Timothy B. Schmit
Encyclopedia
Timothy Bruce Schmit 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.
, Schmit began playing in the folk music
group Tim, Tom & Ron 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
. 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."
Schmit also played bass and sang backing vocals on several Steely Dan
albums.
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
.
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.
Schmit's latest album, Expando, was released on October 20, 2009.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player and singer for Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.
Early career
Raised in SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Schmit began playing in the folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group Tim, Tom & Ron 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
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Feelin' Glad in 1968.
In 1970, Schmit joined Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
, replacing founding member Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner
Randy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. 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
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1975. Apart from Poco, Schmit also contributed vocals to Firefall
Firefall
Firefall is a rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. It was founded by Rick Roberts, who had been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr. The band's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman", peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts...
's 1977 hit, "Just Remember I Love You."
Schmit also played bass and sang backing vocals on several Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
albums.
Tenure with the Eagles
Hotel California
Hotel California is the fifth studio album released by the American rock band the Eagles, in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first album with Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bass player and singer Randy Meisner...
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
The Long Run (album)
The Long Run is the sixth studio album by the Eagles, released in 1979 . This was the first Eagles album not to feature founding member Randy Meisner, who was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit....
, Schmit co-wrote and sang lead on the song "I Can't Tell You Why
I Can't Tell You Why
"I Can't Tell You Why" is a song from the Eagles which appeared on their 1979 album The Long Run. The song was written by Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley, and was the first Eagles song to feature Schmit on lead vocals....
". The band broke up in 1980 and reunited in 1994, with Schmit singing the lead vocal on "Love Will Keep Us Alive
Love Will Keep Us Alive
"Love Will Keep Us Alive", is the title of a song written by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale. It was performed first by the Eagles in 1994, during their "Hell Freezes Over" reunion tour. It was sung by bassist Timothy B...
", on the reunion album Hell Freezes Over
Hell Freezes Over
Hell Freezes Over is a live album by the Eagles, released in 1994. The album contains four new studio tracks and eleven tracks recorded live for an MTV special. It went to #1 on the Billboard album chart upon its release where it stayed for two weeks. It is the band's second live album behind their...
.
In 2007, the Eagles released a new album, Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden is the seventh studio album by American rock band Eagles, released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records. Nearly six years in production, Long Road Out of Eden is the first studio album from the Eagles since 1979's The Long Run, and along with the four original tracks on 1994 Hell...
. Schmit continues to be part of the Eagles lineup along with Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
and Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
.
Career after the Eagles
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Schmit embarked on a soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, singing vocals and playing bass for hire during studio sessions
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
. His voice
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
can be heard on many hits, including Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
's "Fire Lake
Fire Lake
"Fire Lake" is the title of a song written and recorded by American musical artist Bob Seger. Seger planned to release "Fire Lake" for his 1975 album Beautiful Loser, but the track did not make the final cut. In fact, the song had been partly written years before, in 1971...
" and Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
' "Look What You've Done To Me" (each with Frey and Henley), Don Felder
Don Felder
Donald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
's "Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)" (with Henley), and Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Southern Cross
Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills and Nash song)
"Southern Cross" is a song written by Stephen Stills and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released in 1982 on the band's Daylight Again album. Stephen Stills sings lead vocals throughout, with Graham Nash joining the final verse....
", where he sang harmony due to David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
's drug overindulgence. He was also a background musician on two of Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
's hit songs, "Dirty Laundry
Dirty Laundry
"Dirty Laundry" is a song by Don Henley from his debut solo album I Can't Stand Still, released in 1982. The song reached number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in October 1982. Released as the second single from I Can't Stand Still, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in...
" and "You Don't Know Me at All".
Schmit teamed with his predecessor in both Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
and the Eagles, Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner
Randy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
, along with their mutual Eagles bandmate Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, to provide background vocals to the 1987 Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
hit "Don't Mean Nothing". Schmit also performed on the Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
1983 hit singles "I Won't Hold You Back
I Won't Hold You Back
"I Won't Hold You Back" is a ballad by American rock band Toto, written and sung by Steve Lukather for their fourth album, Toto IV, released in 1982 . The song reached the top ten, peaking at number ten in the U.S...
" and "Africa
Africa (Toto song)
"Africa" is a song by rock band Toto, and one of the band's most recognizable songs. It was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983 and number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month...
", and the Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
song "Everything In Between". He also played on the 1983 Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Barrie Shorrock is an English-born Australian singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of pop groups The Twilights, Axiom and Little River Band as well as being a solo performer....
solo album. In 1991 Schmit donated a track to the Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a 1991 comedy film directed by Stephen Herek starring Christina Applegate.Applegate stars as a teenager whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict tyrannical elderly babysitter...
soundtrack titled "I Only Have Eyes For You".
In 1996, Schmit sang on a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' 1966 song "Caroline, No" on their album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 is an album by The Beach Boys. Released in 1996, it is, despite its 'Volume 1' sub-title, their only venture into the genre of country pop music....
, with the Beach Boys themselves contributing harmonies. Schmit also toured with Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, in 1983, 1984, and 1985 as a member of the Coral Reefer Band
Coral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
. Schmit was the one who coined the term "Parrotheads
Parrotheads
Parrot Head or Parrothead is a commonly used nickname for fans of Jimmy Buffett. "Parakeets" is the term used for younger fans of Jimmy, or children of Parrotheads.-Origin:...
" to describe Buffett's fans.
In 1988, Schmit was also involved in the Cinemax Television special "Black and White Night" featuring Roy Orbison.
Schmit's latest album, Expando, was released on October 20, 2009.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||||||||
| 1984 | Playin' It Cool
|
160 | — | ||||||
| 1987 | Timothy B.
|
106 | — | ||||||
| 1990 | Tell Me the Truth
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2001 | Feed the Fire Feed the Fire (Timothy B. Schmit album) Feed the Fire is the fourth studio album by Timothy B. Schmit and it was released in 2001.-Track listing & personnel:#"The Shadow" #*Drums & Percussion : Scott Crago#*Bass, Keyboards, Guitars & All Vocals : Timothy B. Schmit...
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2009 | Expando Expando Expando is the fifth studio album released from Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit. The album was released on October 20, 2009 on Lost Highway Records...
|
— | 43 | ||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Main | US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
CAN AC | |||||
| 1982 | "So Much in Love So Much in Love "So Much in Love" is a popular song sung by The Tymes that was a #1 song in the United States during the year 1963. It was The Tymes first hit single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on August 3, 1963, and remaining there for one week... " |
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 | |||||||||
External links
- Timothy B Schmit official website