Tom Johnston and John Hartman formed the Doobie Brothers in late 1969 after being introduced by Skip Spence, former Jefferson Airplane's Guitarist that eventually played guitar with Moby Grape.
Hartman and Johnston began playing as Pud, an experimental band based in the San Jose area. Mixing style and different lineups that brought Dave Shogren and Patrick Simmons, the band debuted in 1970 as the Doobie Brothers, a name taken from the hippie slang meaning marijuana.
The Doobie Brothers played different gigs all over northern California until Warner Bros. Records signed them to release the band's self-titled debut album in 1971, featuring a more defined style with remarkable folk and country acoustic influences.
The band's new album, "Toulouse Street" (1972) was considered The Doobie Brothers' breakthrough into the mainstream, but fame came after releasing two more albums, "The Captain and Me" (1973) and "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" (1974).
This last album produced the band's first nationwide number one radio hit, "Black Water" with the contribution of Jeff Baxter from Steely Dan, who officially joined the band in 1975 for the release of new album "Stampede".
Later that year, another Steely Dan's member was called to the band, Michael McDonald, who along with Baxter revamped the band making the Doobie Brothers a huge commercial success overtime.
The popularity of The Doobie Brothers has spawned over three decades. The band’s discography after 1975 also includes:
- "Takin' It to the Streets" (1976)
- "Livin' on the Fault Line" (1977)
- "Minute by Minute" (1978)
- "One Step Closer" (1980)
- "Farewell Tour" (1983)
- "Cycles" (1989)
- "Brotherhood" (1991)
- "Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert" (1996)
- "Best of the Doobie Brothers Live" (1999)
- "Sibling Rivalry" (2000)
- "Live at Wolf Trap" (2004)
Michael McDonald became a symbol to the group developing a successful solo career. In 2004, The Doobie Brothers were induced into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame situated in Sharon, Pennsylvania.
The Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald have participated in numerous concerts throughout 2005 and 2006, the year in which the band celebrated ten years featuring their official web site on the Internet.
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