Bobbie LaKind; Doobie Brothers Percussionist

Doobie Brothers percussionist Bobbie LaKind died Thursday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, a publicist for the band said. He was 47.

Aware of the seriousness of his illness, LaKind reunited with the dozen men who formed the Doobie Brothers to play a pair of benefit concerts to build trust funds for his two sons, Cutter, 4, and Logan, 5. The concerts, held in October in Los Angeles and Concord, raised more than $75,000.

LaKind was living in Los Angeles and was separated from his wife.

He joined the 1970s rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse as part of the lighting crew, and sat in with the band before becoming a full-time member. He remained with the group until it broke up in 1982.

The band released a farewell album the year after it broke up, the group’s 12th release. LaKind also returned to perform on “Cycles,” the band’s 1989 reunion album but was not in the 1990 reunion tour.

The Doobie Brothers began as a bar band in the early 1970s and in 1971 released their debut album. Hit songs followed: “Listen to the Music,” “Jesus Is Just All Right,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “China Grove,” “Another Park, Another Sunday,” “Eyes of Silver” and “Black Water.”

A memorial service will be held when the band members return from the holidays, the publicist said.