The DOOBIE BROTHERS Facts

• The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band.
• The band has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide throughout its career.
• Johnston was forced to miss several shows in the summer of 2007 following an operation for a throat ailment. Upon his return, he received vocal assistance from Simmons and McFee on certain tunes that he had traditionally sung in their entirety.
• The Doobies provided the half-time entertainment for the FedEx Orange Bowl football game on January 1, 2009 in Miami, Florida.
• For their 2010 summer tour they were (as previously in 1999 and 2008) once again paired with the band Chicago.
• In May 2010, Skylark was forced to sit out due to a stroke. John Cowan returned to substitute in for Skylark. A few months later, Hossack was forced to sit out due to cancer. Tony Pia, a member of the Brian Setzer’s Orchestra, came in to substitute for Hossack. On March 12, 2012, Hossack died at his home in Dubois, Wyoming.
• McDonald was brought in when Johnston fell ill and could not tour in 1975. He and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter both recorded with Steely Dan.
• The Doobie Brothers from 1970 to 1975 featured most vocals from Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. The band was more Rock-oriented and was heard on what is now known on Classic Rock stations. From 1976 to 1982 the band had a new lead singer in Michael McDonald who turned the band more towards Blue-Eyed Soul.
• In a 1986 Los Angeles Times poll, the Doobie Brothers were the band that readers most wanted to reunite, behind Led Zeppelin.
• On July 6, 2010, The Doobie Brothers announced a new album entitled World Gone Crazy, produced with their long-time producer Ted Templeman, which was released on September 28, 2010. The first single from the album, entitled Nobody, can be listened to on their official website. They have also announced plans to release a DVD compilation of live performances and television appearances from throughout the group’s long career.
• The group continues to tour heavily and remains a popular concert draw. From 2005 through 2007 they headlined benefit concerts at manager Cohn’s B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen (once again sharing the stage with “special guest” McDonald in 2006). They have maintained a continuous and active presence on the Internet through their official website since 1996.
• As of March 2012, five members of The Doobie Brothers family are deceased: percussionist LaKind in 1992 following his lengthy struggle with terminal cancer; original bassist Shogren of unreported causes in 1999; Bumpus of a heart attack in 2004 while in the air en route to California for a solo tour; drummer and activist Keith Knudsen in 2005 of cancer and chronic pneumonia; and drummer Michael Hossack of cancer on March 12, 2012.

The Doobie Brothers band members (by year)
The Doobie Brothers went through various band members since the 1970s to the present.  Patrick Simmons has been the band's only consistent member throughout their tenure.

1970–1971
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Dave Shogren – bass, guitar, backing vocals
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1971–1972
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Dave Shogren – bass, guitar, backing vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1972–1973
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1973–1974
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1974–1975
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitars, backing vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1975–1977
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals (missed most of 1975 tour and the fall 1976 tour)
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitars, backing vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals

1977–1979
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitars, backing vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Bobby LaKind – percussion, vocals

1979–1980
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, percussion
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals

1980–1982
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Willie Weeks – bass, backing vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, percussion
Bobby LaKind – percussion, vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals

1982–1987
Disbanded

1987
(plus October 1992)
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitars, backing vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion. backing vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, percussion
Bobby LaKind – percussion, vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals

1988–1989
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Bobby LaKind – percussion, vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

1989–1990
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, vocals
Jimi Fox – percussion, backing vocals
Richard Bryant – percussion, vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, keyboards, flute, vocals

1990–1991
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Jimi Fox – percussion, backing vocals
Richard Bryant – percussion, vocals

1991–1992
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
John Hartman – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

1993
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Willie Weeks – bass, backing vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals

1993–1995
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
John Cowan – bass, backing vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Danny Hull – saxophone, harmonica, keyboards, backing vocals

1995
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Bernie Chiravalle – guitar, backing vocals
Chet McCracken – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Skylark – bass, vocals
Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals

1996–1998
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals (special guest for Rockin’ Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert)
Skylark – bass, vocals
Danny Hull – saxophone, harmonica, keyboards, backing vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals

1998–2001
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Skylark – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
Marc Russo – saxophone

2001–2002
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Skylark – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
M. B. Gordy – drums, percussion
Marc Russo – saxophone

2002
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Skylark – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
M. B. Gordy – drums, percussion
Ed Wynne – saxophone

2002–2005
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, vocals
Skylark – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
M. B. Gordy – drums, percussion
Marc Russo – saxophone

2005–2010
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
Michael Hossack – drums, percussion
Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals (special guest in 2006 only)
Skylark – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
Ed Toth – drums, percussion
Marc Russo – saxophone

2010–2012
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, violin, vocals
John Cowan - bass, backing vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
Michael Hossack – drums (died March 12, 2012)
Tony Pia – drums, percussion
Marc Russo – saxophones
Ed Toth – drums

2012–present
Tom Johnston – guitars, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Patrick Simmons – guitars, banjo, flute, vocals
John McFee – guitars, harmonica, dobro, pedal steel, violin, vocals
John Cowan – bass, vocals
Guy Allison – keyboards, backing vocals
Marc Russo – saxophones
Ed Toth – drums
Tony Pia – drums, percussion