Hartman formed
The Doobie Brothers in 1970, and played on all of the band's major hits of the 1970s, with both
Tom Johnston and
Michael McDonald. He left early in 1979, following a promotional tour in support of the award-winning
Minute by Minute, album to look after Arabian horses on his California ranch. Hartman was enticed to join twelve Doobies alumni (including drummers Hossack, Knudsen, and Hartman's own 1979 replacement Chet McCracken) for a brief benefit tour in 1987. Hartman subsequently rejoined when the band was reconstituted the following year. He played on the reunion albums
Cycles (1989) and
Brotherhood (1991), as well as the accompanying promotional tours. However, following a 1992 alumni reunion for the benefit of terminally ill
percussionist Bobby LaKind, Hartman retired permanently from the band. He was replaced by his former partner,
Keith Knudsen. In 2020, he was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers. == Death ==