doobie brothers tour band members

Complete List Of The Doobie Brothers Band Members

Feature Photo: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Complete List Of The Doobie Brothers Band Members looks at the musicians who were and are a part of an American rock band hailing from San Jose, California. Since 1970, The Doobie Brothers have experienced various lineup changes, while traversing musical genres that encompass rock, pop, and even elements of R&B and soul. Founded by original members Tom Johnston, John Hartman, Dave Shogren, and Patrick Simmons, The Doobie Brothers’ distinct musical style and evolving sound has captivated audiences for more than five decades.

In the early days, the band’s first self-titled album “The Doobie Brothers” (1971) failed to make a significant commercial impact, but it laid the groundwork for their signature sound which was a blend of rock, R&B, and folk. Their real breakthrough came with their second album, “Toulouse Street” in 1972, featuring the hit “Listen to the Music,” which catapulted them into stardom. This early success was largely credited to the songwriting prowess and vocal abilities of Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons.

Around this time, the band also saw its first lineup changes, including the departure of Dave Shogren, who was replaced by Tiran Porter, and the addition of a second drummer, Michael Hossack. This lineup released several more albums that became commercial and critical successes, including “The Captain and Me” (1973) and “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” (1974).

In 1975, Johnston fell seriously ill and was temporarily replaced by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who had left Steely Dan. This led to the addition of Michael McDonald, whose distinct voice and keyboard skills brought a different texture to the band’s music. Under McDonald’s influence, the band transitioned into a softer sound and ventured into more soulful territories, best exemplified by the album “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976). This new era of The Doobie Brothers was marked by hits like “What a Fool Believes” and “Minute by Minute,” both of which were milestones in their career.

The band broke up in 1982 after a farewell tour but reunited in 1987, bringing back several original and early members like Johnston and Simmons. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band continued to tour and release new material, although not achieving the commercial success of their earlier years. They had lineup changes during this period, with notable additions like percussionist Marc Quiñones and guitarist John McFee.

In 2020, The Doobie Brothers were selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking a pinnacle in their long, storied career. Their influence can be seen in the way they seamlessly blended different genres of music into a sound distinctly their own. From the early rock and R&B influences to the soulful tunes of the Michael McDonald era, The Doobie Brothers have left an indelible mark on American music history.

The Doobie Brothers Band Members

Patrick simmons.

Patrick Simmons, born on October 19, 1948, in Aberdeen, Washington, is one of the original founding members of The Doobie Brothers . A guitarist and vocalist, he has been the only continuous member of the band since its formation in 1970. Simmons contributed significantly to the band’s multi-faceted sound, blending rock, pop, and R&B. He played on all of the Doobie Brothers’ studio albums, from their self-titled debut in 1971 to their latest releases. Notable albums featuring Simmons include “Toulouse Street” (1972), “The Captain and Me” (1973), “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” (1974), and “Minute by Minute” (1978), among others.

He penned some of the band’s popular songs, including “South City Midnight Lady” and the iconic hit “Black Water,” which became the Doobie Brothers’ first No. 1 single. Patrick Simmons briefly pursued a solo career during the Doobie Brothers’ hiatus in the 1980s, releasing albums such as “Arcade” (1983) and “Take Me to the Highway” (1996). His solo work was moderately successful but did not reach the heights of his career with The Doobie Brothers . When the band reunited in 1987, Simmons was integral to its revival and continues to be an active member.

Tom Johnston

Tom Johnston, born on August 15, 1948, in Visalia, California, is another original founding member of The Doobie Brothers . As a guitarist and vocalist, Johnston was instrumental in establishing the band’s initial rock and roll sound infused with elements of blues, folk, and country. He played on the early albums, including “The Doobie Brothers” (1971), “Toulouse Street” (1972), and “The Captain and Me” (1973). He is responsible for some of the band’s major hits like “Listen to the Music,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” and “Long Train Runnin’.”

Johnston had to leave the band in 1975 due to health issues, just before the release of the “Stampede” album. During this period, he released a couple of solo albums, but they did not achieve significant commercial success. He rejoined the band in 1979 but did not participate in the recording of new material until “Cycles” in 1989. Tom Johnston has been active with the band since its reformation in 1987 and continues to tour and record with them. His bluesy guitar and soulful voice remain significant to the Doobie Brothers’ enduring legacy.

John Hartman

John Hartman is one of the co-founders of The Doobie Brothers and was born on March 18, 1950, in Falls Church, Virginia. He was the original drummer for the band when it was formed in 1970. Hartman played on the early albums, including the self-titled debut “The Doobie Brothers” in 1971, “Toulouse Street” in 1972, and “The Captain and Me” in 1973. He left the group in 1979 but returned in 1987 when The Doobie Brothers reunited. Although not credited with major songwriting contributions, his drumming played a significant role in defining the band’s sound during its formative years. Hartman left the band for the second time in 1992 and has since been less active in the music scene.

Dave Shogren

Dave Shogren was the original bassist for The Doobie Brothers and hailed from San Jose, California. He was with the band from its inception in 1970 until 1972. Shogren played on the band’s debut album, “The Doobie Brothers,” released in 1971. Although his tenure with the band was relatively short, he was instrumental in laying down the foundational grooves that helped define the band’s early sound. After leaving the Doobie Brothers, Shogren mostly stayed out of the public eye and didn’t achieve notable success in other musical ventures.

Michael Hossack

Born on October 17, 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, Michael Hossack was another drummer for The Doobie Brothers . He joined the band in 1971 and participated in the recording of albums like “Toulouse Street” (1972) and “The Captain and Me” (1973). Hossack left the band in 1973 but rejoined in 1987 when the group reunited. He remained a steady contributor to the Doobie Brothers until health issues forced him to take a leave of absence in 2010. Known for his steady and reliable drumming, Hossack was a key component in hits like “Listen to the Music” and “China Grove.” He passed away in 2012.

Tiran Porter

Tiran Porter, born on September 26, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, joined The Doobie Brothers as a bassist in 1972, replacing Dave Shogren. He played on several important albums, including “The Captain and Me” (1973), “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” (1974), and “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976). Porter provided backing vocals and occasionally lead vocals, most notably on the song “For Someone Special” from the “Takin’ It to the Streets” album. He left the band in 1980 but returned for the 1987 reunion and continued to participate in various lineups of the band until 1992. Porter has also performed with other artists and bands but remains most well-known for his work with The Doobie Brothers .

Keith Knudsen

Keith Knudsen was born on February 18, 1948, in Le Mars, Iowa. He joined The Doobie Brothers as a drummer in 1974, replacing Michael Hossack. Knudsen played on several albums including “Stampede” (1975), “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976), and “Minute by Minute” (1978). He contributed vocals to some of the band’s songs and co-wrote tracks like “Double Dealin’ Four Flusher” and “You’re Made That Way.” He left the band in 1982 but rejoined in 1993, participating in subsequent albums and tours until his death in 2005. Outside of The Doobie Brothers , Knudsen was part of the rock group Southern Pacific and even released a solo album.

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter was born on December 13, 1948, in Washington, D.C. He joined The Doobie Brothers in 1974 after previously playing with the band Steely Dan . Known primarily as a guitarist, Baxter contributed significantly to albums like “Stampede” (1975) and “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976). His jazz-infused style added a new dimension to the band’s sound. Baxter didn’t stay with The Doobie Brothers for long, leaving in 1979, but his influence during his tenure was significant. Beyond his time with The Doobie Brothers, Baxter has had a highly successful career as a session musician and even as a defense consultant, specializing in counter-terrorism.

Michael McDonald

Born on February 12, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, Michael McDonald joined The Doobie Brothers in 1975 as a keyboardist and vocalist. His soulful voice and songwriting skills brought a new direction to the band’s music, steering them more towards a soft rock and blue-eyed soul sound. Michael McDonald played a significant role in albums like “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976), “Livin’ on the Fault Line” (1977), and “Minute by Minute” (1978), which won a Grammy for Album of the Year. He is credited with some of the band’s biggest hits, including “What a Fool Believes” and “Takin’ It to the Streets.” Michael McDonald left the band when they disbanded in 1982 but has rejoined for various reunion tours. He has also had a successful solo career, releasing several albums and collaborating with numerous artists across different genres.

Born on September 9, 1950, in Santa Cruz, California, John McFee joined The Doobie Brothers in 1979 as a guitarist, vocalist, and violinist. He replaced Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and contributed to the album “One Step Closer” (1980). McFee was part of the band’s lineup when they disbanded in 1982 and returned for the reunion in 1987, contributing to albums like “Cycles” (1989) and “Sibling Rivalry” (2000). Known for his versatility, he played various instruments and was involved in writing songs like “South Bay Strut.” Outside of The Doobie Brothers, McFee has been a sought-after session musician and was a founding member of the country-rock band Southern Pacific.

Chet McCracken

Chet McCracken, born on October 17, 1952, in Seattle, Washington, joined The Doobie Brothers as a drummer and percussionist in 1979, replacing Keith Knudsen. McCracken was part of the band’s lineup when they disbanded in 1982 and did not rejoin during the 1987 reunion. He played on the album “One Step Closer” (1980). Outside of The Doobie Brothers, McCracken has had a successful career as a session musician, playing for a variety of artists in different genres.

Cornelius Bumpus

Born on May 7, 1945, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Cornelius Bumpus joined The Doobie Brothers in 1978 as a saxophonist and keyboardist. He participated in the recording of the album “Minute by Minute” (1978). Bumpus was not part of the lineup when the band disbanded in 1982. He was also known for his work with Steely Dan and his solo jazz albums.

Bobby LaKind

Bobby LaKind was born on July 3, 1945, in San Francisco, California. Initially a lighting roadie for the band, he became a percussionist and vocalist in 1977. LaKind participated in the albums “Minute by Minute” (1978) and “One Step Closer” (1980), among others. He had to leave the band due to health issues in the 1990s and passed away in 1992. LaKind didn’t have a significant musical career outside The Doobie Brothers but is remembered fondly for his contributions to the band.

Willie Weeks

Born on August 5, 1947, in Salemburg, North Carolina, Willie Weeks is a bassist who briefly played with The Doobie Brothers in the early 1980s, particularly during their farewell tour. He is not credited with any studio recordings with the band. Weeks is renowned as a session musician, having played for numerous high-profile artists like Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, and Eric Clapton, among others.

Musicians Who Have Contributed The Doobie Brothers Band Albums And Tours

Born on August 24, 1952, in Evansville, Indiana, John Cowan joined The Doobie Brothers in 1993 as a bassist and vocalist. He participated in the album “Sibling Rivalry” (2000) and was part of the band’s various tours. Cowan is known for his strong, distinctive vocals and his ability to play in various styles. Outside of The Doobie Brothers, Cowan is renowned for his work in the progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival and his solo career, where he blends elements of rock, country, and bluegrass.

Marc Russo, born on August 15, 1958, in New York, New York, joined The Doobie Brothers in 1998 as a saxophonist. Russo has played on various tours and live performances but is not credited on any of the band’s studio albums. Known for his mastery in both jazz and rock, Russo was previously a member of the jazz group Yellowjackets and has been a session musician for numerous artists across different genres.

Marc Quiñones

Born on September 25, 1969, in The Bronx, New York, Marc Quiñones joined The Doobie Brothers in 2020 as a percussionist. He has yet to be credited on any of the band’s studio albums but has participated in various live performances and tours. Quiñones is widely known for his extensive work with the Allman Brothers Band and his expertise in Latin percussion. He has also had a successful career as a session musician, playing with a variety of artists across different musical styles.

Wayne Jackson

Wayne Jackson, born on November 24, 1941, in West Memphis, Arkansas, and passing away in 2016, was a trumpeter who performed with The Doobie Brothers briefly from 1976 to 1977. He was a part of the Memphis Horns and contributed to the album “Takin’ It to the Streets” as well as its subsequent tour. Outside of The Doobie Brothers, Jackson was a legendary session musician who performed with renowned artists like Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, and Neil Diamond.

Andrew Love

Andrew Love, born on November 21, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee, and passing away in 2012, played tenor saxophone with The Doobie Brothers during 1976-1977. Like Wayne Jackson, he was also a part of the Memphis Horns and participated in the album “Takin’ It to the Streets” and its tour. Love had an illustrious career, collaborating with a myriad of artists including Aretha Franklin and U2.

Lewis Collins

Lewis Collins joined The Doobie Brothers as a saxophonist for a brief stint from 1976 to 1977. He performed during the “Takin’ It to the Streets” era and its corresponding tour. Information about his life outside of The Doobie Brothers is limited.

James Mitchell

James Mitchell performed baritone saxophone with The Doobie Brothers during 1976-1977. Like his peers, he was involved in the “Takin’ It to the Streets” album and tour. Mitchell has had a wide-ranging career in the music industry, although specifics related to The Doobie Brothers are limited.

Jack Hale was a trombonist who played with The Doobie Brothers in 1976-1977. He contributed to the “Takin’ It to the Streets” album and its tour. Hale has had an extensive career as a session musician, but detailed information about his work outside of The Doobie Brothers is sparse.

Norton Buffalo

Norton Buffalo, born on September 28, 1951, in Oakland, California, was a harmonica player and singer who occasionally performed with The Doobie Brothers, although the exact years of his association are not well-documented. Norton Buffalo had a prolific career outside of The Doobie Brothers, most notably as a member of the Steve Miller Band. He passed away in 2009.

Ed Toth, born on July 4, 1969, in Worcester, Massachusetts, joined The Doobie Brothers in 2005 as a drummer, replacing Keith Knudsen who passed away that year. He has been involved in live performances and tours, although he hasn’t been credited on any new studio albums by the band since he joined. Before joining The Doobie Brothers, Toth was a member of the rock band Vertical Horizon and played on their hit album “Everything You Want.”

Rosemary Butler

Rosemary Butler joined The Doobie Brothers as a backing vocalist from 1977 to 1978. Her vocal contributions were a part of the band’s evolving sound during this period. Outside of The Doobie Brothers, she has worked with a variety of artists including Jackson Browne and James Taylor. She was born on April 6, 1947, in Los Angeles, California.

Maureen McDonald

Maureen McDonald, also known as Michael McDonald’s sister, performed as a backing vocalist for The Doobie Brothers. Her tenure with the band is not clearly documented, but she contributed to the overall vocal texture during her time with the band. She has also worked with other artists throughout her career.

Dale Ockerman

Dale Ockerman played multiple instruments for The Doobie Brothers, including keyboards and guitar. While his exact years with the band are not readily documented, his role was versatile, contributing to several albums and live performances. Dale has also played with other acts such as Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Richard Bryant

Richard Bryant was with The Doobie Brothers from 1989 to 1991. He contributed vocals and possibly other instrumental performances, although specifics are limited. The period of his involvement was during one of the band’s less publicized eras.

Jimi Fox’s association with The Doobie Brothers is not well-documented, and details regarding the role he played within the band are limited.

Danny Hull was a saxophonist for The Doobie Brothers from 1993 to 1998. He was a part of the band during the ’90s, a time when they were actively touring but not necessarily releasing new material. Danny Hull had previously played with a range of artists and groups before joining The Doobie Brothers.

Also known as Gary Skylark, he played bass guitar for The Doobie Brothers from 1995 to 2010. His long tenure with the band saw him contributing to both live performances and studio recordings. Skylark has also been involved in various other musical projects over the years.

Bernie Chiaravalle

Bernie Chiaravalle has had a long association with Michael McDonald and, by extension, has contributed to The Doobie Brothers, although the exact role and timeframe are not clearly documented. He is a multi-instrumentalist, and outside of his work with The Doobie Brothers, he has had a solo career, releasing several albums.

Guy Allison

Guy Allison was a keyboardist for The Doobie Brothers from 1996 to 2015. In his nearly two decades with the band, he participated in numerous live performances and recordings, contributing to the band’s sonic palette. Prior to joining The Doobie Brothers, Allison had been part of other notable acts like the Moody Blues.

Marvin “M.B.” Gordy

Marvin “M.B.” Gordy was a percussionist for The Doobie Brothers from 2001 to 2005. His role was to enrich the rhythm section, enhancing the band’s overall sound. Outside of The Doobie Brothers, Gordy is an accomplished session musician and has worked in various genres of music.

Ed Wynne served as a substitute musician for The Doobie Brothers in 2002. His specific contributions are not well-documented, but he filled in as needed during his time with the band. Wynne’s broader career details are also limited.

Tony Pia was the drummer for The Doobie Brothers from 2010 to 2016. He participated in several tours and may have contributed to studio recordings during his time with the band. Pia has also been a member of Brian Wilson’s touring band and has a range of other musical collaborations to his name.

Bill Payne, best known as the co-founder of Little Feat, has collaborated with The Doobie Brothers, although the specifics of his role are not clearly documented. He is an accomplished keyboardist and songwriter, with credits that span multiple decades and include working with a wide array of artists and bands.

Complete List Of The Doobie Brothers Band Members article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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Emily Fagan grew up in the town of Burford in Oxfordshire, England. She was raised on Progressive Rock music. She is currently writing a book on the history of Charles The Great and the impact of the Carolingian Renaissance.

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Review: Doobie Brothers 2024 Tour With Opener Steve Winwood

The Doobie Brothers at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 7, 2024 Pictured: Pat Simmons, Marc Russo, John McFee and Tom Johnston (Photo: Emma Goldschmidt/MSG Entertainment; used with permission)

It’s not every concert that one gets to hear three of rock’s most unique and standout vocalists on the same bill. But that was the case on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) when the Doobie Brothers headlined a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden with Steve Winwood as the opening act.

The hosts’ 20-song set was packed with hits and album cuts, largely culled from their estimable ’70s era catalog, beginning with an energetic start on “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” that showcased their two primary lead singers, founding Doobie Brothers ‘ member Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald, whose soulful vocals added a unique alternative to the band when he joined in 1976. The eight-piece lineup on this tour also includes founding member and mainstay Pat Simmons as well as John McFee, a member since 1979.

A mid-set highlight was their cover of “Jesus Is Just Alright” that featured Simmons, Johnston, McFee and McDonald singing together to the delight of the enthusiastic Garden crowd.

Watch a performance of the song from a month earlier

But it’s Johnston, one of the great, distinctive and underrated voices from the classic rock era, who delivered the highlights on such tracks as “Eyes of Silver,” “Without You” and his signature tune, “Long Train Runnin’.” At this performance, the band chugged along like the big steam engine the song describes with a harmonica solo from McFee and a sax solo from Marc Russo, before closing with a sustained jam that included a mighty percussive solo.

It segued immediately into “China Grove,” the lively tune that was released on its predecessor’s heels as a single in 1973, that at the time packed a great one-two punch from their breakthrough album, The Captain and Me .

Related: Our feature story on “Long Train Runnin'”

Their first encore was “Black Water,” a #1 single from 1974, that features two solos by McFee.

As for Winwood , the ageless—he turned 76 on May 12—singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player is making his return to the touring stage after a gap of more than five years. Unlike many other arena shows where the seats are empty for the opening act, the savvy Garden audience was packed for the legendary musician, who offered a hour+ 10-song, career-spanning set.

Steve Winwood at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 7, 2024 (Photo: Emma Goldschmidt/MSG Entertainment; used with permission)

If it seems like he’s been with us since forever… well, he has, first recording as a teenager with the Spencer Davis Group, and then with Traffic, the all-too-brief Blind Faith, and as a hugely successful solo artist. For this tour, his six-piece band also includes his daughter, Lilly Winwood, still in her late twenties.

The set began with “I’m a Man,” which Winwood wrote while still in his teens. The polyrhythmic performance set an early tone for the band’s efficient musicianship.

Midway through was a jazzy “Roll With It,” one of Winwood’s “newer” songs (from 1988!), that offered that distinctive organ.

Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” featured a stunning Winwood guitar solo and closed with an extended jam.

His set closed with a sensational “Gimme Some Lovin'”

Go see the tour. Tickets are available at  Ticketmaster.com .

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3 Comments so far

Tom is and will always be the Doobie Brothers leader. He is one of the most underrated singer / songwriters / lead guitarists of all time. The guy has charisma by the ton. He is incredible live. In 2019 he was playing a double bill with Santana and came out during Santana’s cover of “She’s Not There”, Carlos let Tom take on the lead guitar parts, Carlos’s jaw fell to the floor, he was speechless, he just let Tom take off and he did. The standing ovation was like an earthquake! Seen him 10 times over 5 decades, he literally is “the man”.

I concur… TJ is the heart and soul of the Doobies although Pat Simmons is right there with him. He made the early Doobies one of the most listenable bands, and in fact, my first album I ever owned was the captain and me and I still love it, especially dark eyed Cajun woman and clear as the driven snow ..very cool that they played eyes of silver one of the great songs from another great album what were once vices are now habits ….

Thanks for the great review! The Doobie Brothers are amazing and still in their prime. See them while you can.

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The Doobie Brothers Setlists: What to Expect From The 2024 Tour

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Update (July 12): This article has been updated with The Doobie Brothers’ latest setlist.

The Doobie Brothers are rockin’ down the highway across North America for The 2024 Tour . After reuniting for their massive 50th Anniversary Tour, the classic lineup of Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee is takin’ it to the streets once again for a coast-to-coast trek that keeps you runnin’ through October.

The 2024 Tour kicks off at The Forum in Inglewood, California on June 23. The band will use the new circuit to keep on rollin’ to new stages such as New York’s Madison Square Garden on August 7, while also making return visits to Denver’s Ball Arena on August 29, White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington on September 6 and more. In May, the group announced an additional six dates in Canada, pushing the closing night to October 16 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Find everything you need to know beyond “Listen to the Music” to get ready for The 2024 Tour, including how to get The Doobie Brothers tickets , below.

Who are The Doobie Brothers?

The Doobie Brothers are a two-time Grammy-winning band that formed in San Jose, California in 1970. Starting as a quartet, the group’s lineup has changed and expanded several times over their more than five-decade career, though they still managed to blend various influences from rock, jazz, R&B, pop, soul and folk harmonies into a distinct, slick sound later dubbed “yacht rock.” Since sharing their self-titled debut album in 1971, the band has released 15 studio albums, six of which have gone platinum, and 16 Top 40 singles, including their two Hot 100 chart-toppers, 1974’s “Black Water” and 1979’s “What a Fool Believes.” More hits like “Listen to the Music” and “Long Train Runnin'” were compiled on 1976’s Best of The Doobies , which became their first diamond record. Overall, The Doobie Brothers have sold more than 40 million records worldwide.

The group disbanded in 1982, but have reunited on multiple occasions. In 2020, nine members of The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and recommenced touring together a year later for the 50th Anniversary Tour. The current lineup features founding members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons as well as keyboardist and vocalist Michael McDonald and guitarist John McFee, who joined the band in 1975 and 1979, respectively.

How to Get Tickets for The Doobie Brothers Concerts

The Doobie Brothers tickets and VIP packages for The 2024 Tour are available via Ticketmaster.

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The Doobie Brothers Discography

• The Doobie Brothers (1971)
• Toulouse Street (1972)
• The Captain and Me (1973)
• What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974)
• Stampede (1975)
• Takin’ It to the Streets (1976)
• Livin’ on the Fault Line (1977)
• Minute by Minute (1978)
• One Step Closer (1980)
• Cycles (1989)
• Brotherhood (1991)
• Sibling Rivalry (2000)
• World Gone Crazy (2010)
• Southbound (2014)
• Liberté (2021)

What to Know for The Doobie Brothers’ The 2024 Tour

The 2024 Tour continues the celebratory spectacle of the 50th Anniversary Tour, which spanned nearly 150 shows in North America, Asia and Australia between 2021 and 2023. While its predecessor marked the first shows featuring the lineup of Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee in over 25 years, The 2024 Tour will find the group building on their freshly road-fueled chemistry.

Along with signature Doobie Brothers  songs like “Jesus is Just Alright,” “China Grove” and “Takin’ It to the Streets,” the group have also made a habit of teasing their past Steely Dan ties — via McDonald and former guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter — with a recurring cover of the band’s 1974 single “Pretzel Logic.” While The Doobies take front-and-center vocally, the stage is completed by their longtime touring band led by bassist John Cowan, drummer Ed Toth, percussionist Marc Quiñones and saxophonist Marc Russo.

Is There an Opening Act for The 2024 Tour?

The 2024 Tour will feature Grammy-winning blues outfit Robert Cray Band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Steve Winwood on select dates.

How Long is The Doobie Brothers Concert?

On The 2024 Tour, The Doobie Brothers’ set has lasted about one hour and 40 minutes.

The Doobie Brothers’ 2024 Tour Setlist:

• Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) (Eddie Holland cover)
• Here to Love You
• Dependin’ on You
• Rockin’ Down the Highway
• You Belong to Me
• It Keeps You Runnin’
• Eyes of Silver
• One Step Closer
• World Gone Crazy
• Minute by Minute
• Without You
• Jesus Is Just Alright (The Art Reynolds Singers cover)
• What a Fool Believes ( Kenny Loggins cover)
• Long Train Runnin’
• China Grove
• Black Water
• Takin’ It to the Streets
• Listen to the Music

Source: Setlist.fm.

Where Can I See The Doobie Brothers on The 2024 Tour?

The Doobie Brothers’ The 2024 Tour will make stops at the following cities across North America:

• 06/23 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
• 06/25 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
• 06/26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
• 06/29 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
• 06/30 – Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
• 07/02 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
• 07/03 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theater
• 07/06 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
• 07/08 – Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
• 07/10 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
• 07/11 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
• 07/13 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
• 07/14 – Knoxville, TN @ Food City Center
• 07/30 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
• 07/31 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
• 08/03 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
• 08/04 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
• 08/06 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
• 08/07 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
• 08/09 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
• 08/10 – Gilford, NH @ BankNH Pavilion
• 08/12 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
• 08/13 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
• 08/15 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
• 08/17 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
• 08/18 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
• 08/20 – Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
• 08/22 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
• 08/24 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
• 08/25 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
• 08/27 – Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center
• 08/29 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
• 08/30 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp)
• 09/03 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
• 09/05 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
• 09/06 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
• 09/08 – Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
• 09/10 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre
• 09/27 – Syracuse, NY @ Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial
• 09/28 – Allentown, PA @ PPL Center
• 10/12 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
• 10/13 – Kingston, ON @ Slush Puppie Place
• 10/15 – Québec, QC @ Centre Videotron
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The Doobie Brothers are a rock band from the USA. They have sold over 40 million albums worldwide throughout their career, and have been active for five decades. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

John Hartman arrived in California in 1969 with the hopes of meeting Skip Spence of Moby Grape. Spence introduced Hartman to singer-songwriter Tom Johnston and the two musicians later became the engine behind The Doobie Brothers. They began by calling their band, “Pud” and went through a few line up changes sometimes including Skip Spence. It was in 1970 when they met Dave Shogren and another singer songwriter called Patrick Simmons, who had really made a name for himself in the local scene, but he really worked well alongside the line up that was beginning to form. Playing all over Northern California earned them a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1971.

It was over the next five years that they would become an international hit, with their sophomore album “Toulouse Street” released July 1972, going Platinum in the US and charting in Australia and New Zealand as well. “The Captain and Me”, released in March 1973, followed suit but this time going 2x Multi-Platinum. A similar pattern happened over the next couple of years in the form of “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” and “Stampede” both being top 4 albums in the US, and then in 1976, along came soulful power house, Michael McDonald. Under a contract to release an album in 1976, the Doobies were in a difficult situation where their main songwriter was unavailable so they turned to McDonald and Porter for material. With this request came the album “Takin’ It to the Streets” which was released on March 19th 1976. With the success of this album seeing it make it to number 8 in the Pop Albums Chart, The Doobie Brothers asked McDonald if he’d like to continue working with them for their next record. Fast forward a couple of successful albums to 1979, which is when they released an album called “Minute by Minute”, and on that album featured a song called “What a Fool Believes”, written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14th 1979, and received Grammy Awards in 1980 for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Over the course of the next couple of years, The Doobies embarked on world tours but unfortunately due to many issues between band members, exhaustion and disillusion, there were no original members left. Michael McDonald was ready for a solo career, so the band elected to disband. Of course, the band briefly disbanded and effectively hibernated for the next four years before making a comeback in the form of an album called “Cycles” which was released on May 17th 1989, this time without McDonald.

Live reviews

I enjoyed the show. It was what I expected, having seen them several times. It is an emotional connection for me. It . will always be my travelling music. I was married on Valentines Day of 1973, and we drove from Vsncouver down USA 101. We had an 8 track at the time, and it was part of our driving music. It makes me very noststalgic for a happy,and innocent time. Though I lost my husbsnd it was the music of that time. We selected the Doobies, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, America, C.S N.Y. ,Steve Miller Band, Yes, E.LO. E L.P. Bob Seeger, as the core of our "tunes" We also had select Jazz tapes as my husband was a jazz musician. Those tunes always return me to a time of experiencing some of the happiest times of my life. It was a time for discovery, adventure, and being in a state of bliss. I had never travelled past Seattle, and the Oregon coast was all and more than what I had hoped for. I remember running down the beach, and the wind made my sweater into a following cape. The waves broke on the beach, and this roiled up a seafoam. I recall pictures of me standing on a rock with this foam surrounding me, and it looked like snow. When we left Vancouver there had been s a late snow on the ground, and this appeared ss dnow in the photos we had taken. (We had to get films developed in those days). It was an unexpected discovery when we eagerly looked over our photos, taken with a Kodak camera I got when I was 12. It worked very well, and I quite miss it. The best part of our trip for me was the feeling of freedom, and whole and really loved for the first time in my life, and accepted for who I was. The trip was so powerful for me, and us, as best friends and partners. It was a discovery of landscapes, beauty of nature, a security found in each other, and a liberation on many levels, and a new chapter in life, which, I have never forgotten. Those glorious songs trigger a palpable response, that has transcended time for me. It was a ticket to a show and a special time in my life. I had those photos taken ftom me, "but the song remains the same " to me, and the music holds my memories.

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Absolutely awesome concert! They are tighter than ever and still play very energetically. They obviously enjoy the music very much, This is not a job... it's a joy! I'm a musician and there are times in your career that you just don't want to play another note. You don't even want to listen to music. Although the road can make you weary, the days of agony are over for the Doobs. They do it because they love it. They have big hearts. It's charity, in fact, that kept them together. May they continue to play the music that will always sell out any venue they care to play. Hot dogs, apple pie, baseball and of course, The Doobie Brothers! The Doobies have always been environmentally conscientious and patriotic. The concert was preceded by a Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremony honoring our men and women in uniform. This included a moment of silence for all those Missing In Action or Prisoners of War, and the singing of The National Anthem. One of the best concerts I have ever seen. The musicians are still awesome and played some great music. I would go see them again anytime.

I have loved the Doobie Brothers since the 70s & they didn't disappoint in 2017!! They still look & sound as wonderful (if not better)than they did back in the day! Touring with Chicago, this concert was one of the best I have seen so far this year! The only downer for me was the crowd at the Austin 360 Amphitheater. Yes, we are all older than we were back in the 70s & 80s, but show the artist, that is performing for you, that you STILL LOVE their music! They want to see people enjoying, dancing, singing their songs. You SIT @ a symphony, NOT A ROCK N ROLL CONCERT!!!! Austin, TX is suppose to be the music capital of the world, but Saturday night I felt like I was sitting at an old folks home! Get up & enjoy the music, you never know if this will be the last time they tour & perform! If you have the opportunity to jam with The Doobie Brothers & Chicago ~ GO!!! You WILL NOT be disappointed!! FANTASTIC SHOW!!

Bluesfest Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers were up first. With their mix of southern rock, country, folk, R&B and soul, the current lineup rotated from three guitars and bass, to acoustic guitars, harmonica, electric violin, along with the excellent sax playing of Marc Russo, keyboards of Little Feet’s Bill Payne complementing the vocal harmonies of Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John Mcfee that defines The Doobie Brothers music. All the classics were played. Starting with Jesus is Just Alright, Rockin’ Down the Highway, Take Me in Your Arms, Taking to the Streets, Black Water, Long Train Runnin’, China Grove and my personal favourite, Clear as the Driven Snow and finishing with Listen to The Music. By the end of the set, everyone was on there feet and dancing…Brilliant evening

When we saw Don Felder being advertised with the Doobies I misunderstood and thought he was playing in their band. Well he turned out to be the jewel of the show, not only for the quality of his work,but the audio level that he worked at. You could hear the words and the distinction in the solos. No one drowned out the other. The Doobies were garbled and played way too loud for this venue.We left early with our ears ringing. Very disappointed.The venue Austin City Limits at Moody Theatre was good with excellent visibility and good acoustics. We will go back to this venue as we had cheaper seats in the balcony, but could see and hear well.I would advise against the pricey seats in the orchestra as many fans stood up during the performance. Who wants to pay big and then be inconvenienced?

Doobie Brothers is one of my favourite all time

Bands and I have come to the conclusion that I like the music produced when Michael McDonald was part of the band. I am not a fan of the highway rock and roll, folk or country and western style music

playef in Sydney on 13 April 2017. It is what it is

Playlist. What made the experience almost intolerable was that the sound produced was awful. Either the engineer fell asleep on the controls or was hearing impaired. Wasn't the venue as Santana who followed had great sound.

Honestly one of the best nights of my life, never thought I'd ever get to see Doobie Brothers live on stage,still seems like a dream. The night was amazing, the band was electrifying, the lights and musical performance were mesmerising, the energy and charisma of the guy's had us the audience hooked from the very first note. I've always had their CD's, but to hear them singing and watch their performance on stage is truly exceptional, if they ever come back to Glasgow I would love to see them again, OUTSTANDING, X

The Doobie Brothers were in Seattle last Saturday for the Northwest Classic concert series. They opened up for the Eagles, but the Doobie's should have head lined the show. Their vocals and their musicianship were in fine form. This is the best the band has sounded in a few years.

Safeco Stadium held all 33,000+ of us safe and in a fun environment. No security issues... very peaceful crowd.

This was my 45th Doobie Brothers Concert... and it was one of their best shows! The boys know how to 'kick it'.

The band was truly excellent. The vocals were as great as they were when they started out. They have such distinctive and cool voices! The guitar playing was top notch and the sax player was excellent. Overall they were truly great. The Doovies opened for Steely Dan and the two acts together were awesome. This was a concert not to miss. I recommend this show to anyone at any age. In fact, I recommend it to a younger crowd to get a true education on two great long standing rock groups.

I have listened to the Doobie Brothers since a was in my teens. My dad was a gigantic fan and I guess it rubbed off on me also! My Dad passed on in 2007 and I inherited his automobile. While driving along one day on my commute to work, I looked in his CD compartment and found 3 Doobie Brothers CD'S! Now, whenever I drive Dad's car a part of him is sitting right next to me singing away! That is the closeness a Father & Daughter could ever hope for and it was helped along by the Doobie Brothers!

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Doobie Brothers is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 14 concerts across 2 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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The Doobie Brothers Announce 2024 Tour With Special Guests Robert Cray & Steve Winwood

Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Doobie Brothers have announced a major U.S. tour featuring special guests Robert Cray  and  Steve Winwood at select shows.

Set to kick off on June 15th at Seattle’s White River Amphitheater , the tour will carry the band through the summer months with stops in 38 cities, many of which the band has not played in several years. Following shows in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City at Madison Square Garden , the trek will wrap in Salt Lake City at the USANA Amphitheater on August 30th.

Tickets for The Doobie Brothers’ 2024 tour will for on sale to the general public on Friday, January 26th at 10 a.m. local time. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 23rd at 10 a.m. local time until Thursday, January 25th at 10 p.m. local through the Citi Entertainment program. Click below for a full list of tour dates, and visit the website for ticketing details.

The Doobie Brothers’ 2024 tour follows the band’s 50th Anniversary Tour , which saw Tom Johnston , Michael McDonald , Pat Simmons , and John McFee tour together for the first time in over 25 years. Formed in 1970, the band has earned five top-ten singles, 16 top-40 hits, three multi-platinum albums, seven platinum albums, 14 gold albums, and a rare diamond record for their 1976 Best of the Doobies album, with nearly 50 million albums sold worldwide.

In 2023, they released the single “Lahaina” in support of those affected by the devastating fires in Maui last year, marking the band’s first release since its 2021 album Liberté . The single also featured Mick Fleetwood , Jake Shimabukuro , and Henry Kapono ,

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS: THE 2024 TOUR DATES

June 15 ** – White River Amphitheater – Seattle, WA June 16 ** – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA June 18 ** – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR June 20 ** – Toyota Amphitheatre – Wheatland, CA June 22 ** – Concord Pavilion – Concord, CA June 23 ** – The Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA June 25 ** – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – San Diego, CA June 26 ** – Footprint Center – Phoenix, AZ June 29 ** – Dos Equis Pavilion – Dallas, TX June 30 ** – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX July 2 ** – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK July 3 ** – Choctaw Casino and Resort – Durant, OK July 6 ** – Walmart AMP – Rogers, AR July 8 ** – Daily’s Place – Jacksonville, FL July 10 ** – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL July 11 ** – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL July 13 ** – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA July 14 ** – Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN July 30 ++ – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC July 31 ++ – Coastal Credit Union Music Park – Raleigh, NC August 3 ++ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Camden, NJ August 4 ++ – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA August 6 ++ – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ August 7 ++ – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY August 9 ++ – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater – Bridgeport, CT August 10 ++ – BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH August 12 ++ – Xfinity Center – Boston, MA August 13 ++ – Broadview Stage at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, NY August 15 ++ – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Detroit, MI August 17 ++ – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN August 18 ++ – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH August 20 ++ – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Pittsburgh, PA August 22 ++ – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH August 24 ++ – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO August 25 ++ – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL August 27 ++ – CHI Health Center – Omaha, NE August 29 ++ – Ball Arena – Denver, CO August 30 ++ – USANA Amphitheater – Salt Lake City, UT

**with Robert Cray ++with Steve Winwood

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Doobie Brothers Announce New 50th-Anniversary US Tour Dates

The Doobie Brothers have extended their 50th-anniversary tour with more than 30 new U.S. shows that will run from June through October.

You can see the full list of dates below.

"We are thrilled to be back on the road in 2023 playing some cities we haven't gotten to yet on this tour," singer and guitarist Tom Johnston said in a statement.

The Doobies' current trek reunites Johnston, singer and keyboardist  Michael McDonald  and guitarists Patrick Simmons and John McFee for the first time in 25 years. "Having all of us together doing these shows I think creates more of a mystique," Simmons told UCR last year. "People are getting it. They realize, 'Hey, I've gotta go see these guys. Gosh, it was the '70s and now they're in their 70s!'"

Simmons was particularly excited to share the stage with both Johnston and McDonald again.

"I know for me personally, it's just plain fun," he said. "It always has been, but this is one of those memorable moments in my life and career, having these two guys playing together with me. It's certainly something that I'll carry with me forever."

Doobie Brothers 50th-Anniversary Extended 2023 Tour Dates  June 9 - Sparks, NV @ Nugget Event Center June 11 - West Valley, UT @ Maverik Center June 14 - Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre June 15 - Springfield, MO @ Great Southern Bank Arena June 17 - Sioux City, IA @ Tyson Events Center June 18 - Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena June 20 - Duluth, MN @ AMSOIL Arena June 21 - Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field June 23 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum June 24 - Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center June 26 - Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center at The Heights June 28 - Youngstown, OH @ The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre June 30 - Pikeville, KY @ Appalachian Wireless Arena July 1 - Louisville, KY @ The Palace Theatre July 3 - Portsmouth, VA @ Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion July 6 - Reading, PA @ Santander Performing Arts Center July 8 - New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre New Jersey July 9 - New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre New Jersey July 11 - Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) July 12 - Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) Aug 18 - Waite Park, MN @ The Ledge Amphitheater Aug 20 - Lincoln, NE @ Pinewood Bowl Theater Aug 23 - Camdenton, MO @ Ozarks Amphitheatre Aug 26 - Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheater Aug 28 - Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Aug 30 - Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater Aug 31 - Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater Sept 2 - Macon, GA @ Macon Centreplex Sept 3 - Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena Sept 6 - Simpsonville, SC @ CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park Sept 7 - Greensboro, NC @ White Oak Amphitheatre Sept 9 - Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium Oct 5 - National Harbor, MD @ MGM National Harbor Oct 6 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena Oct 8 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

The Doobie Brothers, July 12, 2022

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What a Doob believes: How the Doobie Brothers survived ‘50-ish’ years to finally get their due

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When it finally happened last summer, the Doobie Brothers’ long-anticipated reunion with Michael McDonald took just more than a week to run into trouble.

Nine days after they kicked off a tour marking the California group’s 50th anniversary — a year late due to a pandemic-forced delay in 2020 — McDonald tested positive for the coronavirus and had to pull out of a performance at the Minnesota State Fair with just hours until showtime.

“The mistake I made was thinking I could go out to eat once in a while,” recalled the white-haired crooner, whose bandmates went ahead without him that night before calling off a handful of subsequent gigs while they waited for McDonald to recover.

So you could understand why the once-freewheeling Doobies, all vaxxed and boosted and in their early 70s, were running a pretty tight ship the other day at a North Hollywood rehearsal studio as they prepared to hit the road again — first for a two-week Las Vegas residency set to open Friday at Planet Hollywood, then for the remaining 42 dates of the anniversary tour, the group’s first official outing with McDonald since the mid-1990s. Signs taped to the walls ordered any non-Doobie to wear a mask at all times; a burly crew member was quick to deliver the message aloud to anyone who appeared to need reminding.

Do these safety measures threaten to kill the fun of touring, at least as compared to the group’s ‘70s heyday, when the musicians traveled in a bar-equipped plane called the DoobieLiner? “Yes,” guitarist Pat Simmons replied immediately. (Once they start playing concerts this month, the bubble will tighten further, according to their manager, with no guests allowed backstage.) Asked how they plan to amuse themselves, Simmons deadpanned: “DoorDash.”

“But you just have to deal with reality,” the guitarist continued. “It ain’t perfect. Who cares? We’re here, you know? So f— it.”

“That’s a good phrase,” Tom Johnston, who splits lead vocals with McDonald, told Simmons with a laugh. “I like that. Covers everything.”

Even with a COVID-19 compliance officer on staff, the Vegas gig and the tour will serve as something of a victory lap for the Doobie Brothers two years after they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame . The band, which Simmons and Johnston formed in San Jose in 1970 — and which went on to score era-defining hits such as “ Listen to the Music ,” “China Grove,” “ Black Water ,” “ Takin’ It to the Streets ” and “What a Fool Believes” — had been eligible for induction for decades to no avail.

But if the Doobies were once viewed as lightweights by rock critics, their perception has warmed more recently thanks to the embrace of admirers as varied as Luke Bryan, who toasted the band during the Rock Hall ceremony, and Solange, who’s covered “What a Fool Believes” in concert. The Gen X and millennial fascination with so-called yacht rock — the genre coinage used to describe the cohort of acts spinning out mellow yet sophisticated soft-rock vibes in the late ’70s and early ’80s — helped the band’s chances, as did the fact that another of the hall’s 2020 inductees was veteran music manager Irving Azoff , whose powerful Full Stop firm took over the Doobies’ affairs in 2015. Said Karim Karmi, who manages the group with Azoff: “You have to have champions on the committee [that handles nominations], and you have to tell a story besides ‘They have hit songs and they tour a lot.’”

“We used to think the whole thing was bull—,” Simmons said of the organization’s notoriously political selection process. “Until we got in.”

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Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Bob Dylan Center opened to the public this week, throwing into focus a towering cultural figure and a city wrestling with its past.

May 11, 2022

Now that they have, they’re taking full advantage of the recognition. In October, the band released a new studio album, “Liberté,” and this week Johnston and Simmons published a memoir, “ Long Train Runnin’: Our Story of the Doobie Brothers ,” which includes input from former bassist Tiran Porter, one of the relatively few Black men in the mostly white ’70s rock business, and the band’s longtime producer, Ted Templeman. With McDonald on board, the group is using its current live set — which also features guitarist John McFee, a Doobie since the late ’70s — to showcase the breadth of its catalog.

And what a crazily broad catalog it is, with hard-riffing biker-bar rock alongside fingerpicked acoustic blues and swank, jazz-inflected R&B. The easy way to look at the band’s initial run, which yielded 16 Top 40 hits, is to split it into halves: the early years when the growly-voiced Johnston was fronting the band and the later years when the smoothly soulful McDonald had the job.

“Kind of like Fleetwood Mac,” Simmons pointed out, invoking another classic-rock act with distinct eras (in Fleetwood Mac’s case, before and after Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined).

But the truth is that the Doobie Brothers — whose multiracial lineup reflected, and fueled, the diversity of their deeply American music — were always evolving, even when the singer stayed the same.

“We just kept trying things,” Johnston said during a break from rehearsal. Dressed in an array of dad jeans and sensible sneakers (except for McDonald, who wore flip-flops), the core Doobies had convened near the Burbank airport from their homes scattered around the West — Johnston in Marin County, McDonald and McFee in Santa Barbara, Simmons on Maui. Yet as they recounted the old days, they joked around like the lifelong pals they are. “Went from the first album, which didn’t sell s—, to the second album, which had a song that got on the radio — couple of them, actually,” Johnston continued. “Then the third album, we started trying synthesizer stuff. Album after that, we had the Memphis Horns.

“We’ve had a lot of players too. I mean this in the most respectful way, but we’ve had an exploding drummer problem,” Johnston said, referring to the “Spinal Tap” gag. “And bass players, we’ve had a few of those. They all brought something of their own to the music.”

The Doobies grew out of the Bay Area biker scene at the Chateau Liberté, a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Santa Cruz Mountains with a loyal clientele of Hells Angels. “It was the real deal — guys with guns taking big slugs from bottles of Jack,” said Templeman, who remembered heading up from Los Angeles to check out the band after plucking its demo from the slush pile at Warner Bros. Records. “But when Pat and Tommy would sing together, it was so beautiful. Kind of incongruous.” According to Templeman, the group asked for $20,000 to sign to Warner: “10 for equipment and 10 for cocaine,” the producer said.

The Doobies’ self-titled debut came out in 1971 and was quickly followed by 1972’s “Toulouse Street,” which went platinum, and 1973’s “The Captain and Me,” which went double-platinum. In 1975, the group topped Billboard’s Hot 100 with the folky “Black Water.” But as their success grew, Johnston’s health was deteriorating as a result of a bleeding ulcer; forced to bail mid-tour, the singer was replaced on the road by McDonald on the recommendation of guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who’d played with McDonald in Steely Dan before Baxter joined the Doobies.

“The second I heard him open up his mouth, I said, ‘holy s—,’” Porter writes of McDonald in “Long Train Runnin’.” “My mind was blown right there.”

McDonald stuck around and began contributing to the band’s albums beginning with “Takin’ It to the Streets” in 1976; by the next year’s “Livin’ on the Fault Line,” the Doobies’ sound had changed dramatically to suit his nimble keyboard playing and quiet-storm vocal approach. Johnston insists today that he didn’t resent the shift. “But I didn’t feel like I was adding enough to the band at that point,” he said. “I wasn’t comfortable.” So he quit.

Kenny Loggins, who’d known the Doobie Brothers since they opened for Loggins & Messina in the early ’70s, recalls picking up on “the tension” in the group at that time. “Tommy and Michael, their styles were just so different. But Michael seemed like a breath of fresh air for the Doobies. Had they only had the Tommy Johnston era — and I love Tommy — they might not have lasted as long as they did. With Michael, they rode the tide of change in pop music.”

For the band’s next LP, 1978’s yacht-rock touchstone “Minute by Minute,” McDonald and Loggins co-wrote the silky and syncopated “What a Fool Believes,” which went on to hit No. 1 and won Grammy Awards for record of the year and song of the year. “And we were up against ‘ After the Love Has Gone ,’” Loggins noted with pride, referring to the lush R&B ballad by Earth Wind & Fire. Over the years, “Fool” has been covered by Aretha Franklin , George Michael — even Kanye West’s Sunday Service choir, which transformed the song into a gospel devotional .

“Wasn’t it used recently on — whatever the hell it is — ‘Euphoria’?” Johnston asked his bandmates, and indeed the HBO teensploitation drama licensed the song for a scene in an episode from Season 2.

In spite of “Fool’s” commercial gains, the Doobies lasted only one more album before breaking up in 1982. They got back together sporadically over the next decade for charity gigs; Johnston and Simmons later organized a more formal reunion (minus McDonald, who’d started a successful solo career) and have been touring steadily ever since. Still, playing with McDonald again, Johnston said, “lifts it up a little bit — makes it more special.”

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It’s also, not unlike that “Euphoria” sync, a good way to “keep the band’s brand alive,” as Karmi put it, in an age when record sales have all but vanished and a stream on Spotify pays a fraction of a cent. Asked whether they keep up with modern music, Johnston said, “I’m told by people that work in it that it’s disposable. They’re not songs you’re gonna hear 15 or 20 years down the line.”

“I disagree,” Simmons said. “I think there are songs as meaningful to young people’s lives as Steely Dan or Jefferson Airplane was to people our age. There’s a whole generation that’s gonna remember Snoop Dogg’s stuff forever.

“I mean, I can’t name one record of his,” he added. “But I appreciate who he is.”

As for their upcoming residency, nobody in the Doobie Brothers would describe himself as a huge Vegas fan. But after two years mostly spent sitting around — “We’re now calling it the 50-ish anniversary,” McFee said — they’re just happy to be performing again.

“When the pandemic started, I remember thinking I was gonna do all the things I never had time to do,” McDonald said. “Then I started watching HGTV and eating cookies.”

All of the Doobies are married and have grown children they thanked by name in their Rock Hall acceptance speeches. Do they expect their kids to come out and see the band on tour?

“ Eh ,” Simmons answered noncommittally. “They liked us more when they were younger.”

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The Doobie Brothers & Michael McDonald Are Reuniting for First Album in 44 Years

The untitled LP accompanies the band's 50th anniversary tour.

By Gary Graff

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The Doobie Brothers ‘ 50th anniversary reunion, which is heading into its third year of touring, is yielding some new music as well.

Co-founders Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston tell Billboard they’re both stoked about the band’s next album, which it’s finishing work on with Michael McDonald. The singer/keyboardist was with the Doobies from 1975-1982 and has been back in the fold since anniversary tour was first announced in 2019 and then delayed by the pandemic.

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Simmons, the lone Doobie Brother to be part of the band’s entire 54-year career, shared the news with fans via a social media post.  “It’s very exciting,” he tells Billboard . “At one point I said, ‘Hey, we’re doing all these dates… As long as we’re doing this it would make sense to do a record. I think people would really get a kick out of that.'” With a chuckle he adds that, “We have yet to find out whether they’ll get a kick out of it or whether we’ll get kicked for it.”

The latter is unlikely, of course. McDonald’s tenure with the band — coming after he worked with Steely Dan — was among its most successful. Brought in to help the Doobies while Johnston was suffering burn-out, McDonald contributed hits such as “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “You Belong to Me” (co-written with Carly Simon) and “Real Love.” The triple-platinum Minute By Minute album in 1978, meanwhile, was the Doobies’ sole No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year for the hit “What a Fool Believes.” 

Simmons says he’s particularly happy to have himself, Johnston and McDonald — as well as fourth Doobies principal guitarist John McFee — fully engaged together on the new album. “It’s nice that Tom has an opportunity to interact with Mike musically because they have so much in common as far as their love of R&B and the people they admire,” he explains. “They never really got a chance to interact in this way before, so it makes me happy to see that happening. It’s more than the sum of our parts, I think.”

He’s particularly stoked about a gospel-flavored track called “Walk This Road” that features lead vocals by both McDonald and Johnston as well as guest Mavis Staples. “John Shanks had assumed I knew Mavis was singing on it, and I had no idea,” Simmons says with a laugh. “I hear this voice and I’m going, ‘What the…? Tommy is really killing it;’ it didn’t’ really sound like him but he has that quality to his voice. But it was Mavis, and… the three of them singing, I’m telling ya it just floored me. And there’s a bunch of other great tracks, just some killer — for me, anyway — great songs on this record, some ferocious tracks.” 

Johnston, meanwhile, predicts that, “This one’s probably a little moreso diverse because Michael is involved in all the tunes, but that’s fine, man. It’s an extension of what we’re doing on the road.” 

In addition to the album, McDonald is publishing What a Fool Believes: A Memoir , co-written with Paul Reiser, on May 21. He also contributed to 2022’s Long Train Runnin’: Our Story of the Doobie Brothers , which Simmons and Johnston helmed. 

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Simmons says of the continuing Doobies reunion. “We’re having a good time. It’s kind of continuing what we’ve been doing for the last 50 years and we still do things the same way for the most part, but having Mike on board again is great. I think it’s just having great artists, great creative people and talented guys that write the material… and then we have a great band. We’ve always had really great musicians, great singers. I think that really helps with how people perceive the band at any given time. It’s as strong now as it ever was.”

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Here's How Many People Have Been Members Of The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers will finally get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year, and rightly so. They've given us songs like Black Water, Listen To The Music, Long Train Runnin', Takin' It to the Streets , and more. According to the band's website, the group has also won four Grammy Awards and has sold more than 48 million records worldwide.

The band has gone through many members of the years — some decided to quit the band, others moved on to other projects, some filled in for a few performances, and others have died, but the Doobie Brothers are still active in performing today. "There have always been such great musicians in the band and we've always been motivated," guitarist Patrick Simmons said in a 2013 interview with Cleveland.com .

What started as a simple quartet of Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Dave Shogren, and John Hartman, evolved into an ever-changing lineup that plays a mixture of country, bluegrass, and rock and roll.

The early years

At least 28 musicians have played as a "Doobie Brother" in the band's 50-year career. The initial members were, of course, Johnston, Simmons, Hartman, and Shogren. During the 1970s, Tiran Porter, Keith Knudsen, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter contributed to performances and producing albums. The Doobie Brothers also added a second drummer around this time, which they became known for — the first being Michael Hossack.

One of the band's roadies, Bobby LaKind, was even added to the lineup in 1977 as a percussionist and background singer, according to Ultimate Classic Rock . Michael McDonald also stepped in during this time, bringing with him experience as the former backup singer and keyboardist for Steely Dan . McDonald even became the focal point of the band in the late 1970s, and wrote six songs on the 1978 album Minute by Minute .

A multi-instrumentalist from the band Clover, John McFee, joined the lineup in the late '70s, along with Willie Weeks. The Doobie Brothers' "final" concert was in September 1982, and original members Johnston and Hartman returned to the stage once more with their new brothers.

Reunion tours

Of course, that wasn't their final concert at all. All generations of the Doobie Brothers came together on stage at once to raise money for LaKind after he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 1992, according to the LA Times . After LaKind's death, the Doobie Brothers went on the road again, this time without a label. The band added some new faces along the way, including John Cowan, Danny Hull, Guy Allison, and Mark Russo, among others.

The most recent lineup of the Doobie Brothers consists of Johnston, Simmons, McDonald, and McFee backed up by Ed Toth, Bill Payne, and former Allman Brothers Band percussionist, Marc Quinones. The band was scheduled to go on tour this year for their 50th anniversary, but given the global pandemic, the band announced on their website that they would be postponing the 46-city tour. 

No matter who currently represents the Doobie Brothers, their decades-long career and expansive cast of members is an impressive part of rock and roll history.

Entertainment | Doobie Brothers celebrate new album, 50th…

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Entertainment, entertainment | doobie brothers celebrate new album, 50th anniversary tour and recovery of four band members from covid-19, because of the pandemic, the band was inducted virtually into the rock & roll hall of fame last year. three of the group’s members have been stricken with covid-19 this year..

Clay Patrick McBride / Courtesy Rogers & Cowan

The Doobie Brothers have reunited with former member Michael McDonald for the band’s belated 50th anniversary tour. Shown from left are Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McFee and McDonald.

Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images

The Doobie Brothers perform at the Stagecoach festival in Indio. Shown, from left, are Patrick Simmons, Marc Russo, Tom Johnston and John McFee.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDs - JANUARY 01: The Doobie Brothers posed in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1974 L-R Pat Simmons, Tiran Porter, Tom Johnston, Keith Knudsen (?) John Hartman (?) (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns)

The Doobie Brothers have reunited with former member Michael McDonald for the band’s belated 50th anniversary tour. Shown from left are Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McFee and McDonald. <br/>

“We’re back at work, but it’s an odd time for anybody doing this,” said singer, guitarist and Doobies co-founder Tom Johnston. “The option is to not go out on tour. A lot of people have chosen that option.”

With or without the pandemic, the longevity of the Doobies is a happy surprise for Johnston, 73. He performs here with the band next Friday at Chula Vista’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre.

“When we started, we didn’t even know what was going to happen the next day!” Johnston recalled.

“How does any band know? You’re just trying to get it together and move forward. At the start of this band, we hadn’t done anything yet and we were playing bars like everyone else. Luckily, we did a demo tape that got us a record deal with Warner Bros. Our first album didn’t sell, but the second did. And the rest is history.”

Indeed, it is for the Doobies, whose 19th album, “Liberté,” is out today. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, albeit virtually because of COVID-19, and is now embarked on its 50th anniversary tour — a year late because of the pandemic-fueled shutdown of live events.

Record sales total 48 million albums

A major commercial force in the 1970s, the Doobies struck gold and platinum with its radio-friendly blend of rock, blues, gospel and soul. The band has sold more than 48 million albums and scored 16 top 40 hits, thanks to such audience favorites as “Jesus Is Just Alright,” “Black Water,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “Listen to the Music,” and — after Steely Dan alum Michael McDonald joined up — “What a Fool Believes” and “Minute By Minute.”

Some of those songs became prime cover material for bar bands in the 1970s, including a Missouri ensemble that featured future Doobies singer and keyboardist McDonald. He replaced Johnston in the Doobies’ lineup in 1975. Johnston returned for the group’s 1982 farewell tour and has been a staple of the band since it reunited in 1987.

“I’d been playing Doobies’ material for years in nightclubs before I joined the band,” McDonald said in a 1987 San Diego Union interview. “They were a major force in music.”

Two of the Doobies’ co-founders, Johnston and fellow singer-guitarist Patrick Simmons, are still on board today. So is ace guitarist John McFee, who joined in 1979. The band’s lineup now also includes veteran Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne and former Yellowjackets saxophonist Marc Russo, who brings a jazzy élan to some of the group’s music.

McDonald rejoined for the 50th anniversary tour, but missed several performances in early September after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He is now back in the fold.

Guitarist McFee and saxophonist Russo also had COVID, said Johnston, who — in early 2020 — was the first member of The Doobies to contract the potentially fatal disease.

“You really, really have to adhere to COVID protocols in order to tour,” Johnston said, speaking from Los Angeles last week. “Even if you do adhere, it still happens. If you’re really buttoned down, don’t leave your hotel room until the gig, wear a mask the whole time until you get on stage, then put the mask back on when you get off stage — and stay in a bubble — it can work.

“It’s imperative you do that and don’t have any contact outside the bubble. That’s the only way you can tour. We did have people in the band get sick with COVID. Without going into a longwinded explanation, I think I know where they got sick; you’re not supposed to go into restaurants or bars.

“You can go back and forth about people wearing masks or not, and I won’t get into that here. But it really makes it a dicey situation when people don’t. As long as you got your masks on and isolate when you’re not playing, you should be alright. It’s okay to walk around, but not to go hang around with people. And, of course, various sections of the country are more active than others. So, we have to isolate.”

Two-and-a-half-hour concerts

But how can the nine touring members of the Doobies isolate on tour buses, which is the mode of transportation the band is using for most ofits 50th anniversary concert trek?

“Well, everybody’s wearing a mask, on and off the bus. I know what you’re thinking, but that’s pretty much the bottom line,” Johnston replied.

“Everybody washes their hands regularly. I don’t think anybody got sick on a bus. I think it was contact with other musicians (at concerts) or from going into a bar or restaurant. That’s all stopped now and I don’t think it would happen again that one of us gets sick. I’d be very, very unhappy if it did, because it means we’d have to stop touring.”

For its current tour, the Doobies are performing 29 songs over 2½ hours each night. That’s a record for the veteran band.

So is the speed with which the Doobies recorded its new album, “Liberté,” which was produced and co-written by Bon Jovi’s John Shanks. His previous production and songwriting credits range from Alanis Morissette, Van Halen and Stevie Nicks to Bonnie Raitt, Keith Urban and Hilary Duff.

A dozen songs strong, “Liberté” is the first Doobies album that — because of the pandemic — the band made without its members being face to face to write and record the songs.

“It was done really fast, although that’s not to say it’s the best way to do anything.” said Johnston, who co-wrote seven of the new album’s songs with Shanks.

“I went to John’s house in L.A. We’d sit down in his studio and I’d have a song or start one, or he would. We’d take that and flesh it out. Then, we’d start writing the lyrics. As soon as we got the lyrics done, we be in the studio recording vocals with a really basic backing track. Then, we’d bring in the drummer or bass player and we’d be done.

“We did two songs at a time and it was quicker than any album we’ve ever done. Plus, being in John’s studio there was nothing to distract you.”

With half a century — and, now, bouts with COVID-19 — under their collective belts, the Doobies hope to keep rockin’ down the highway for as long as possible.

“It goes on as long as you’re able to do it and want to,” Johnston said. “So far, no one in the band has had the urge to do anything else. And I plan to do it as long as I can.”

Did you know?

The Doobie Brothers got their start in a rustic Craftsman-style home in San Jose’s Naglee Park neighborhood. In late August, the San Jose City Council designated the three-bedroom, two-bath house a historic landmark.

Doobies co-founder Tom Johnston rented the place from 1969 to 1973 while attending San Jose State University, where he was a graphic design major. It was in this house that the Doobie Brothers came together and wrote such hit songs as “Listen to the Music.” The band’s first three albums — “The Doobie Brothers,” “Toulouse Street” and “The Captain and Me” — were all made and released while Johnston was living in the house.

The Doobie Brothers 50th anniversary tour

When: 7:30 p.m. next Friday, Oct. 8

Where: North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista

Tickets: $34-$349.50, plus service fees

Online: livenation.com

Health protocols: Before buying a ticket, attendees must confirm they have received a negative COVID-19 test within 72-hours of the concert or have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior. Children under 12 are required to take a COVID-19 test within 72-hours before the event and will provide proof of negative results prior to being admitted into the venue. Mask wearing for unvaccinated individuals is mandated by the California Department of Public Health. Entry requirements are subject to change.

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Local rock heroes the Doobie Brothers headline Toyota Pavilion at Concord

By Dave Pehling

September 3, 2024 / 7:26 PM PDT / CBS San Francisco

Bay Area rock institution and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Doobie Brothers bring their current tour featuring singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald to the Toyota Pavilion at Concord Sunday night.

Founded in San Jose in 1970 by guitarist, singer and principle songwriter Tom Johnston, the Doobie Brothers built a strong regional following with their mix of R&B, folk, blues and rock. The roots of the band date back a year earlier when drummer John Hartman was introduced to Johnston by former Moby Grape member Skip Spence. The two musicians began collaborating, eventually bringing on guitarist and songwriter Pat Simmons and original bassist Dave Shogren. 

Adopting the moniker the Doobie Brothers, the group played any gig they could find across the Bay Area and Northern California, building a following that included local chapters of the Hells Angels (the Doobies frequently performed at the Chateau Liberté, an Angels hangout in the Santa Cruz Mountains). A demo that spotlighted the twin lead guitars of Johnston and Simmons as well as their three-part vocal harmonies caught the ear of Warner Bros. A&R rep and producer Ted Templeman, who signed the band and took them into the studio.

While their first album made little impact, their seminal second effort  Toulouse Street kicked off a string of critical and commercial successes powered by such early hits as "Listen To The Music," "Jesus Is Just Alright With Me," "Rockin' Down the Highway," "Takin' It To The Streets" and "China Grove."  Toulouse Street also was the first album to feature new bassist Tiran Porter, who brought a funkier sound to the group's propulsive tunes. Their 1973 follow-up album The Captain and Me would eventually go double platinum, while the next year's What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits featured the Doobies' first #1 hit in the Simmons-penned "Black Water," ironically the b-side to the album's first single "Another Park, Another Sunday."

When health problems sidelined Johnston in 1975, the Doobie Brothers brought veteran session singer and keyboard player Michael McDonald to join the band. The group's sound took a turn from the guitar-focused boogie of their early efforts to a more sophisticated style of blue-eyed soul anchored by McDonald's distinctive vocals and keyboards and former Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's stinging leads with such hits as "Long Train Running," "What A Fool Believes," "It Keeps You Runnin'" and  "Minute By Minute." 

Johnston returned to the fold after recovering his health, but his role in the band was diminished and before long he departed again to launch a solo career, just after  Minute by Minute  became the Doobies biggest hit album yet. Despite the success, there was friction between members with Baxter and longtime drummer Hartman departing after the record was released. The group continued on with new members, but after the release of One Step Closer  in 1980, plans for Simmons to leave for his own solo career led the Doobies to announce a farewell tour in 1982 that came to a close at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre with a show that featured Johnston returning to play "China Grove" and "Listen to the Music." 

While McDonald would enjoy the most successful solo career of the band's members, he joined an initial reunion in 1987 for a benefit concert that would become an acclaimed 12-date tour featuring alumni from across the band's history. A line-up featuring the early pre-McDonald version of the Doobies reconvened to record the 1989 comeback album Cycles , that found the veteran band in heavy rotation on MTV with their throwback hit "The Doctor." The group has recorded sporadically and toured consistently since then, but only occasionally shared the stage with McDonald until he rejoined the fold for the first time in a quarter century during the band's 2020 tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary and the Doobies induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Fans can expect a career-spanning setlist of greatest hits and album cuts when the band headlines Toyota Pavilion at Concord on Sunday night. '80s blues favorite the Robert Cray Band warms up the crowd with an opening set.   

The Doobie Brothers with the Robert Cray Band Sunday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. $38-$191.50 Toyota Pavilion at Concord   

Dave Pehling is website managing editor for CBS Bay Area. He started his journalism career doing freelance writing about music in the late 1990s, eventually working as a web writer, editor and producer for KTVU.com in 2003. He began his role with CBS Bay Area in 2015.

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4 Memorable Songs Featuring Doobie Brothers’ John McFee in Honor of His Birthday

Matt Friedlander

Updated: 

Here’s wishing a Happy Birthday to longtime Doobie Brothers member John McFee , who turned 74 on Monday, September 9.

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The Bay-area native first joined the veteran rockers in 1979, in time to appear on the group’s hit 1980 album, One Step Closer . He stayed with The Doobies until their 1982 breakup, then rejoined the group for a 1987 reunion tour.

From 1983 to 1991, McFee was a member of country-rock act Southern Pacific, which featured longtime Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen. Ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook also played in the group from 1986 to 1991.

McFee returned as a full-time member of The Doobie Brothers in 1993 and has been with them ever since. In 2020, McFee was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group.

[RELATED: Doobie Brothers Celebrate Over 50 Years in Music With Special Pine Knob Concert]

Among the instruments John has played on various Doobies tracks are guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, cello, pedal-steel guitar, and harmonica.

Prior to joining the Doobie Brothers, McFee established himself as a prolific session musician, and also was a member of the band Clover alongside Huey Lewis. Throughout his long career, John has contributed his talents to noteworthy recordings by a variety of well-known artists. In honor of his birthday, here are four memorable songs by various music stars that feature McVie:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Doobie Brothers (@doobiebrothersofficial)

“Wild Night” – Van Morrison (1971)

“Wild Night” is one of Van Morrison ’s biggest hits and most enduring tunes. The upbeat R&B-flavored song appeared on Morrison’s fifth studio album, Tupelo Honey , which was released in 1971. McFee added some tastefully twangy pedal-steel guitar to the track. He’s also featured on the album’s beloved title track.

“Wild Night” peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Pride of Cucamonga” – Grateful Dead (1974)

McFee also contributed his pedal-steel talents to “Pride of Cucamonga,” a song from the Grateful Dead ’s 1974 album From the Mars Hotel . The country-flavored tune was co-written by Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who also sang lead vocals.

In a June 2024 episode of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast podcast , McFee recalled with fondness his experience contributing to the track.

“It was definitely an honor for me to get invited to be part of that world,” he shared. “My main recollection is they were so nice to me. They were really supportive. I think Phil had a vision of the general feel that he was looking for from the steel [guitar], but they really just gave me the freedom to try to find my way through it in my own fashion, which is really cool. [It] says a lot about the spirit of their approach to life.”

“Dance, Dance, Dance” – Steve Miller Band (1976)

In 1976, McFee played a deft dobro solo on “Dance, Dance, Dance,” a song by another legendary Bay-area group, the Steve Miller Band . The catchy country-influenced tune appeared on the group’s hit album Fly Like an Eagle, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

“Alison” – Elvis Costello (1977)

When Elvis Costello recorded his acclaimed 1977 debut album, My Aim Is True , he hadn’t started working with his longtime backing band The Attractions. Producer Nick Lowe hired Clover to record the album with him. McFee is featured on guitar throughout the record, including playing the memorably melodic R&B-infused solo and riffs on Elvis’ classic song “Alison.”

In a 2019 interview with the Band to Fans YouTube channel , McFee shared that My Aim Is True was basically recorded live in the studio.

Recalling his instinctual approach to playing on the track, John said, “[Elvis] would sing a line [and] I would play a lick. I was responding. It was a conversation. That’s part of music.”

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Doobie Brothers sounded great revisiting iconic songs on tour with Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald rejoining the fold just in time for the 50th Anniversary Tour was a big deal for obvious reasons to anyone who grew up in the ‘70s when the Doobie Brothers ruled the airwaves with an endless string of pop hits that continue to define their place in music history.

He hadn’t done a Doobie Brothers tour since 1996 before they launched their anniversary tour in 2021 . He’s an amazing talent. And he did sing lead on several of their biggest singles, from “Takin’ it To the Streets” to “Minute by Minute” and “What a Fool Believes,” which took them to the top a second time on Billboard’s Hot 100.

The anniversary tour played Phoenix twice. And they’re still out there touring — and recording! — with McDonald, who seemed right at home from the time he strolled onstage and took his place behind the keyboards when the tour hit Footprint Center on Wednesday, June 26.

Doobie Brothers setlist: Every song Michael McDonald and crew did in Phoenix

Michael McDonald shared spotlight with Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons

McDonald shared the vocal spotlight with two founding members, guitarists Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, with Johnston out front on such crowd-pleasing classics as “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove” and Simmons at the wheel on a spirited “Jesus is Just Alright” and “Black Water,” the Doobies’ first chart-topping entry on the Hot 100.

Even John McFee took a turn in the spotlight, swapping vocals with McDonald on the soulful “One Step Closer.”

All three guitarists — Johnston, Simmons and McFee, a multi-instrumentalist who nailed the blues-harp break on “Long Train Runnin’” and the fiddle on “Black Water” — had a chance to shine on lead guitar.

McDonald’s keyboard playing was fantastic.

A karaoke machine would probably have docked McDonald points for all the liberties he took with the delivery of his greatest hits, approaching “What a Fool Believes” and “Minute by Minute” as opportunities to re-explore his signature songs with the looseness of phrasing a jazz singer might have applied to re-interpreting those songs.

But here's the thing. He sounded great. As did Johnston, whose voice is apparently ageless, and Simmons.

Doobie Brothers touring members added to the magic of concert

The four official members were joined by touring bassist John Cowan, drummer Ed Toth, percussionist Mark Quinones and saxophone hero Marc Russo, whose habit of ending his solos really wailing on those high notes, often drew spontaneous ovations from the audience, especially on “Eyes of Silver” and “Long Train Runnin’.”

The video screen behind the stage was often filled with footage of the Doobie Brothers in the ‘70s — performance clips as well as old home movies of the band on tour in a plane that said the Doobieliner during “What a Fool Believes.”

It was especially thrilling to watch Simmons solo along to a younger version of himself on “Dependin’ on You.”

As long as they kept the focus on the Doobie Brothers, the visuals were great. The scenes of couples of a certain age embracing during “Here to Love You” felt uncomfortably close to a TV commercial on how you, too, can conquer erectile dysfunction with a hint of Folgers in your cup. Which is to say it felt a little corny.

Doobie Brothers tour puts focus on hit songs that define their legacy

They started the show on a high note with their cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland standard “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” a Motown classic first recorded by Kim Weston that became one of the Doobie Brothers' biggest hits.

Before the set was through, they’d touched on nearly all the staples you’d expect while dusting off a highlight of their latest album, “Liberte,” a song called “Cannonball” that Simmons said he chose because he wanted to do a motorcycle song.

They also did “World Gone Crazy,” the title track to an album from 2010 that definitely lived up to its introduction of “We’re gonna take you down to New Orleans."

The Doobies held their heaviest hitters for the back half of the concert, bringing the set to a crowd-pleasing finish with “Jesus Is Just Alright,” “What a Fool Believes,” “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove” (which brought more people to their feet than any other song they’d done until that point)

Then they came back to open their encore with another of their most enduring hits, “Black Water,” which became a massive singalong. An instrumental version of “Amazing Grace” by Russo and McDonald gave way to a suitably spirited “Takin’ It to the Streets” before they signed with one final classic, “Listen to the Music.”

The Robert Cray Band opened for the Doobie Brothers in Phoenix

The Robert Cray Band opened with a set of truly soulful blues and R&B led by Cray, who squeezed out some amazing solos on guitar with testing the limits of his vocal range on several highlights of his set, including a slow-burning cover of “Sittin’ on Top of the World” and a suitably fiery version of “Hot.”

He’s got a great band, from George Sluppick swinging the beat with authority behind the kit to keyboard player Dover “White Cliffs” Weinberg coming through with something guaranteed to grab you by the collar every time he stepped into the spotlight, up to and including that ridiculously high note on the organ at the end of “Time Makes Two.”

Doobie Brothers tour setlist 2024: All the songs they played in Phoenix

Here’s every song the  Doobie Brothers played at Footprint Center  in Phoenix on Wednesday, June 26.

• "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” (Kim Weston cover)
• “Here to Love You”
• “Dependin' on You”
• “Rockin' Down the Highway”
• “You Belong to Me”
• “Cannonball”
• “It Keeps You Runnin'”
• “Eyes of Silver”
• “One Step Closer” (John McFee and Michael McDonald on lead vocals)
• "World Gone Crazy"
• “Minute by Minute”
• “Without You”
• “Jesus Is Just Alright”
• “What a Fool Believes”
• “Long Train Runnin'”
• “China Grove”
• “Black Water”
• "Amazing Grace" (instrumental)
• “Takin' It to the Streets”
• “Listen to the Music”

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50th Anniversary Tour

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