Tiran Porter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tiran Porter
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Porter with The Doobie Brothers in 1974.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tiran Calvin Porter |
| Born | September 26, 1948 Los Angeles, California United States |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Labels | Warner Bros. Records |
| Associated acts | The Doobie Brothers |
Tiran Calvin Porter, born on September 26, 1948, is an American musician. He plays bass guitar and regular guitar, and he also sings and writes songs. He is most famous for being a member of the popular band The Doobie Brothers. He played with them from 1972 to 1980 and again from 1987 to 1992.
Contents
About Tiran Porter
Early Life and Music
Tiran Porter was born in Los Angeles, California. He finished high school in Lawndale, California, in 1966. Before joining The Doobie Brothers, he played in a local band called Six Penny Opera in Los Angeles.
Joining The Doobie Brothers
Tiran became well-known when he joined The Doobie Brothers in 1972. He took over as the bass player for their second album, Toulouse Street.
While in the band, he mostly sang background vocals in the studio. However, he wrote and sang a song called "For Someone Special" on the album Takin' It To The Streets in 1976. This song was a tribute to the band's leader, Tom Johnston, who was ill at the time. He also sang "Need A Lady" on the 1977 album Livin' On The Fault Line. During live concerts, Tiran often sang lead on one or two songs.
Leaving and Rejoining the Band
Tiran left The Doobie Brothers in 1980 because he was tired of their very busy touring schedule. Another musician, Willie Weeks, took his place. Tiran briefly joined his old bandmates on stage for their farewell tour in 1982.
He then rejoined The Doobie Brothers in 1987. He played on their albums Cycles (1989) and Brotherhood (1991). The title of the Cycles album came from a song Tiran had written, even though his song wasn't used on the album. He didn't sing lead or have his songs featured on these albums.
After touring for five more years, Tiran left The Doobie Brothers for good in 1992. He was still frustrated with the constant touring. He also wanted the band to record more of his different kinds of songs, but they preferred their usual style.
Solo Work and Other Projects
In 1995, Tiran Porter released his own solo album called Playing to an Empty House. He produced this album himself. It was a mix of rock, progressive, and jazz music. On this album, Tiran played all the instruments and sang all the vocals. He focused more on lead guitar and keyboard sounds than on bass guitar.
More recently, Tiran has played bass with other musicians and bands. He has performed with singer-songwriter Keith Greeninger, a Beatles tribute band called White Album Ensemble, Stormin' Norman and the Cyclones, and Moby Grape during their occasional reunion shows.
In 2020, Tiran Porter was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers. This is a big achievement for musicians.
Tiran's Playing Style
Tiran Porter's bass playing was a very important part of The Doobie Brothers' sound. His bass lines were lively and strong, and his unique sound can be heard in many of the band's classic songs.
Early in his career, he often used a guitar pick to play the bass, which gave his sound a rich, full quality. A great example of this is the song "Takin' It to the Streets," where his powerful picked bass notes stand out. More recently, even when playing older songs with the Doobies, Tiran has been using his fingers to play his custom-made instruments.
Musical Instruments
During the 1970s, Tiran was often seen with Alembic or Gibson basses, like the Thunderbird or Ripper models. He also used an EB-0L bass. Later, he played Fender instruments, especially the Fender Jazz Bass. He also used BC Rich Eagles and Mockingbirds, and Rickenbacker basses.
Tiran Porter's Albums
Solo Album
- Playing To An Empty House (1995)
Albums with The Doobie Brothers
- Toulouse Street (1972)
- The Captain and Me (1973)
- What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974)
- Stampede (1975)
- Takin' It to the Streets (1976)
- Livin' on the Fault Line (1977)
- Minute by Minute (1978)
- One Step Closer (1980)
- Cycles (1989)
- Brotherhood (1991)
- Live at Wolf Creek [Live] (2004)
- Live at the Greek Theater 1982 [Live] (2011) (He appeared on one song)
