Rest in Peace, Keith (l).
Posted on 02/08/2005 6:30:08 PM PST by missyme
Keith Knudsen, a drummer for the Doobie Brothers since 1974, died of pneumonia Tuesday. He was 56.
Knudsen, who lived in Sonoma County's wine country, had been hospitalized for more than a month. He died at Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital at about 12:30 p.m., according to the band's longtime manager Bruce Cohn.
"I just saw him Sunday, just before the Super Bowl," Cohn said. "He was in good spirits. He was weak, but he was OK."
Knudsen, who said he began drumming in eighth grade, joined the classic rock band in 1974 after he met Cohn, who told him the Doobies needed a drummer.
"After a week's rehearsal, I went on the road with the band," Knudsen said in his biography on the band's Web site.
The Doobies, who had a lengthy string of hits including "Black Water," "Minute By Minute," "What a Fool Believes" and "Taking it to the Streets," were known for incorporating gospel and jazz stylings into popular hit songs. They also were well-regarded for their live performances.
Knudsen played with the Doobies until the band's 1982 farewell tour. During the band's hiatus, Knudsen and bandmate John McFee formed the country rock group Southern Pacific, which released four albums and had several hits.
He rejoined the band full-time in 1993.
"He's going to be missed," said Tom Johnston, the band's founder. "We're going to miss him on drums. I'm going to miss him as a buddy."
Johnston said Knudsen had cancer in 1995.
"It left him weak and I don't think he ever fully regained all his strength," Johnston said.
He said the band was currently performing about 100 concerts a year and is scheduled to release a new album this summer.
Knudsen is survived by his wife of 16 years, Kate, and their daughter, Dayna Keyes.
Funeral and memorial arrangements are pending. Donations can be made to Knudsen's longtime favorite charity, the National Veterans Foundation.
"Jesus, he's my friend." So...God bless him. One of the few good bands not afraid to express their Christianity.
Rest in Peace, Keith (l).
Great Band! We loose another one...
Jesus us still alright with me
Jesus is still alright with me.
Jesus is just alright with me, Jesus is just alright oh-yea...He will be missed
May the mississippi moon keep on shinin on him.
Where's the brother?
The Doobies are just all right with me!
RIP.
On another note, the Doobie Brothers jumped the shark when that PANSY Michael McDonald became the lead singer. MICHAEL MCDONALD IS THE TED MCGINLEY OF ROCK AND ROLL!!!
Brother is taking it to the street.
bttt
There are alot worse places to die.
bump
May God Bless him. Remember the Good times.
I have several of their albums.........hummmmmmmm showing my age.
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