Patrick Simmons

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Patrick Simmons
Simmons performing with the Doobie Brothers
Background information
Born (1948-10-19) October 19, 1948 (age 75)
Aberdeen, Washington
OriginSan Jose, California
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, banjo
Years active1970–present
LabelsWarner Bros., Capitol, Elektra

Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948)[1] is an American musician best known as a founding member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers, with whom he was inducted as into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.[2][3] Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the only consistent member of the band throughout their tenure.

The Doobie Brothers[edit]

In 1970, a California-based power trio consisting of Tom Johnston, Skip Spence, and John Hartman teamed up with Simmons to form a group together. They would call themselves "The Doobie Brothers", after their friend Keith "Dyno" Rosen, who either lived with or next to the band told them:[4]

"Why don't you call yourself the Doobie Brothers because you're always smoking pot?"

Simmons wrote and sang many songs for the Doobie Brothers, including lead vocal on "South City Midnight Lady", as well as "Dependin' On You", "Echoes of Love", "Wheels of Fortune" and "Black Water", the group's first #1 record.[1]

The group's 1978 studio album, Minute by Minute, reached number one for five weeks, and won the band a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, while the single "What A Fool Believes" from the album won three Grammys itself.

The Doobie Brothers disbanded in 1982, with Simmons' decision to leave the group, as the last original member at the time, after Dave Shogren left in 1971, Tom Johnston in 1977, and John Hartman in 1979. The Doobie Brothers reformed again in 1987, and the band are still touring, as of 2023, being led by Simmons and Johnston. Their latest album was Liberté (2021).

The group has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.[5][6] The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004,[7] and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 7, 2020.[2][3] Upon hearing that the band were to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Simmons recalled:[8]

I was really happy about it. It's something that we've been thinking about for a long time. That's kind of one of the things you always hope will happen, especially with a band like ours that has been around this long. We're celebrating 50 years. It might even be 51, but who is counting?

Solo works[edit]

In 1983, Simmons released his first solo album, Arcade, on Elektra Records. It yielded his only top 40 hit, "So Wrong",[9] which peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. "So Wrong" was also a surprise hit on the US dance/disco chart, peaking at #8.[10] The album was reissued on compact disc in Japan in the early 1990s and again in 2007, by the label Wounded Bird Records.

Simmons also formed the band Skin Suit during this period.[11] In 1998, Simmons released a second solo album titled Take Me to the Highway.

Book[edit]

With Tom Johnston, Simmons wrote Long Train Runnin': Our Story of The Doobie Brothers (2022).[12]

Personal life[edit]

Simmons was raised in San Jose, California, where his father was a high school educator.

In 1981 he opened a vintage motorcycle shop with author William J. Craddock.[13] Simmons moved to Mendocino County, California in 1990 after the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 and later to Hawaii.[14]

He met his wife Cristine in 1989 in Sturgis, South Dakota at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. They both enjoy riding antique motorcycles, participating in the 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Ride.[15] They participated in the 2016 Motorcycle Cannonball, riding from Atlantic City, New Jersey to San Diego, California.[16]

Education[edit]

He attended Leigh High School in San Jose, California.,[17] followed by San José State University[18] where he was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity[19] and lived for many years in Santa Cruz County, California.

Discography[edit]

With The Doobie Brothers[edit]

Simmons (far left) and the Doobie Brothers performing on the television show "TopPop" in 1974.

Studio albums[edit]

Year Album
1971 The Doobie Brothers
  • Released: April 30, 1971
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: Vinyl, 8-Track, CS, CD, Digital
1972 Toulouse Street
  • Released: July 1, 1972
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: Vinyl, 8-Track, CS, CD, Digital
1973 The Captain and Me
  • Released: March 2, 1973
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, Quad
1974 What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits
  • Released: February 1, 1974
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, Quad
1975 Stampede
  • Released: April 25, 1975
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, Quad, CD
1976 Takin' It to the Streets
  • Released: March 19, 1976
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
1977 Livin' on the Fault Line
  • Released: August 19, 1977
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
1978 Minute by Minute
  • Released: December 1, 1978
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
1980 One Step Closer
  • Released: September 17, 1980
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
1989 Cycles
  • Released: May 17, 1989
  • Label: Capitol
  • Format: CD, cassette, LP
1991 Brotherhood
  • Released: April 15, 1991
  • Label: Capitol
  • Format: CD, cassette, LP
2000 Sibling Rivalry
  • Released: October 3, 2000
  • Label: Pyramid / Rhino
  • Format: CD, LP
2010 World Gone Crazy
  • Released: September 28, 2010
  • Label: DooBro Entertainment / HOR
  • Format: CD, LP, download
2014 Southbound
2021 Liberté
  • Released: October 29, 2021
  • Label: DB Entertainment / Island
  • Format: CD, LP, download

Live albums[edit]

Year Album
1983 Farewell Tour
  • Released: June 1983
  • Label: Rhino Encore
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
1996 Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert
1999 Best of The Doobie Brothers Live
  • Released: June 1, 1999
  • Label: Sony
  • Format: CD, LP
2004 Live at Wolf Trap
  • Released: October 26, 2004
  • Label: Sanctuary
  • Format: CD, DVD, download
2011 Live at the Greek Theater 1982
  • Released: June 28, 2011
  • Label: Eagle
  • Format: CD, DVD, download
2019 Live From the Beacon Theatre
  • Released: June 28, 2019
  • Label: Rhino
  • Format: CD, DVD, Blu-ray, download

Singles[edit]

Year Single
1971 "Nobody"
1972 "Listen to the Music"
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
1973 "Long Train Runnin'"
"China Grove"
1974 "Another Park, Another Sunday"
"Eyes of Silver"
"Nobody" (reissue)
"Black Water"
1975 "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)"
"Sweet Maxine"
"I Cheat the Hangman"
1976 "Takin' It to the Streets"
"Wheels of Fortune"
"It Keeps You Runnin'"
1977 "Little Darling (I Need You)"
"Echoes of Love"
"Nothin' But a Heartache"
1979 "What a Fool Believes"
"Minute by Minute"
"Dependin' on You"
1980 "Real Love"
"One Step Closer"
"Wynken, Blynken & Nod"
1981 "Keep This Train A-Rollin'"
"Can't Let It Get Away"
1982 "Here to Love You"
1983 "You Belong to Me" (live)
1989 "The Doctor"
"Need a Little Taste of Love"
"South of the Border"
1991 "Dangerous"
"Rollin' On"
2001 "Ordinary Man"
2010 "Nobody"
2011 "World Gone Crazy"
2022 "Easy"

Solo[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Album US
1983 Arcade 52
1995 Take Me to the Highway -

Solo singles[edit]

Year Title US
[20]
NLD
[21]
1983 So Wrong 30 49
1983 Don't Make Me Do It 75 -

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Official Site". Thedoobiebrothers.com.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Kevin (March 24, 2020). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for the Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails moves from May to November". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "The Doobie Brothers | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. ^ Doar, Spencer. "Q&A with a Doobie Brother". The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  5. ^ "The Doobie Brothers To Make Grand Ole Opry Debut Saturday, February 26". Opry.com. February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  6. ^ "RIAA". RIAA. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation". Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  8. ^ Greene, Andy (2020-01-15). "Doobie Brothers Guitarist Patrick Simmons on the Hall of Fame: 'We're Not Worthy!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  9. ^ "Patrick Simmons". Discogs.
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 234.
  11. ^ Dan Pulcrano (May 22, 2012). "Doobie Brothers Guitarist Pat Simmons Recalls His Santa Cruz Days". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  12. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: Long Train Runnin': Our Story of the Doobie Brothers by Chris Epting". www.publishersweekly.com. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  13. ^ Dan Pulcrano (July 12, 2012). "Bill Craddock: 'Be Not Content'". Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  14. ^ Dan Pulcrano (May 22, 2012). "Doobie Brothers Guitarist Pat Simmons Recalls His Santa Cruz Days". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  15. ^ "Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons to Participate in Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run 2014". May 22, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ Leigh High School Alumni
  18. ^ "Patrick Simmons: Vocalist/Guitar". Doobiebros.com. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  19. ^ Simmons, Pat (May 10, 2022). Long Train Runnin': Our Story of the Doobie Brothers. New York, NY, USA: St. Martin's Press. p. 40. ISBN 1250270057.
  20. ^ "Patrick Simmons charted songs". Musicvf.com.
  21. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Patrick Simmons - So Wrong". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 18 November 2023.

External links[edit]