Tom Johnston "Everything You've Heard Is True", Tom Johnston "Still Feels Good", Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers....

Tom Johnston was born in Visalia, California on August 15th, 1948. Tom Johnston's favorite music as he grew up included Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Elvis, James Brown and lots of rhythm and blues on the radio.
At the age of 12 Tom Johnston took up guitar, and had his first band at age 14. In his early career he played in a variety of bands, including such groups as a Mexican Wedding Band that played half soul and half Mexican music. His interest in rhythm and blues led to his singing in a soul group from a neighboring town and, and eventually his own blues band.

Tom Johnston moved to San Jose to finish college and started playing in bands around San Jose. It was here that he met the legendary Skip Spence. Skip was the original drummer of the Jefferson Airplane; Skip went on to become a founding member of the group which had a major influence on the Doobie Brothers and which many consider the finest group to emerge from the San Francisco music scene of the 1960's - Moby Grape. It was Skip who introduced Tom Johnston to John Hartman.

"We put together several bands that featured horns and even several power trios. We lived in a house that served as the musical headquarters for the now functioning Doobie Brothers Band. Pat Simmons joined the group with Dave Shogren playing bass." Tom's sense of humor comes through when describing the results of their early efforts: "We made our first album for Warner Brothers which went teflon!"

Then some things happened which seem to have given the group the right combination: "The group changed when Tiran Porter replaced Dave on bass." The finishing touch, which has become an important part of the Doobies' music - double drummers - came when "Michael Hossack was added as the second drummer."
From that point forward the band started to really take off! Tom Johnston wrote "Listen To The Music" and "Rockin Down The Highway".

Wounded Bird Records has just re-released two Tom Johnston albums on CD (Westcoast Music classic albums):

Tom Johnston "Everything You've Heard Is True" (1979, Warner Bros):
feat. Paul Barrere (Guitar), Rick Chudacoff (Bass), Bob Glaub (Bass), Jim Keltner (Drums), Nicolette Larson (Vocals), Michael McDonald (Keyboards), Ted Templeman (Percussion, Vocals, Producer), Tower of Power (Horn)...

Tom Johnston "Everything You've Heard Is True" album tracklisting:
1. Down Along the River
2. Show Me
3. Savannah Nights
4. I Can Count on You
5. Small Talk Time
6. Reachin' Out for Lovin' from You
7. Outlaw
8. Man on the Stage

Tom Johnston "Everything You've Heard Is True" CD: ORDER IT NOW.

Tom Johnston "Still Feels Good" (1981, Warner Bros):
feat. Michael Baird (Drums), Dennis Belfield (Bass, Musician), Cornelius Bumpus (Saxophone), Joe Chemay (Vocals, Background Vocals), Tommy Funderburk (Vocals, Background Vocals), Jim Haas (Vocals, Background Vocals), Tom Johnston (Guitar, Vocals), Michael Omartian (Producer, Synthesizer, Percussion), Patrick Simmons (Vocals, Background Vocals)...

Tom Johnston "Still Feels Good" album tracklisting:
1. Madman
2. Wastin' Time
3. Baby, Take Me In
4. Last Desperado
5. Up on the Stage
6. Excuse Me Ma'am
7. Wishing Douglass
8. One-Way Ticket

Tom Johnston "Still Feels Good" CD: ORDER IT NOW.