Interview With Tiran Porter 

Tiran Porter is unquestionably one of the greatest bass players in rock and roll history. His chord work is amazing. His vocals, sultry. He made the rhythm section of the Doobies. But most importantly, his demeanor and positive attitude is so inspiring.

This guy Tiran should be narrating for PBS. What a great speaking voice.

He wrote one of my favorite Doobie songs: For Someone Special

Mr. Porter is a personable gentleman, I imagine he enjoyed fine relationships with the members of the Doobies back in the day. Talented, self-effacing, and modest, that's a good combination. Thank you for this video, the Doobies are still one of my favorites bands and Mr. Porter was an integral part of the band.

Bless him He was the best early Dobbies bassist they ever had I hope He is doing well and full of health Go Tiran!

Simple words cannot express my appreciation and respect for Tiran Porter. It's best expressed as his influence on my own bass playing, so just "listen to the music". Love ya Tiran!

Tiran Porter is an awesome bass player. One of my all time favorites.

Always loved his work with the Doobies. He had a great style with really melodic bass lines. He all about melody, not rhythm. After all these years, this is the first time I've ever heard him speak. He comes across as a very well spoken, eloquent gentleman. Thanks for all the great music, Tiran.

Loved Tiran's song with the Doobie's 'For Someone Special'. Great voice and great bassist.

He plays some amazing bass lines in the song Another Park Another Sunday.

One of the best bass players of all time. His playing always stood out to me.

I as a Bassist always have like and respected Tiran. He knew what tasteful notes to play on the Doobie songs. I have heard other bassist with the Doobies, some probably better technically but not as good as Tiran. He is the best bass player I have heard with the Doobies.

One of my favorite bass players , the Doobies would never have had that unique sound without Tiran on the bass.

He comes over as such a cool, polite and nice guy. Well deserving of the success he has had in his career.

What a gentleman. Very friendly and humble, and very talented. I saw some footage of The Doobies from 1972 playing Jesus Is Just Alright, and he looked so cool in the coolest hat I've ever seen. Toulouse Street is a great album and he plays great on that and everything else.

Tiran is one of those musicians who is so down to earth but at the same time out in the stratosphere with his pure talent, he's in the Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser category. Did anyone else notice the bizarre audio 'skips' in this vid during the live 87' shots .....?

Cool guy, fantastic musician. He deserves nothing but respect. Talk about a survivor! Best wishes for continued success.

Happy, happy person, a good people, SIR..TIRAN PORTER... and respect for Tiran Porter...!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiran is so cool. I have been a fan for years and I just love him. He is known best for his bass playing but he's an awesome vocalist, too.

Such a nice guy. I learned a lot playing his bass parts.

One of my all time favorite bassists..Tiran is awesome..

So fun to see this! My favorite Doobie Brothers song…For Someone Special. What a great voice Tiran has.

The most underrated bass player ever. Listen to those records. He is brilliant.

Great Bass Player. Ebjoyed you with the Doobie's Best of luck to you.

My brother-in-law Tiran has always better so cool and collective through out the years and such a love-able guy. He can play that bass like it ain't nobodies business, but his own. Hanging out with the band when they were in the Los Angeles area was always a treat. Me and Michael McDonald had some fantastic conversations that I can't not remember to this day what they were about, but we did love to talk. Patrick Simmons and Jeff (Skunk) Baxter were always jive talking and were tight as thieves. Cornelius Bumpus was a superman when it came to playing music, he played that sax like the second coming of Coltrane. I was heartbroken when told that Cornelius had died while on a airplane returning to L.A, I fondly look back on those years (1973-1981) as fun and exciting when it came to keeping track of how the Doobies were doing. Tiran appeared to kept in touch with them especially Patrick who lived nearby in the hills above San Jose. We are blessed to still be "listening to the music" this great band made so many years ago that continues to sound forever fresh. Mel Taylor, Publisher - Reflections Publishing House, Inglewood, CA

Wow …. My First time ever hearing him speak ….He’s real cool temperament… He’s got a great speaking voice . Seems very sensible guy & person … Though he was in the background a lot … and in a supportive role , yet his vibe just always distinct & significant to me …. Just his presence alone 💥🙏🏽✊🏾🙏🏽💥

Friendly, humble & talented. Trademark Doobie Brothers. Countless Doob tracks got an excredible pounding & melodic groundswell thanks to mr Porter.

I'm such a fan of Tirans I just love this guy. I wish he would've continued on with the Doobie Brothers.. I wish him all the health and happiness in the world. such an immense talent and such a classy gentleman.

Tiran is an awesome musician and bassist. I am still using his palm mute sound which is my favorite. His lines are melodic and supportive.

I was in high school in the 70 s and love the Doobie Brothers Tiran was the cool one for me I want to be just like him I love the hat too cool rock on

Tiran was my hero when I was growing up

I LOVE his bass playing! Great lines, groove, and tone!! Totally underrated and deserves far more recognition. (-:

No Doobie Brothers without him !

So good seeing Tiran in an interview. I enjoyed listening to the Doobies during my teen and young adult years. Although Minute by Minute is my favorite song, my favorite album is "One Step Closer". Very cool and well arranged classic. Those were good days.

I met Tiran in Starkville Ms.in the lobby of the Ramada Inn after a concert at Mississippi State University.He was such a nice personable gentleman.I was honored.

Tiran is also an inredible singer as well. He sang "Need A Lady" on the Doobies "Living On The Faultline" album.......and his harmonys were incredible....

Man, this guy is awesome. His unique way of playing is one of the best I`ve ever heard...where can I find info about his actual works? Thanks for posting!

Should have asked him about the doobie’s songs he wrote like “Flying Cloud”, “For Someone Special”, and “Need A Lady”.

one of the coolest guys to ever play

Great bass player 👍

Truly one of the best bass players in rock.

He sounds so nice...!

Tiran and Keith always were my favorites

I love his voice

Tirhan rocks! His bass lines are always captivating and hard driving. Great show! Thanks!

What a cool man! He's on the rock and Roll hall of fame but looks like a sane and humble daddy...why not? On the Take Me In Your Arms single sleeve, seing this afro-american among this bunch of long haired white hippies stroke my teenage french mind, back in 75 /76. Seing him now, the same smiling and open face, this soft voice, makes me think there's still human people in the musical bizness.

Excellent!! Legend!

One of the best bassists in rock music. Bar NONE. Anyone know the exact web link to the full interview?

Would see Tiran walking down pacific garden mall in Santa Cruz

Great bassist....I had a feeling he was influenced by Paul McCartney.

I as a bass player love Mr Porter he is one of my Bass player heros

Had the GREAT pleasure of meeting Tiran in late 1987 or early 1988 in Santa Cruz at a car dealership! Such an amazing, kind, and approachable super star! He was kind to invite my brother and me to see him perform with the Cyclones at The Crow's Nest in Capitola and it was a GREAT show, and joined us at our table between sets!

De Ja Vu, I hosted a BD Party for Tiran at my house in Boulder Creek in Sept. 81' when he was playing with a local band out of Campbell, The Press. I was dating their band manager, Jet. Been to his house he had in the area at the time too, I forget what for. He's a good guy. Great Bassist.

Love that very short anecdote about Saturday Night Live. I wish he would have been able to expand on it. Man, the stories he must have. His reaction says it all. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="363">6:03</a>

Super bad bassist extraordinaire and I glad I finally caught up with you and Thanx for you contributions 🤜❤️🤛🏼

An amazing bass player, one of the all time greats.

I Love you Tiran Porter

He was the Doobie brother. Incredible skill.

I love Tiran Porter!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

"A doobie-ous distinction!" LOL

Mr. Porter's work was exceptional.. particularly "Dark eyed Cajun Woman" and "It keeps you Running".. love this Talented Man!!

Great interview , loved his voice , For Sombody Special, a fav, They are easily on a par with , Eagles, CSN,,

This guy's a great bass original! - but almost unrecognized.

His bass groove was awesome on the song, "How Do Those Fools Survive?".

This is great. It's shame the video jumps. It's like the edits were made with duct tape.

@MrSaulobeer Some on wikipedia. You should check out his solo album Playing to an empty house. Great stuff.

First saw them at the Iowa jam 75 Then at the Bally grand AC NJ I watched from the limo lot grandstand under the stars One night Springsteen jumped onstage with Jackson brown

A Great Doobie Brother!

ive known dan for 92 years.....hes a a friend of mine.....bought my first guitar from GS when they were in that house down the street.....1974..?...always very...very cool service and friendship......i made wide 4 inch leather guitar straps back then.....Tiran....if you remember the 2 you bought at showcase xmas...?...fake grey fur on the back...and tooled sunsets and a really fancy tree one....only one i ever made....i was 16....it said "Dirty Dinky"...i remember your cloud song man..cool voice

Hi Tiran. Bret Turner here. Just saying hello.

Tiran you made the bass, and the best the Doobies had!

I love you fool..

oh my god !!!!!!

i bought my first guitar at guitar showcase from Jack....thanks Jack for being such a cool dude....you matter..i'll always remember you...its been along time....anyway i did a video for an amp i was selling...check it out when you can....i remember sitting on a speaker in your first store...guitar trailor..?..playing 'house of the rising sun' with the chords written on my hand on that lyle guitar you sold me....now im sitting on a speaker...in my trailor...smoking a fatty....what a difference..?

2Tickets, I agree. He is NEVER mentioned in anyones top 5/10 list.

And Double Dealin Four Flusher

He looks exactly the same.

He should sang more lead.

Nope his greatest was Neals Fandango :)

allmusic.com/artist/tiran-porter-p115316/credits

He got a well Education voice soft black men

This guy doing the interview does not listen to the response.

Nope..his greatest was Rainy Day Crossroad Blues :)

Good man wearing shorts

Great bass player, I like Willie Weeks style better for the Doobies.

don't insult Tiran like that, lol

Worst intro music I have ever heard

Y. Y. Y. The. Face. Offul

Great to see Tiran after all these years! But the interviewer is horrible, ill-prepared and has his facts backward. And what a shame the set and choreography are so shoddy. A typical high school TV production looks better than this mess. But I still appreciate seeing Tiran again.

This interviewer is clueless.

This hardly qualifies as an interview. The guy asking the questions seems to know nearly nothing and to be most interested in Tiran and the band's TV appearances. He repeatedly asks the same pointless questions, but, gee, what a swell fella, so I guess he got away with that.

This guy interviewing Mr Porter is terrible 🙄 Let the man speak.

I swear he reminds me of Ted Nugent for some reason!

Tiran is good....can't hold a candle to JOHN ENTWISTLE though.

Loge to see Tiran. Sorry the interviewer is not that good.

And Double Dealin Four Flusher