You know that high, smooth-as-glass tenor on "I Can’t Tell You Why"? That’s Timothy B. Schmit. Most people just think of him as "the new guy" who’s been in the Eagles for roughly 50 years. But if you dig into the world of Timothy B. Schmit bands, you realize he wasn't just some lucky bassist who fell into a jackpot. He was actually the secret weapon of the California country-rock scene long before Glenn Frey ever called him.
He’s the only guy who replaced the same person in two different legendary bands. Seriously. He took Randy Meisner’s spot in Poco, then did it again in the Eagles. Talk about a specific niche.
The Early Days: Surf, Soul, and Sacramento
Before the stadium tours and private jets, Timothy was just a kid in Sacramento. His first real group was a folk trio called the Tim, Tom & Ron. It was very "Kingston Trio" vibes. They eventually evolved into a surf-rock outfit called The Contenders.
By 1965, they’d changed their name to The New Breed.
They actually had a regional hit with a song called "Green Eyed Woman." It’s got that gritty, mid-60s garage rock sound that feels worlds away from the polished harmonies he’d later master. They eventually pivoted to a more psychedelic pop sound and rebranded as Glad. If you can find their 1968 album Feelin’ Glad, grab it. It’s a weird, beautiful time capsule of the era.
The Poco Pivot: Pioneering Country Rock
In 1968, Schmit auditioned for a new band called Pogo—later renamed Poco. They turned him down. They went with Randy Meisner instead.
But Meisner quit almost immediately.
So, in 1969, Schmit finally got the gig. He stayed with Poco for nine studio albums. This is where he really found his voice. While Poco never reached the astronomical heights of the Eagles, they were the ones doing the heavy lifting for the genre. Schmit wrote their biggest hit of that era, "Keep on Tryin'."
It’s a masterclass in vocal layering. Honestly, if you listen to Poco’s Head Over Heels album, you can hear the exact blueprint for what the Eagles would become.
Joining the Eagles: The Call from Glenn Frey
By 1977, the Eagles were the biggest band on the planet. They were also falling apart. Randy Meisner (sound familiar?) was exhausted and wanted out.
Glenn Frey didn't even make Timothy audition.
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He just called him up and asked if he wanted the job. Schmit’s first contribution to the band was the soulful ballad "I Can’t Tell You Why" on The Long Run. It proved he wasn't just a replacement; he was an upgrade for the specific direction the band was heading. He brought a R&B sensibility that balanced out the harder rock edges of Joe Walsh and the cynical songwriting of Don Henley.
Then the band broke up in 1980. Just like that.
The "Session King" Years and Beyond
When the Eagles went on their fourteen-year "vacation," Timothy didn't sit around. He became one of the most sought-after session singers in Los Angeles.
- Steely Dan: He sang on Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam, and Aja.
- Toto: That’s him on the "Africa" harmonies.
- Jimmy Buffett: He spent years as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. (He actually coined the term "Parrotheads"!)
- Ringo Starr: He was part of the 1992 All-Starr Band.
He even appeared on the Spinal Tap album Break Like the Wind. The guy’s resume is basically a "Who's Who" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Schmit is just a "hired gun." That’s a huge misconception. Whether it's his solo work like Expando or Day by Day, or his contributions to the Eagles’ 2007 comeback Long Road Out of Eden, he’s a meticulous songwriter.
He doesn’t play "lead bass." He’s an accompanist. He plays what the song needs.
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It’s that lack of ego that allowed him to survive the notoriously volatile internal politics of the Eagles for decades. He was the "peacekeeper," the guy who just wanted the music to sound right.
How to Explore the Timothy B. Schmit Catalog
If you want to understand his impact, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits.
- Listen to "Rose of Cimarron" by Poco. It’s epic, sweeping, and showcases his ability to anchor a complex arrangement.
- Check out his solo track "Friday Night" from the album Expando. It features Garth Hudson of The Band and has a loose, organic feel he rarely gets to show in the Eagles.
- Spin "I Can't Tell You Why" (Live from Hell Freezes Over). The bass line is simple, but the vocal delivery is arguably better than the original studio version.
The best way to appreciate his career is to look at him as the glue. He’s the guy who makes everyone else sound better. Whether it's a garage band in Sacramento or a sold-out show at Sphere in Las Vegas, Timothy B. Schmit has always known exactly how to fit in while standing out.
Next Steps for Fans
Check out the 2022 album Day by Day. It’s a very "home-cooked" record, mostly recorded in his home studio during the pandemic. It’s arguably his most honest work, stripping away the stadium gloss to show the folk-singer roots he started with back in the early 60s.