Timothy B. Schmit
| Timothy B. Schmit | |
|---|---|
 Schmit performing with the Eagles in 2008. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy Bruce Schmit |
| Born | October 30, 1947 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, country |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass, percussion, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Associated acts | Eagles, Poco |
| Website | www.timothybschmit.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Jazz Bass | |
Timothy Bruce Schmit (born October 30, 1947, in Oakland, California)[1] is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles.
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[edit] Early career
Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group Tim, Tom & Ron[1] at age 15. That group evolved into a surf band called the Contenders, then changed its name to the New Breed. As the New Breed they had one big radio hit, the catchy, Animals-inspired "Green Eyed Woman," released 1965. Changing its name once again to Glad, the group recorded the album Feelin' Glad in 1968.
In 1970, Schmit joined Poco, replacing founding member Randy Meisner on bass and vocals.[2] He wrote and was lead singer on the song "Keep On Tryin'," Poco's biggest hit single to that point, peaking at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Apart from Poco, Schmit also contributed vocals to Firefall's 1977 hit, "Just Remember I Love You."[3]
Schmit also played bass and sang backing vocals on several Steely Dan albums.[citation needed]
[edit] Tenure with the Eagles
In 1977, Schmit joined the Eagles after the Hotel California tour, once again replacing Randy Meisner on bass/vocals after Meisner quit. While the Eagles are thought to be a quintessential California band, Schmit is actually the only native Californian ever to be a member of the band.
On the 1979 album The Long Run, Schmit co-wrote and sang lead on the song "I Can't Tell You Why". The band broke up in 1980 and reunited in 1994, with Schmit singing the lead vocal on "Love Will Keep Us Alive", on the reunion album Hell Freezes Over.
In 2007, the Eagles released a new album, Long Road Out of Eden. Schmit continues to be part of the Eagles lineup along with Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh.
[edit] Career after the Eagles
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Schmit embarked on a solo career, singing vocals and playing bass for hire during studio sessions. His voice can be heard on many hits, including Bob Seger's "Fire Lake" and Boz Scaggs' "Look What You've Done To Me" (each with Frey and Henley), Don Felder's "Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)" (with Henley), and Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Southern Cross", where he sang harmony due to David Crosby's drug overindulgence. He was also a background musician on two of Don Henley's hit songs, "Dirty Laundry" and "You Don't Know Me at All".
Schmit teamed with his predecessor in both Poco and the Eagles, Randy Meisner, along with their mutual Eagles bandmate Joe Walsh, to provide background vocals to the 1987 Richard Marx hit "Don't Mean Nothing". Schmit also performed on the Toto 1983 hit singles "I Won't Hold You Back" and "Africa", and the Jars of Clay song "Everything In Between". He also played on the 1983 Glenn Shorrock solo album. In 1991 Schmit donated a track to the Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead soundtrack titled "I Only Have Eyes For You".
In 1996, Schmit sang on a cover version of The Beach Boys' 1966 song "Caroline, No" on their album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, with the Beach Boys themselves contributing harmonies. Schmit also toured with Jimmy Buffett, in 1983, 1984, and 1985 as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. Schmit was the one who coined the term "Parrotheads" to describe Buffett's fans.
In 1988, Schmit was also involved in the Cinemax Television special "Black and White Night" featuring Roy Orbison[citation needed].
Schmit's latest album, Expando, was released on October 20, 2009.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Heat | ||||||||
| 1984 | Playin' It Cool
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160 | — | ||||||
| 1987 | Timothy B.
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106 | — | ||||||
| 1990 | Tell Me the Truth
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— | — | ||||||
| 2001 | Feed the Fire
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— | — | ||||||
| 2009 | Expando
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— | 43 | ||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Main | US AC | CAN | CAN AC | |||||
| 1982 | "So Much in Love" | 59 | — | 27 | — | — | Playin' It Cool | ||
| 1987 | "Boys Night Out" | 25 | 17 | — | 69 | — | Timothy B. | ||
| 1988 | "Don't Give Up" | — | — | 30 | — | 22 | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
[edit] References
- ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Timothy B. Schmit > Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p122756/biography. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Randy Meisner > Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4886/biography. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ DeGagne, Mike. "Luna Sea > Review". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r615335/review. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
[edit] External links
- Timothy B Schmit official website
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