Patrick Simmons, born October 19, 1948, in Aberdeen, Washington, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as a founding member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Raised in San Jose, California, Simmons attended Leigh High School and San José State University before co-founding The Doobie Brothers in 1970. He is the only band member to appear on every release by The Doobie Brothers, contributing lead vocals and songwriting to hit singles including “South City Midnight Lady” in 1973 and their Number 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Black Water” in 1974. He also contributed to The Doobie Brothers' 1978 album Minute by Minute, which won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Following the group's disbandment in 1982, Simmons launched a solo career, releasing his debut solo studio album Arcade in 1983, which peaked at number 52 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the single “So Wrong”, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the US Dance chart. He released his second solo studio album Take Me to the Highway in 1995. The Doobie Brothers reformed in 1987, with Simmons continuing as a primary performer and co-authoring the memoir Long Train Runnin': Our Story of The Doobie Brothers in 2022. With The Doobie Brothers, Simmons was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025.
