Pick a Day

The Doobie Brothers drummer Mike Hossack is born in Paterson, New Jersey.

Keith Knudsen (drummer for The Doobie Brothers) is born in Le Mars, Iowa.

Tom Johnston (frontman for The Doobie Brothers) is born in Visalia, California.

Patrick Simmons (of The Doobie Brothers) is born in Aberdeen, Washington.

"Skunk" Baxter (guitarist for The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) is born Jeffrey Allen Baxter in Washington, D.C.

John Hartman (original drummer for The Doobie Brothers) is born in Falls Church, Virginia.

John McFee (guitarist, violinist for The Doobie Brothers) is born in Santa Cruz, California.

Michael McDonald is born outside of St. Louis. As a solo artist, his hits include "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and "Sweet Freedom," but his voice is also heard on songs he records with The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, as well as hundreds of other appearances as a backup singer.

Chet McCracken (drummer for The Doobie Brothers) is born in Seattle, Washington.

The Doobie Brothers release their self-titled debut album. Despite a hardy promotional push from their label, Warner Bros., it goes nowhere, but their next effort, Toulouse Street, connects.

The Doobie Brothers release their second album, Toulouse Street. It contains their first hit, "Listen To The Music," and also their cover of "Jesus Is Just Alright," which gives some the impression they're a religious band.

The Doobie Brothers release "China Grove." Lead singer Tom Johnston made up the story about the strange little town, and later found out that there's a real China Grove in Texas.

The Doobie Brothers begin their first European tour with a show at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

WROV-AM in Roanoke, Virginia, starts playing the The Doobie Brothers album cut "Black Water" in honor of a local tributary of the same name. The resounding response from listeners prompts a single release two months later, and in March 1975, the song becomes a #1 hit.

"Black Water," the Doobie Brothers ode to the Mississippi River, hits #1 in America. The Brothers didn't think it had hit potential, so it wasn't released as a single until waves of radio stations started playing it.

Elton John makes a surprise appearance at a Doobie Brothers/Eagles concert at Oakland Coliseum, where he joins on the Doobies hit "Listen To The Music."

The Doobie Brothers release Takin' It To The Streets, their first album with Michael McDonald. He was brought into the group to play keyboards, but claimed the role of lead singer when he belted out the title track, which he wrote, in the studio for producer Ted Templeman.

The Doobie Brothers star in the first of a two-part episode of What's Happening! where they teach the kids why bootlegging is bad.More

The Canada Jam festival goes down in the Great White North (Bowmanville, Ontario), with The Doobie Brothers, The Village People, Triumph, and Kansas on the bill.

The Doobie Brothers land their second #1 US hit with "What A Fool Believes." The song goes on to win Grammys for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year, while the album, Minute By Minute, wins Album Of The Year.

Minute By Minute by The Doobie Brothers claims the top spot on the US albums chart, thanks in part to "What A Fool Believes," written by Kenny Loggins and Doobies frontman Michael McDonald.

James Taylor, Jackson Browne, The Doobie Brothers, Graham Nash and Bonnie Raitt perform at Madison Square Garden for the first of five "no nukes" concerts.More

Michael Jackson wins his first Grammy: Best R&B Performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Other winners include Donna Summer (Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Hot Stuff"), Earth, Wind & Fire (Best R&B Group Vocal Performance for "After the Love Has Gone"), and The Doobie Brothers (Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "What A Fool Believes").

The Doobie Brothers announce their breakup. After a summer goodbye tour, lead singer Michael McDonald launches a successful solo career. The band regroups in 1987.

The Doobie Brothers reunite for a benefit concert in Palo Alto, California, which leads to a reunion tour and album.

The Doobie Brothers reunite with original members, including singer/guitarist Tom Johnston, for a Vietnam Veterans benefit at the Hollywood Bowl. The show leads to a series of reunion concerts over the next month, and a full-on reunion tour in 1989.

The Doobie Brothers release their reunion album, Cycles, which gets them back on the radio with the hit single "The Doctor."

The Doobie Brothers begin their reunion tour, their first with their original lineup since 1975.

Bobby LaKind (conga player for The Doobie Brothers) dies of colon cancer in Los Angeles, California, at age 47.

Members of The Doobie Brothers attend the wedding of Liza Minnelli and David Gest, who did PR for the band decades earlier. Also attending are Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark.