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.
Oh I am sure it was a good time :)
When I was a inquisitive teen I saw them at the Whiskey in Hollywood
And it was.....
Brewer and Shipley--toked over the line.
Do you know who sang Ramblin Man?
Aw man, that sucks. I've loved the Doobie Brothers since I was knee high to a grasshopper in the 70's. Album with headphones is the best!! Toulouse Street is the best, IMO.
The Allman Bros...loved that cut. One of my favorite albums of the '70s was "Eat a Peach."
Oh Yeah! Making a Napster CD!
Great Music and the song Melissa!
No, don't tell anyone that. I have some of their albums, yes albums, and I'm in my 30's.
I thought it was Steve Martin. ;)
Macon, Georgia bump!
How many concerts.....
So sad to hear of his passing.
During the California recall, Doobie Jeff "Skunk" Baxter traveled with Arnold and helped warm up the crowd. His solo during Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" during a rally in Costa Mesa was awsome.
If you like those songs you must like Journey
Lights is my Fav-o-rite!
Yep, another reason that Stampede is my fave DB album, it was the first with The Skunkster.
Yep...we share similar tastes in music. When I come to SoCal we can hit a club that plays 70's music!
Easy, now. The Doobies simply evolved when Michael McDonald joined the band. McDonald is a masterful musician,a great song writer with a signature voice, and I have enjoyed his solo concerts. He stands alone, and that's what helped propel the Doobies' career.
Sort of like when Joe Walsh joined the Eagles...who woulda thunk it?
I mean Joe Walsh, from the James Gang???
But let's face it...the Eagles didn't have a great instrumentalist until Walsh joined the band.
Michael McDonald brought the same dimension to the Doobies.
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