Ep. 39 - TOM JOHNSTON of the Doobie Brothers ("Listen to the Music")
Doobie Brothers lead singer, guitarist, and founding member Tom Johnston wrote 9 of the first 13 singles issued by the band between 1971 and 1975. These include the hits \u201cListen to the Music,\u201d \u201cLong Train Runnin\u2019,\u201d \u201cChina Grove,\u201d and the classic rock radio staple \u201cRockin\u2019 Down the Highway.\u201d His voice can be heard on additional Doobies hits, including \u201cJesus is Just Alright\u201d and \u201cTake Me in Your Arms (Rock Me).\u201d After being sidelined by health issues, Michael McDonald replaced Johnston in the band, with Tom eventually going on to a solo career. He released two albums for Warner Bros., scored a Top 40 single with the self-penned \u201cSavannah Nights,\u201d and performed the song \u201cWhere Are You Tonight\u201d for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, which sold over 11 million albums in the US alone. He returned to the Doobie Brothers in the late 1980s, writing the Top 10 single \u201cThe Doctor,\u201d and going on to pen such songs as 1991\u2019s \u201cRollin\u2019 On,\u201d which was a hit on Billboard\u2019s Mainstream Rock chart. Additionally, he wrote the title track for their 2011 album World Gone Crazy. In 2014, the band released the album Southbound, featuring duets with well-known country performers Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith, Chris Young, Brad Paisley, and others. Johnston continues to front the Grammy-winning Doobie Brothers alongside fellow founder, guitarist and songwriter Patrick Simmons. The band has sold more than 48 million albums, including The Best of the Doobies, which is among the 100 top-selling albums of all time.