The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers On Track tells the story of a band that helped define one of the most transformative decades in popular music. Formed in California in 1970, The Doobie Brothers blended blues, folk and R&B with tight harmonies and road-tested musicianship. Their early hits—'Listen to the Music’, ‘Long Train Runnin’’, ‘China Grove’ and ‘Black Water’—captured the easygoing optimism of the West Coast while reflecting a country in transition after the upheavals of the 1960s. As the decade unfolded, the band evolved alongside the changing sound of rock. Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter brought a jazz sensibility from his time with Steely Dan, while singer and keyboardist Michael McDonald introduced smooth, soulful textures that reshaped the group’s identity. With Takin’ It to the Streets and the Grammy-winning Minute by Minute, The Doobie Brothers became one of the few bands able to bridge bar-band grit and radio polish without losing credibility. This book places their journey within the broader story of 1970s American music—a period of genre-blending, studio innovation and shifting cultural moods. Drawing connections to contemporaries like Little Feat and Steely Dan, it explores how The Doobies balanced experimentation with accessibility and why their songs continue to resonate today. More than a band biography, it’s a portrait of resilience and reinvention—how a group rooted in California’s club scene learned to adapt, thrive and keep audiences listening for over fifty years.