer Ed Toth (since 2005), and percussionist Marc Quiñones (since 2018).
History 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, Shogren was replaced by Tiran Porter and Michael Hossack was added as a second drummer in December 1971. The Captain and Me followed, after which Hossack was replaced by Keith Knudsen in September 1973. What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, 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 left Steely Dan to join the group. During the tour in promotion of 1975's Stampede, Johnston was forced to take time off due to a stomach illness.
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, 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 was released in 1978, before Jeff Baxter and founding drummer John Hartman left in April 1979 – the former to focus on record production, and the latter to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
Baxter and Hartman were replaced by John McFee and Chet McCracken, respectively, while Cornelius Bumpus joined on saxophone and keyboards. After recording One Step Closer in 1980, Porter was replaced by Willie Weeks, and backup percussionist Bobby LaKind 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.
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, Michael McDonald, Jeff Baxter, John McFee, Tiran Porter, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Keith Knudsen, Chet McCracken, Bobby LaKind, and Cornelius Bumpus. Following the tour, the group reformed permanently and signed with Capitol Records, 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. 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 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.
In the summer of 1993, the band reformed again with Johnston, Simmons, Hossack and Bumpus joined by John McFee, Willie Weeks and Keith Knudsen; after a few shows, Weeks and Bumpus were replaced by new touring members John Cowan 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 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.
Since 1998 By summer 1998, Hull had been replaced by Marc Russo. The group released its first studio album in nine years, Sibling Rivalry, 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 drummer Ed Toth, who was introduced to them by Hossack. In the spring of 2010, Skylark was forced to leave after suffering a stroke, with John Cowan 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 of Little Feat in November 2015. The following summer, Pia left and Toth remained as the sole drummer. In May 2018, Marc Quiñones 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 tour was postponed. In November 2021, after the tour concluded, Payne departed due to his commitment to Little Feat, and McDonald assumed his keyboard parts.
Official members
Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPatrick Simmonsall Doobie Brothers releasesTom JohnstonMichael McDonaldJohn McFee
Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn HartmanDave Shogren1970–1971 Tiran PorterMichael HossackKeith KnudsenJeff "Skunk" Baxterall Doobie Brothers releases from Stampede (1975) to Minute by Minute (1978) Bobby LaKindall Doobie Brothers releases from Takin' It to the Streets (1976) to Cycles (1989)Chet McCrackenCornelius BumpusWillie Weeks
Touring members
Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn CowanMarc Russo1998–presentsaxophoneEd Toth2005–presentAll Doobie Brothers releases from: World Gone Crazy (2010) onwardsMarc Quiñones2018–presentAll Doobie Brothers releases from Live from the Beacon Theatre (2019), onwards
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsWayne Jackson 1975–1976 trumpetMembers of the Memphis Horns performed on Takin' It to the Streets and performed live with the band from late 1975 through 1976.Andrew Love1975–1976 tenor saxophoneLewis Collins1975–1976James Mitchellbaritone saxophoneJack HaletromboneNorton Buffalo1977 Buffalo, Butler and McDonald appeared on the sessions for Livin' on the Fault Line.Rosemary Butler1977backing vocalsMaureen McDonaldDale OckermanIn the absence of Michael McDonald, Ockerman began recording and touring from Cycles.Richard Bryant1989–1991After Bobby LaKind left due to medical issues, he was replaced by Bryant and Fox.Jimi FoxDanny Hull1993–1998Hull took over from Cornelius Bumpus after he left a few weeks into a tour in 1993.Skylark1995–2010After previous touring bassist John Cowan declined to return in 1995, Skylark took over.Bernie Chiaravalle1995 guitarChiaravalle temporarily substituted for the unavailable John McFee during a tour in 1995.Guy Allison1996–2015Allison joined the band's touring lineup in summer 1996, taking over from Ockerman.Marvin "M.B." Gordy2001–2005Gordy temporarily substituted for Michael Hossack, later remaining on percussion.Ed Wynne2002 Wynne temporarily substituted for regular saxophonist Marc Russo during a tour in 2002.Tony Pia2010–2016Pia substituted for Michael Hossack from 2010 to 2012, and remained after his death.Bill Payne2015–2021 Payne took over from Allison in 2015, and remained until 2021 when his main band, Little Feat, resumed.Michael Leonhart2018trumpetLeonhart and Rosenberg played some shows in 2018 including the Live from the Beacon Theatre recordingRoger Rosenbergsaxophone
Session