John Hartman was the co-founder of the profitable '70s rock band. Find out about him right here.
Doobie Brothers cofounder and drummer John Hartmandied on Thursday, Sept. 22 on the age of 72. The Twitter account for the present Doobie Brothers, who're presently on tour, introduced the unhappy information. “In the present day we're considering of John Hartman, or Little John to us,” the assertion started. “John was a wild spirit, nice drummer and showman throughout his time within the Doobies. He was additionally an in depth buddy for a few years and an intricate a part of the band character!” A reason behind dying was not instantly given.
— The Doobie Brothers (@TheDoobieBros) September 22, 2022
Born in Virginia in 1950, music was all the time part of John’s life. The truth is, he moved to California when he was simply 19 to pursue music, a transfer that labored wonders for him. Learn on to be taught extra in regards to the authentic Doobie Brothers drummer.
John Hartman Began The Doobie Brothers By Likelihood
When an keen John set out for northern California in 1969, he deliberate to affix the particular reunion of the band Moby Grape, per the Doobie Brothers’ web site. Whereas that didn’t work out, a member of Moby Grape launched John to native singer/songwriter Tom Johnston, and so they instantly hit it off. The duo began taking part in native bars within the Bay Space, and so they finally met and subsequently added singer/guitarist Pat Simmons to the band. Whereas their first album didn’t see a lot success, their sophomore album, Toulouse Road, turned an enormous hit and set the band up for stardom. A few of their hottest songs so far are “Hearken to the Music” and “Black Water”. The band was inducted into the The Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2020.
John Hartman Give up The Band 9 Years In
Hartman created eight albums with the Doobie Brothers earlier than his departure in 1979. “The whole lot was falling aside,” John instructed Rolling Stonein 2020 about his choice to step away from the band simply earlier than its tenth anniversary. “I bear in mind sitting in a rehearsal in California and listening to Michael [McDonald] say he didn’t wish to get out his automotive due to some nervousness.” He did, nevertheless, return to the band for its 1989 reunion album, Cycles, and performed with them till his official retirement in 1992.

John Hartman Wished To Change Careers
After leaving the Doobie Brothers, John made a significant profession change and enrolled in and graduated from the police academy. Sadly, his fame bought in the way in which and he wasn’t taken critically. He was rejected from 20 police departments throughout California earlier than he gave up on that dream. It additionally didn’t assist that his band was named after a strategy to smoke hashish.
John Hartman Used To Smoke Fairly A Bit
It was no coincidence that his band was named after marijuana. John admitted to The New York Occasions in 1994 that he used to smoke sufficient for the police departments to show their heads the opposite manner. “These guys nonetheless assume I’m a credibility downside due to what I used to do,” he theorized. “I’ve picked myself up from the sewer.”
John Hartman Cleaned Up After His Authentic Departure From The Band
In an interview to advertise Cycles in 1989, the band instructed the Related Press that they've calmed down since their early years of touring. ″The street treats us the identical, we simply don’t deal with it the identical,” John, who misplaced 70 kilos since his final tour, famous on the time. ″We’re not trashing lodge rooms anymore and we’re not having door wars with rent-a-cars, burning up levels and issues of that nature,” Tom Johnston added in settlement. “Everyone’s change into a little bit bit extra selective, particularly being married, they don’t fiddle.″