Listen To The Music: The Doobie Brothers return to Savannah on 50th Anniversary tour

In 1970, American rock band The Doobie Brothers formed and began to make a name for themselves playing in California biker bars (where they were particularly popular with the Hell’s Angels). Now, more than 50 years later, after a legendary run of classic hit records and huge tours, fans are still listening to the music.

The Doobie Brothers are into the second year of their globe-spanning 50^th Anniversary tour with the reunion of members Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McPhee and Michael McDonald. The tour is making a stop at Enmarket Arena on Sept. 3.

“My memory of our first show was some kind of a benefit for the Vietnam Day Committee or something like that,” recalled Doobie Brothers guitarist, vocalist and founding member Pat Simmons when asked about the band’s early days. “It was an anti-war thing, and we played a couple of songs. Our first real gig was a club called the Chateau Liberté up in the Santa Cruz mountains. We actually got paid for that one.

“We were barely a band at that point. We were just a bunch of guys thrown together to play a gig and make a few bucks. We came up with the name, The Doobie Brothers, which we thought would be for that gig alone. As it turned out, 53 years later, here we are.”

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Soundtrack of a generation

The Doobie Brothers are known for their sweet three-part harmonies and guitar-driven, authentic American sound that draws on folk, country, blues, soul, and rock and roll. Throughout the '70s, the Doobie Brothers produced a steady string of hit records including “Blackwater,” “Long Train Running,” “Listen To The Music,” “Rockin’ Down The Highway,” “China Grove,” “Jesus Is Just Alright With Me,” “Taking It To The Streets,” “Minute By Minute,” and “What A Fool Believes.” All are inescapable classic rock staples that Simmons and his bandmates probably hear every time they walk into a restaurant, bar or backyard barbecue.

“We hear a lot,” confirmed Simmons. “It’s very gratifying, I’ll say. It’s kind of interesting because we have so many varied kinds of songs, so they spring up, different songs in different settings, all the time. Having three major writers and singers has enabled us to really cut across a large swath of Americana. That’s who we are. So I hear it a lot and I’m happy about that.”

Simmons added with a laugh, “I wish it was me writing everything because I could be making more money.”

With three great songwriters in the band, you would think it could get kind of competitive among bandmates to write the most hits, but that’s never been how the Doobie Brothers operate.

“Anybody who has success with a band is going to translate to a certain amount of success for the rest of the guys, so I don’t think there’s that much competition,” said Simmons. “We’re a band, a group, and we just want to put our best feet forward.

“We kind of leave it up to the producer to picks songs that he feels have merit. That way we leave our personal viewpoints out of it as much as possible. Then hopefully, the best material makes it to the record. I just want the best songs on the record, and we all get a chance to participate recording and adding parts we might want to sing. It’s really a group effort in that regard. It’s very satisfying for everyone.”

Part of the Doobie Brothers’ massive success can be attributed to producer Ted Templeton, who had a guiding hand in almost all of the band’s records.

“We always felt that way, that Ted was the ‘Fifth Beatle’,” said Simmons. “He had such incredible musical taste and knowledge in terms of an historical view of music...He would come up with these ideas that would enhance your song and bring it closer to your own vision, as well as something that he noticed that you weren’t aware of. I can’t say enough about Ted. I still talk to him quite often.”

48 million records and counting

The Doobie Brothers have sold over 48 million records with five top 10 singles and 16 top 40 hits, and won 4 Grammy Awards. Coinciding perfectly with their 50^th anniversary, the Doobie Brothers were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“It was something that we hoped for,” said Simmons. “It’s difficult to get recognized in that regard. You can get nominated, but it’s difficult to get into the Hall of Fame. Some bands have been waiting for years to get in. They’ve been nominated over and over again. We had the fortune of being nominated and then inducted, but it was 25 years or more before we actually got nominated.

“Our rewards have been great and we’ve had a successful career, had some hit records and a wonderful fanbase, and we’ve been able to go out and play for folks. That’s very rewarding, but there’s something to be said for being recognized alongside people that you admired and you grew up with. It’s pretty humbling to be in that group of individuals and bands.”

One of the highlights of the 50^th Anniversary tour is the return of vocalist and keyboardist Michael McDonald to the Doobie Brothers line-up. When McDonald joined the band in 1975, his one-of-a-kind voice and blue-eyed soul songwriting led to a dramatic shift from boogie rock to the smoother sounds of yacht rock. Having McDonald back in the fold allows The Doobie Brothers to revisit that era of their career.

“All of us appreciate the fact that he’s here,” said Simmons of McDonald’s return. “We’ve been able to play all of the songs people want to hear and it certainly expands our repertoire...Mike’s a great guy and we have a lot of fun together. I’ve kept in close touch with Mike through the years, so we talked about doing this for a long time.”

“Part of our signature is probably our vocals,” added Simmons. “We have great harmony vocals, and that’s something we’re really proud of. Most of our songs have really great background vocals and group singing. And that’s something we’ve been able to do even more so with Mike’s participation and extra voice.”

The Doobie Brothers are looking forward to returning to Savannah on their tour. Doobie Brothers singer and guitarist Tom Johnston even wrote a song called “Savannah Nights” for his 1979 solo album. Is there a chance we might get to hear that one at this show?

“We’re not going to do that, but I wish we were because I think that’s a great tune,” said Simmons. “One of these days we’ll pull some of those solo songs out and throw them into the show.”

“We always have fond memories of Savannah,” said Simmons. “When we were there playing one time, we went out and took a bunch of publicity photos out near Fort Pulaski. They’re still part of our memories and those pictures still come up from time to time.”

Even though the Doobie Brothers have entered the hallowed Hall of Fame, they aren’t a legacy band leaning on the old hits. Their 2022 album, Liberté, proves that the creative juices are still flowing and there is plenty of great music to come. And the band are working on a song to benefit the victims of the Maui fires with Mick Fleetwood joining on drums.

“The band is sounding great, we’re having a lot of fun, and we’re doing what we love to do,” said Simmons. “You haven’t heard the last of us.”

If You Go >>

What: The Doobie Brothers in Concert

When: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Enmarket Arena, 620 Stiles Ave.

Cost: $20+

Info: enmarketarena.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The Doobie Brothers stop at Enmarket Arena on 50th Anniversary tour