[1] He was raised in Sacramento, and began playing in the folk music group Tim, Tom & Ron[1] at the age of 15.

He wrote and was the lead singer on the song "Keep on Tryin'," Poco's biggest hit single to that point, peaking at No.

"[3] Schmit sang backing vocals on the Steely Dan albums Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam and Aja.

[4] Schmit also sang backing vocals on "Never Let Her Slip Away", a top 5 UK hit for Andrew Gold in 1978, along with Brock Walsh, JD Souther and an uncredited Freddie Mercury.

[5] In 1974, Schmit played bass alongside Glenn Frey and Don Henley on the song "You Can Close Your Eyes" featured on Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel.

The band later broke up in 1980 and reunited 14 years later, with Schmit singing the lead vocals on "Love Will Keep Us Alive" on the reunion album Hell Freezes Over.

After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Schmit embarked on a solo career, singing vocals and playing bass for hire during studio sessions.

Schmidt is the noteworthy soaring high- register voice at the end of Toto's Africa hit recording.

Schmit also performed on the Toto 1983 hit singles "I Won't Hold You Back" and "Africa", and the Jars of Clay song "Everything in Between".

In 1993, he contributed background vocals to several tracks on Clint Black's No Time to Kill CD including the title cut.