THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
Press
Release, February 17, 2004
Press
Release, December 7, 2004
Press
Release, September 30, 2004
Biography
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
The Doobie Brothers
are one of the very few American rock and roll groups that have been able to
achieve and sustain a phenomenal level of success. It is a success that has sold
more than 50 million records. This includes: 2 Grammys; 27 chart singles; 16
top 40 hits (including 2 number 1s); 11 multi-platinum albums; 13 Gold albums
and that most rare of distinctions, The Diamond Award, for the sale of 10
million units of a single title Best Of The Doobies Vol. 1.
Combined with their consistent appeal on the road, The Doobies have
earned a fanatical loyalty for their high-energy shows and are truly one of
America's most loved rock and roll bands. The
secret to their success is most certainly in their diversity.
Playing
in a trio in early 1970, Tom Johnston met veteran Bay area musician Patrick
Simmons. Simmons's musical leanings
were complimentary with yet somewhat different than those of Johnston.
Simmons was the lead singer and guitarist of another band at the time.
However, a week after they met he was asked to join up with Johnstons band.
Eventually Simmons agreed and by the fall of 1970, The Doobie Brothers
were born. The band was soon signed
to Warner Brothers Records.
Upon
release of their second album, Toulouse Street, in 1972 and the hit
single Listen to the Music, the legend began. By this time, drummer, Mike Hossack, had joined the band to
make it a quintet and the signature double drummer sound debuted.
This album also produced the hits, Jesus
is Just Alright and Rockin Down
the Highway.
The Captain And Me was released in 1973 and produced the classics: China Grove and Long Train Running (The Doobies highest charting hit).
The
Doobies 3rd multi-platinum album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits,
featuring Black Water and You Just Cant Stop It, followed that
album.
In
1975 the band released Stampede and from that album came Music
Man, Take Me In Your Arms
(Rock Me) and I Cheat The Hangman.
The following year Michael McDonald joined the band for the album Takin
It To The Streets, which produced 4 singles, including the number one Takin
it to the Streets and It Keeps
You Running. Throughout the
decade The Doobie Brothers continued to release hit albums and singles.
In
1982 the band embarked on a final tour and at the conclusion of the tour the
musicians went their separate ways. However, they did remain in close contact
and preformed once a year at a benefit concert for The Childrens Hospital at
Stanford University. In 1987 on an
11-city tour they raised more than 1 million dollars for a variety of charitable
causes. The tour concluded with a performance on July 4th, 1987 at a
peace concert in Moscow. This tour
reignited interest in The Doobie Brothers for both audiences and the band
members. The Doobies then returned to the recording studio for Capitol Records. The resulting album, Cycles included the top 10
hit The Doctor and went Gold.
Since that time The Doobies have toured and in 1998 signed with WEA
distribution, Pyramid Records. In
1999 the band was awarded the RIAA Diamond Award of the sale of 10 million
copies of The Best of the Doobie Brothers Vol. 1.
The
group spent the next two years working on the 2000 release "Sibling
Rivalry". Time was not an issue and the band was determined to make a
milestone record that was a real musical statement. They succeeded in creating a
true musical evolution in a group effort that highlighted all of the
multi-faceted talents the band possessed. The essentially self-produced album
was unlike anything the Doobies had released before. It is a testament to the
incredible diversity that has come to be known as "Doobie Brothers
Music".
After
30 years The Doobies made music history by releasing their last studio album on
the Internet through imix.com and 60 days later in stores everywhere through
Pyramid's WEA distribution. As part
of that historical release, on June 9th, 10th and 11th,
2000, The Doobie Brothers recorded their greatest hits live. Those live tracks
accompanied the Internet release of the studio album and were exclusive to the
Internet.
Keeping
with the Doobie tradition of touring and supporting album releases, 2001 through
2003 found the band performing all over the world. This included a US
amphitheater tour in the summer of 2003 with long-time associates Huey Lewis and
the News and a special performance to celebrate the 100th birthday of
Harley Davidson.
2004
finds the band comfortably on the road again. In what promises to be another
notch on their career belt, the Doobie Brothers will headline a special acoustic
performance in April at the Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas as a fund-raiser
for the Dallas Symphony.
Over the years their music has evolved from a country blues base into a sound emphasizing both R&B and Jazz elements, from guitar fueled rockers like China Grove and Long Train Running, to the folky chart topper Black Water, the Doobies have defied any single label. Forever in pace with the American Spirit, The Doobie Brothers will continue to rock well into the future.
THE
DOOBIE BROTHERS ARE:
Tom Johnston: Guitar/Vocals Michael Hossack: Drums
Patrick Simmons: Guitar/Vocals Skylark: Bass
Keith Knudson: Drums/Vocals Marc Russo: Saxophone
John McFee: Guitar/Strings/Vocals
Guy
Allison: Keyboards/Guitar/Vocals
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