Fact Brief: Is The Doobie Brothers rock band from San Jose?

Yes.

The 1970s rock band known as The Doobie Brothers are from San Jose, California. Founding band members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons attended San Jose State University in the late 60s and early 70s. Johnston’s home at 285 S. 12th St. in Naglee Park served as the band’s creative space and is where hits like “China Grove” and “Listen to the Music” were written. 

The craftsman-style home was designated a historical landmark by San Jose in 2021 and the Preservation Action Council of San Jose called the home the center of the city’s music scene at the time. 

Beyond living in the South Bay, San Jose Rocks also credits a local pizza joint at the time, Ricardo’s Pizza, as an early venue that gave the band their start. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

San José Spotlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Sources

• San Jose Rocks 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Doobie Brothers
• Preservation Action Council of San Jose San Jose City Landmarks