Doobie "Doghouse" Wilson

From "Planet Pick," Planet Weekly Issue 279 

He's Alan Lane, a chemical and biological engineering professor at UA, by day. Don't be fooled. One night a week, he transforms into Doobie "Doghouse" Wilson, pleasing the ears of music fans all over central Alabama. While we want more, we'll take what we can get from this talented blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. The word on the street is that upon retirement, a tour is possible, so spread the word about this legend in the making. Recently Doobie graced Mellow Mushroom customers with his tunes at an Acoustic Patio Party.

"He blew the house away," says 'Shroom Upstairs Bar owner Jake French. "He's an awesome songwriter and an excellent musician. I'm planning to get him back for some more gigs this summer."

Doobie was accompanied by Adam Guthrie (Pain & Wayne Mills Band), a Sharkie's "prolific songwriter and guitar virtuoso." Gray played drums (Ahead Band, a new band who played at Egan's recently). Doobie forfeited his payment to his counterparts, and when he's paid or given tips to play solo, he gives the money to Tuscaloosa's Temporary Emergency Services. Doobie also insisted to be a volunteer (rather than paid) guitar instructor for this year's Alabama Blues Project After-School Blues Camp, and he'll be doing the ABP Summertime Blues Camp as well, teaching guitar, songwriting and helping the students develop their own blues nicknames. He purely wants to share the fun with others.

"Five or six years ago I was in my late 40s, and I had been playing guitar to basement walls since college. I saw 50 coming and decided if I don't play in front of people now, I won't ever," explains Doobie. "Hale's Tavern on the strip had by far the best songwriter night at that time. When I scoped it out in the summer, there were small crowds. When I finally got the nerve to go on stage, it happened to be the week school started and it was packed. I thought, 'Oh no,' but I did it anyway. It gave me a thrill and the audience was great. College professors don't usually get these kinds of experiences!"

Since then, the sky has been the limit. His big beginnings were at the Oasis "Guitar Pull" in Birmingham. Once, Taylor Hicks heard Doobie covering him via cell phone at the Oasis! This spring, the "Guitar Pull" unfortunately had a farewell event called "One More Time." In admiration for his roots and bar owner Rick Carter, Doobie wrote and recorded a song to commemorate the occasion. Carter awarded Doobie with an engraved key chain that states, "Rick Carter's Guitar Pull 3-05-07" on one side and "Doobie 'Doghouse' Wilson" on the other. I'm sure his music will be missed, but not forgotten. Also, Doobie has traveled so far as to play at the World Famous Bluebird Cafe' in Nashville. Last summer, producer Steve Goodie (punchsound.com) hosted the evening and awarded Doobie the "best name" among the 50 songwriters attending. He played "Run Away" in celebration of his 24th wedding anniversary with 'Big Mama' Wilson.

Presently, Doobie plays open mic nights at Little Willie's, Mellow Mushroom and Capture Studio Café in Tuscaloosa, as well as traveling to Birmingham on occasion. He performs original songs, traditional blues, and covers of his favorite artists, including Keb Mo, Guy Davis, James Taylor, the Beatles and Taylor Hicks. Actually, Hicks opened for Doobie one night at the Oasis in Birmingham. It's technically true! After a City Stages performance last summer, Hicks slipped in before Doobie's set at the "Guitar Pull."

He's also shared his music successfully online at mp3.com/doobiedoghousewilson. Last November, his original song "Merry Christmas Baby" was the top download for two weeks, getting over 27,000! Pretty impressive for a song that was recorded by Doobie himself on his home computer and is untouched by "professionals."

Arts are a family affair in Doobie's house. A song that Doobie's son Charles wrote called "There is a Place" had over 1,500 downloads from MP3.com. Lil' Doobie was expressing his feelings about the woods behind his subdivision being cut down, and the Rock Quarry Elementary student won first prize in a city schools arts contest for songwriting. Doobie claims his daughter Elizabeth is the family's best singer. She recently had a leading role in Northridge High School's "Bye Bye Birdie." Doobie's wife Lorrie is a painter and just opened her very own gallery, the Liz Charles Gallery (lizcharlesgallery.com), in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Doobie is available to give free concerts for groups of fans and friends on request. He will also provide background music for parties or give solo performances for bars and coffee houses at a fee (remember that money earned is donated directly to Tuscaloosa's Temporary Emergency Services). For booking, you may e-mail him at doobiedw@bama.ua.edu. Also, check out his MP3 site (mentioned earlier), official web site at doobiedoghousewilson.com. Being the family man that he is, Doobie limits his performances to one night a week. He says it helps that Tuscaloosa and Birmingham nightlife run late, because his family is heading to bed by the time he's getting out. He still has a chance to tuck in his nine-year-old Charles (Lil' Doobie).

"Most nights my son, Charles, asks me to sing a few songs and play guitar as he drifts off to sleep. This is my favorite gig."