Whether they’re “Rockin’ Down the Highway” or “Takin’ It to the Streets,” The Doobie Brothers have always been in the business of delivering good times.  And lucky for us, they’ve always had the right people at the wheel.

In the beginning, it was co-founder Tom Johnston who wrote “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’,” and “China Grove,” songs that helped The Doobies find their audience.  But it was bandmate Patrick Simmons who gave the group their first #1 hit, “Black Water.”

Then when Johnston’s health problems threatened to scuttle the band, they brought in Jeff “Skunk” Baxter from Steely Dan to shore up their guitar sound, and he in turn recommended another Steely Dan alum to help the band with lead vocals and songwriting, Michael McDonald.

That new lease on life kept The Doobies on the charts and in concert arenas across the nation for years to come.  All told, the group has racked up over 40 million albums sold.  And the current incarnation of the band continues to tour with dates already on the calendar.   

Great Moments in Vinyl pays tribute to The Doobie Brothers when we return to the stage at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.  Join us Friday, March 20th as we relive the energy of The Doobies’ biker band heyday and revisit the R ’n’ B flavored sound that helped them deliver the biggest album of their career, Minute by Minute.  You’ll hear the hits and faves that made them famous, and you’ll get the behind the scenes insights into how the songs and records were created.

Because when you know the stories, you hear more in the music.