Tom Johnston (born Charles Thomas Johnston August 15, 1948 in Visalia, California) is a U.S. 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, Tom ...
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Tom Johnston (born Charles Thomas Johnston August 15, 1948 in Visalia, California) is a U.S. 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, Tom took up guitar. He 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 the legendary Skip Spence, former drummer with Jefferson Airplane and founding member of a group that had a major...
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