Six O’Clock Triple Shot – 8/15/14 Happy Birthday, Tom Johnston!

(The Six O'Clock Triple Shot is a daily feature of three songs that share a common theme, heard weeknights on 94.9 WMMQ)

We celebrate another Rock 'n' Roll birthday today as Charles Thomas Johnston, better known as simply Tom Johnston, turns 66. Johnston was the original front man of The Doobie Brothers, singing lead vocals on their first five LP's. Johnston is credited on Takin' It To The Streets, the sixth album, but had a limited role; and also on 1977's Livin' On The Fault Line, but it's said he didn't appear on that album at all. Michael McDonald had taken over the lead singing duties by then. McDonald was recruited by fellow Steely Danner Jeff "Skunk" Baxter after Johnston fell ill prior to a 1975 tour. Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Johnston pulled out of the band he helped to found just prior to Fault Line's release. Johnston played with the band in 1982 for a farewell tour, and was the catalyst behind their 1987 reunion. The band came together for a few shows to benefit The National Veterans Foundation. Little did anybody know that occasion would be the foundation of a full blown reunion, complete with new albums, starting with 1989's Cycles. Currently, the band is putting the finishing touches on a new LP Southbound: a collaboration with country music artists. It's due out November 4.

Tonight, I'll roll up three, and we'll fire up some Doobies...with Tom Johnston. Tune in for "Eyes Of Silver", "Dark Eyed Cajun Woman", and "The Doctor", only on 94.9 WMMQ!