’70s Rock Band Released First No. 1 Hit Song Five Years After Forming

Despite achieving significant commercial success throughout their career, it took ’70s rock band the Doobie Brothers five years to top the Billboard Hot 100.

The Doobie Brothers was formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, by guitarist Tom Johnston, drummer John Hartman, bassist Dave Shogren and guitarist Patrick Simmons. After producing four studio albums—garnering initial success with hits like “Listen to the Music” and “Jesus Is Just Alright” from their 1972 album, Toulouse Street—the band finally achieved a No. 1 hit with “Black Water.”

“Black Water” was an organic and somewhat unexpected triumph for the Doobie Brothers. Much of its success stemmed from a Roanoke, Virginia AM radio station called WROV-AM, which played the song repeatedly due to the region’s proximity to the Blackwater River.

The song was originally released as a B-side to “Another Park, Another Sunday” on their fourth album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. The band initially believed the song’s sparse acoustic arrangement and experimental a cappella vocals would not fare well as a single. However, after high regional demand and positive listener reviews, they re-released the track as a single in November 1974.

After a few months, the song climbed up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 1 in March 1975 for one week. The chart-topping track marked a massive milestone in the band’s career, further solidifying them as a dominant force in the rock genre.

In 1979, the band followed up their No. 1 success by topping the Hot 100 for a second time with the single, “What a Fool Believes.” That track famously won two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Even after decades, both chart-toppers continue to be recognized as some of the ’70s’ most defining rock classics.

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