♫ California Sound of the 70s♫

Many great bands were products of the 70s decade of rock music. Some of the finest progressive, blues rock, and hard rock bands emerged during this time. This was the era when music literally shook the world! If you were, maybe still are, Stuck in the 70s, then you certainly remember the band in today's spotlight.

This Day in Music History: April 7

Welcome into the Spotlight....

1976: K. Knudsen, J. Hartman, T. Johnston, J. Baxter, P. Simmons, M. McDonald, T. Porter

The Doobie Brothers were founded in San Jose, California in 1970. The blending of the folk-style finger-picking of Pat Simmons with the rough-hewn rock licks of Tom Johnston, whose soulful lead vocals gave the band its initial distinctive sound, helped to define what would become known as the California sound of the 70s. [Source: classicbands.com]

The Doobie Brothers rose from the ashes of one of history's most acclaimed hippie groups and turned the Southern California sounds of the 60s onto 70s AM gold

As one of the most popular California pop/rock band of the '70s , the Doobie Brothers evolved from a mellow, post-hippie boogie band to a slick, soul-inflected pop band by the end of the decade. Along the way, the group racked up a string of gold and platinum albums in the U.S., along with a number of radio hits like "Listen to the Music," "Black Water," and "China Grove." [Source: MTVartists]

1979 The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Minute By Minute', the group's only US chart topper.

2003: Tom Johnston, Keith Knudsen (1848-2005), Michael Hossack, Skylark, Pat Simmons, John McFee, Guy Allison, Mark Russo

The Doobies recorded a live album in 1996, one more studio album in 2000 and another live album at the end of 2004 - both of the live concerts are available on CD and DVD. One sad point in the Doobie Brothers recent history is the death of Keith Knudsen who died of pneumonia February 8, 2005. Nevertheless, the Doobie Brothers are still touring and keep their vision of music alive. Listen to their music and enjoy!!!

In early 2014, the Doobie Brothers -- this time featuring McDonald, Johnston, Simmons, and McFee -- announced they were returning to the studio to record an album filled with country versions of their greatest hits, featuring such Nashville stars as Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown, Sara Evans, and Chris Young. Called Southbound, the album appeared in November. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

1985 Wham! became the first western pop group to perform live in China, when they played at the workers gymnasium in Beijing. 

2015 The original manuscript of Don McLean's American Pie sold for $1.2m (£806,000) at a New York auction. The 16-page draft had been expected to fetch as much as $1.5m (£1m) at the Christie's sale. McLean said writing the song was "a mystical trip into his past".

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...