Keith Knudsen, drummer for the Doobie Brothers rock band, died Tuesday in San Francisco of pneumonia at age 56, Rolling Stone reported.

ADVERTISEMENT

Knudsen, who had been in a hospital for a month, joined the band in 1974 and played on six albums, with hits such as "Taking It to the Streets" and "Black Water."

He played with the Doobie Brothers through their 1982 farewell tour, at which point he and Doobie guitarist John McPhee formed country rock band Southern Pacific.

In 1993 Knudsen joined the reunited Doobies, which has been playing more than 100 gigs annually and is set to release an album this summer.

Knudsen, who lived in Sonoma County, Calif., was also working on a solo album.

He is survived by his wife, Kate, and daughter Dayna, who ask that donations be made to Knudsen's preferred charity, the National Veterans Foundation.