American pop/rock band formed in San Jose in 1970 by Tom Johnston (guitar, vocals), Dave Shogren (bass) and John Hartman (drums) (who had all played in a band named Pud) and Pat Simmons (guitar) from the band Scratch.

They earned a strong following throughout Southern California, especially among Hell's Angels, and they were signed to Warner Brothers in 1970. They released their self-titled debut album in 1971, but the album did not sell many copies and when the Doobies recorded their second album, Toulouse Street, Shogren left the band. Tiran Porter, who had played with Simmons in Scratch, and Michael Hossack were added to the band. With Hartman and Hossack the band had two drummers now, Johnston's songwriting got better and the band created the sound that would make them famous. Subsequently their second album produced their first single hit, Listen To The Music, in 1972. Jesus Is Just Alright became their second hit the following year and provided a good start for their third album, The Captain And Me.

When Hossack left the band at the end of 1973, Keith Knudsen who had played with Chris Michie in Meldelbaum and in Huey Lewis's Monday Nite Live joined. They recorded their fourth album which gave them their first #1 hit, Black Water, in 1975. They toured the States and the UK and their popularity grew.

Stampede was released in 1975 and Jeff Baxter from Steely Dan joined the band on guitar. In addition to the two drummers, the band now had three guitarists. But Johnston became ill during the US tour and was replaced by Michael McDonald who was also from Steely Dan. Any other band might have had problems with a new musician every year but with the Doobie Brothers it was different as they became better and better. Their following album, Taking It To The Streets, introduced a new sound combining light funk and jazzy pop and was the first that went platinum.

In 1977, the group released Livin' on the Fault Line, which was successful but did not produce any big hits. Johnston left the band after the album's release to pursue an unsuccessful solo career. Following his departure, the Doobies released their most successful album, Minute by Minute (1978). Hartman and Baxter left the group after the album's supporting tour.

After a year of audition, the Doobies hired ex-Clover guitarist John McFee, session drummer Chet McCracken and former Moby Grape saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus and released One Step Closer (1980), which went platinum.

By this time the band was slowly falling apart. Porter left and was replaced by Willie Weeks. In early 1982 they announced a farewell tour.

In 1987, the Doobies reunited for a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which quickly became a brief reunion tour although McDonald declined to participate.

By 1989, the early Toulouse Street line-up had a new contract with Capitol Records and released two more albums in 1989 and 1991. They also started to tour again and were rejoined by McFee and Knudsen, who had both played in Southern Pacific for several years.
They released a live album in 1996, one more studio album in 2000 and another live album in 2004.