Robert Jay LaKind (November 3, 1945 – December 24, 1992) was an American conga player, vocalist, songwriter and occasional backup drummer with The Doobie Brothers. Originally a lighting roadie for the band, he was invited to join as a sideman for studio sessions after band members noticed his talent when LaKind goofed around on the congas after a concert. LaKind was from

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...

and graduated from Teaneck High School, Class of 1963. He attended the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, the Animal House of the university's fraternities during the 1960s. Also a member of Sigma Nu during this time was basketball player and future coach, Pat Riley. LaKind was a session man with the Doobie Brothers from 1976 and joined them onstage as well. When the band appeared as guest stars on '' What's Happening!!'' in early 1978, he was portrayed as a full member. However, he was not actually credited as such on an album until the Farewell Tour album in 1983. When the band reformed in 1988, he rejoined and was featured on the album '' Cycles'', but he was soon forced into retirement by illness. During the Doobie Brothers hiatus, and with some overlap, between approximately 1985 to 1991, he was also a member of local Santa Monica Afro-Cuban band, The Bonedaddys. He played congas and other percussion and recorded at least two albums with them: "A-Koo-De-A" (1988) and "Worldbeatniks" (1991). LaKind's former bandmates performed two benefit concerts in 1992 to raise money for a trust fund set up for LaKind's two sons, Nicky and Cutter. He died from

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

on December 24 that year, at age 47.

References

1945 births 1992 deaths American rock drummers Musicians from Teaneck, New Jersey The Doobie Brothers members University of Kentucky alumni American rock percussionists Deaths from colorectal cancer in California 20th-century American singers Conga players 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male singers Drummers from New Jersey {{US-rock-drummer-stub