On This Day: Timothy B. Schmit turns 79
Timothy B. Schmit turns 79 on October 30. A listening route through Poco, the Eagles and his solo album Day By Day.
Editorial illustration. Image credit and licence below.
Timothy B. Schmit was born on October 30, 1947. The bassist, singer and songwriter turns 79 today, with a catalogue that reaches from Poco and the Eagles to his own solo records.
The bass player and the voice
Poco’s official archive lists Schmit as its bassist and vocalist from 1969 to 1977. His later work with the Eagles put his lead voice at the centre of “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles in 1998.
For guitar players, that career is a reminder to listen beyond the instrument carrying the solo. Bass, vocal harmony and the arrangement around a guitar part are worth studying together—not as competing features.
A solo route worth exploring
Schmit’s 2022 album Day By Day offers another route into his work. The official campaign biography identifies it as his seventh solo album, with guest appearances from Lindsey Buckingham, John Fogerty and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others. It specifically credits Buckingham’s electric-guitar leads on “Simple Man.”
Start there, then return to an Eagles favourite and listen for what changes when Schmit steps from a band role into his own songwriting. This birthday is a celebration of that wider musical identity, not just a familiar name in a famous lineup.
Want to dig deeper into Lindsey Buckingham’s guitars and gear? Read our full guide.
Editorial illustration, not a documentary photograph. Reference: “Timothy B. Schmit” by Steve Alexander, 2 December 2008, CC BY-SA 2.0. New AI-illustrated pose, composition and lighting, with local technical corrections. This adaptation is shared under CC BY-SA 2.0.
