| Name |
Tom Johnston |
| Height |
|
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
15-August-1948 |
| Place of Birth |
Visalia, California |
| Famous for |
singing |
Tom Johnston is an American musician. He is a guitarist and vocalist, and co-founded The Doobie Brothers with drummer John Hartman, guitarist Patrick Simmons and bassist Dave Shogren.
Johnston's favorite music as he grew up included Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, James Brown, and other rhythm and blues artists featured on the radio in the 1950s. At the age of twelve, he took up guitar following the stylings of Freddie King and Chuck Berry, and had formed his first band by age fourteen. In his early career he played in a variety of bands, including a Mexican wedding band that played half soul and half Latin music. His interest in rhythm and blues led to his singing in a soul group from a neighboring town and, eventually, his own blues band.
Johnston moved to San Jose to finish college and started playing in bands around town. It was here that he met Skip Spence, a former drummer with Jefferson Airplane, and founding member of a group that had a major influence on the Doobie Brothers - Moby Grape. Spence introduced Johnston to John Hartman. Johnston and Hartman soon formed their own band, Pud, featuring Greg Murphy on bass. Pud played many clubs in and around San Jose, including the Golden Horn Lounge in Cupertino, California, which no longer exists. Murphy was soon replaced by Shogren, Simmons was recruited, and Pud gave way to the Doobie Brothers.
Johnston wrote and sang many of the Doobie Brothers' early hits, including "Listen to the Music," "Rockin' Down the Highway," "China Grove," and "Long Train Runnin'." He also sang the hit song "Take Me in Your Arms" (written by Holland-Dozier-Holland).
In December 1973, the British music magazine, NME reported that Johnston had been arrested in California on a charge of marijuana possession.
