Michael McDonald (singer)

For other people named Michael McDonald, see Michael McDonald (disambiguation).
Michael McDonald

Man with silver shoulder-length hair and goatee in white v-neck top.

McDonald performing live in 2011
Background information
Born (1952-02-12) February 12, 1952
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • keyboardist
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active 1974–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website michaelmcdonald.com

Michael McDonald (born February 12, 1952) is an American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and record producer. He is known for his soulful baritone voice.[1]

McDonald's music career spans more than forty years. His early career included singing with Steely Dan. He joined The Doobie Brothers in 1976 and remained an integral member until 1982, after which he released the first of eight solo albums. During his career, he has collaborated with a number of other artists, including Van Halen, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, and Toto.[2] He has also recorded for television and film soundtracks. During his career, McDonald has won five Grammy Awards.

Early years

Michael McDonald was born on February 12, 1952, into an Irish American Catholic family in Ferguson, Missouri,[3] a suburb of St. Louis. McDonald attended McCluer High School where he played in local bands including Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, the Reebtoors and The Guild. He was 'discovered' while playing with a group called Blue and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1970 to pursue a career in music.[4]

Steely Dan

In 1974, McDonald became a member of Steely Dan's touring group, singing lead and backing vocals. He also became one of the many in-studio adjunct members of the group, providing backing vocals on tracks for 1975's Katy Lied.[5] He appeared on subsequent Steely Dan recordings including 1976's The Royal Scam[6] and 1977's Aja.[7] He also played keyboards on some Steely Dan tracks.[8]

McDonald continued to provide backing vocals for Steely Dan through their 1980 release, Gaucho.[9] In 2006, he joined Steely Dan on the band's summer tour, both as the opening act and as part of the band.[10]

The Doobie Brothers

McDonald with the Doobie Brothers, 1976

McDonald was recruited by the rock band The Doobie Brothers in April 1975, initially as a temporary replacement for their lead vocalist Tom Johnston after he had become ill during a national tour,[4] but his work with the band proved so successful that they decided to retain him as a full-time member.

As a member of the Doobie Brothers, McDonald sang the lead vocals on some of the band's best-known songs such as "Real Love", "Takin' It to the Streets", "Little Darling (I Need You)", "It Keeps You Runnin'", "Minute by Minute", and "What a Fool Believes" (which became a No. 1 single in the U.S. and earned him a 1980 Grammy Award for Song of the Year along with co-writer Kenny Loggins). At the same time, McDonald appeared as a session vocalist and keyboardist for various artists including Christopher Cross, Stephen Bishop, Jack Jones, Bonnie Raitt, the rock band Toto, and Kenny Loggins. McDonald co-wrote "You Belong to Me" with Carly Simon, which appeared on the album Livin' on the Fault Line.[11]

McDonald reunited as a guest performer with the Doobie Brothers several times since the band's initial dissolution in 1982.[10] He re-teamed with the Doobie Brothers for the track "Don't Say Goodbye" on the band's thirteenth studio album, World Gone Crazy.[12] In March 2014, he reunited with the Doobie Brothers to record a brand-new album featuring the greatest hits of the Doobies' 40-plus-year career. This project was completed in conjunction with Sony Music Nashville. On the album, McDonald shares lead vocals with Sara Evans for "What a Fool Believes", Love and Theft for "Takin' it to the Streets", and Amanda Sudano-Ramirez for "You Belong to Me". The album, titled Southbound, was released on November 4, 2014, as the Doobie Brothers' fourteenth studio album.

On November 5, 2014, McDonald and the Doobie Brothers were featured musical guests on the 47th annual CMA Awards to celebrate the release of Southbound. They were joined by Hunter Hayes, Jennifer Nettles, and Hillary Scott in their performance of "Listen to the Music." At the end of the awards ceremony, they were also joined by host Brad Paisley for "Takin' It to the Streets".

Solo career
This Is It
"This Is It", written and sung with Kenny Loggins.
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After the Doobies' first farewell tour, McDonald released his first solo studio album, If That's What It Takes, in 1982 on the label Warner Bros.[13] The album featured the hit singles "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", a duet with his sisters Kathy and Maureen, and "I Gotta Try", a song co-written with Kenny Loggins, who also recorded in that same year for his fourth album High Adventure.

He continued to collaborate with other artists during this period. McDonald co-wrote Van Halen's Top 20 hit "I'll Wait", from their biggest-selling album 1984. "Yah Mo B There", a duet with James Ingram, won the 27th Annual Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[14] In 1985, he released his second studio album No Lookin' Back, which for the first time, he co-produced, as well as wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks, and featured a minor hit with the title-track, co-written by Kenny Loggins. By June 1986, the album had met little success, but McDonald then had a huge boost with the release of the single "Sweet Freedom", which appeared on the soundtrack to the Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines film Running Scared, and was McDonald's last Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The No Lookin' Back album was then re-released in some markets with the new hit single included, as well as a few songs remixed. The single "On My Own", a duet with Patti LaBelle, reached no. 1 on the U.S. charts in 1986. Later that year, he would perform as a backing vocalist on Toto's album Fahrenheit, appearing on the hit single "I'll Be Over You", as well its accompanying video. Also in 1987, McDonald did a featured collaboration with gospel quartet The Winans from their Decisions album titled "Love Has No Color".

McDonald's 1990 album Take It to Heart, which featured a minor hit with the title-track, co-written by Diane Warren. The following year he joined the New York Rock and Soul Revue,[15] put together by Steely Dan's lead vocalist Donald Fagen. 1991's "Ever Changing Times" with Aretha Franklin, a duet on Arista.

In 1999, McDonald recorded the song "Eyes of a Child" for the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, which is a comedic ballad written by Trey Parker. It was also used at the ending credits for the movie. The same year, he sang backing vocals on The Warren Brothers' single "Better Man", from their album Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World.[16] He also provided lead vocals for one of three studio tracks on Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert.

In 2003, he earned two Grammy nominations for his album Motown, a tribute to the Motown sound. A year later, Motown Two was released. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated, "The album follows the same blueprint as the first record, offering highly polished, professionally produced, expertly performed interpretations of gems from the Motown vaults."[17]

In 2008, McDonald released his album Soul Speak, which includes three new songs penned by McDonald, and covers of songs by Dionne Warwick ("Walk On By"), Stevie Wonder ("Living for the City"), Van Morrison ("Into the Mystic"), Tyrone Davis ("Baby Can I Change My Mind"), and others.[18]

2000–present

In 2000, McDonald, along with partners Chris Pelonis and actor Jeff Bridges, founded the independent recording label Rampe St. Louis Walk of Fame.[19] McDonald recorded a duet with Ray Charles on Charles' 2004 Genius Loves Company. In 2007, McDonald helped judge the sixth annual Independent Music Awards.[20] In 2006, McDonald sang as a guest singer in the jazz quartet Fourplay from the album X, in a cover of Steve Winwood's song "My Love's Leavin'".[21]

In 2009, McDonald, along with the West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir, released the song "Storm Before the Calm" on the compilation album Oh Happy Day.[22] McDonald also contributed an alternate lead vocal track for "While You Wait for the Others", a single by the indie rock band Grizzly Bear, which released as a 7-inch single.[23]

In December 2009, McDonald donated his performance to Keep the Beat in Santa Barbara, California, where he played to a capacity crowd at the newly renovated Granada Theater. Harry Rabin, producer and head of Keep the Beat, an initiative of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, produced the show, including two video productions and worked with student choral groups from primary and secondary schools as well as a brass section so they could perform in the show with McDonald and his band.[24]

In 2009, McDonald appeared on the satirical television sitcom 30 Rock as one of the benefit singers in the season finale episode "Kidney Now!".[25] McDonald performed the national anthem before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between the Boise State Broncos and TCU Horned Frogs at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.[26] McDonald sang "Takin' It to the Streets" on the American Idol, season nine finale, in 2010.[27]

In 2013, McDonald settled a $500,000 breach-of-contract suit (out of court) with Warner music over underpayment of royalties of online sales.[28] In the summer of 2014, he co-headlined a U.S. tour with the band Toto.[29]

Personal life

McDonald has been married to singer Amy Holland since 1983 and they have two children, Dylan (born 1987) and Scarlett (born 1991). He moved with his family to Santa Barbara, in the late 1990s.[30]

Discography

Studio albums

Band members

Bernie Chiaravalle, guitar; Mark Douthit, saxophone, keyboards; Lanice Morrison, bass; Yvette "Baby Girl" Preyer, drums; Pat Coil, keyboards; Keith "Arthur" Merritt, percussion, tambourine

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards
Year Category Nominated work Result
1979 Record of the Year "What a Fool Believes" (The Doobie Brothers) Won
1979 Song of the Year "What a Fool Believes" (co-written with Kenny Loggins) Won
1979 "Minute by Minute" (co-written with Lester Abrams) Nominated
1979 Album of the Year Minute by Minute (The Doobie Brothers) Nominated
1979 Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus "Minute by Minute" (The Doobie Brothers) Won
1979 Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals "What a Fool Believes" Won
1982 Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" Nominated
1984 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Yah Mo B There" (with James Ingram) Won
1984 Best R&B Song "Yah Mo B There" (with James Ingram, Rod Temperton, and Quincy Jones) Nominated
1986 Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male "Sweet Freedom" Nominated
1986 Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "On My Own" (with Patti Labelle) Nominated
2003 Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Nominated
2003 Best Pop Vocal Album Motown Nominated

A fictionalized version of McDonald (portrayed by actor JD Ryznar) appeared in the online Channel 101 video series Yacht Rock. McDonald was parodied in a Second City Television skit in the early 1980s, where he is portrayed by Rick Moranis.[31]

In the 2005 comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the manager of the electronics store has a fondness for McDonald and insists on repeatedly playing one of his live concerts on the big-screen televisions, driving her employees crazy.[32]

In the Family Guy episode Padre de Familia, McDonald is hired by Peter Griffin as a backup singer during a night of patrolling Quahog.[33]

In The Cleveland Show, McDonald is Cleveland's neighbor on Grace Street and can be seen in the episodes "Skip Day" and "Mama Drama".[34][35]

On March 13, 2013, McDonald appeared in a segment on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. McDonald, Fallon and Justin Timberlake sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in the round, with Fallon and Timberlake sporting McDonald's trademark white hair and emulating his distinct vocal style.[36]

References

  1. ↑ Profile of Michael McDonald by Stephen Thomas Erlewine; www.allmusic.com.
  2. ↑ "Michael McDonald Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Penhollow, Steve. "He's takin' it to the Embassy". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  4. 1 2 "Michael McDonald". Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Katy Lied - Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Royal Scam - Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Aja - Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Citizen Steel Dan - Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Gaucho - Credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Steely Dan website: Tour '06". Retrieved 16 August 2008.
  11. ↑ "Michael McDonald: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "World Gone Crazy Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  13. ↑ Giles, Jeff. "Top 15 Michael McDonald Songs". Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "– Grammy winners". Grammy.com. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  15. ↑ McKeough, Kevin (12 September 2010). "Fagan, McDonald and Scaggs roast a collection of rock and soul chestnuts". Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  16. ↑ Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World (CD insert). The Warren Brothers. BNA Records. 1998. 67678.
  17. ↑ "Motown Two - Michael McDonald". AllMusic.
  18. ↑ "Michael McDonald interview by Pete Lewis, ''Blues & Soul'', April 2008". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  19. ↑ St. Louis Walk of Fame – Michael McDonald. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  20. ↑ Independent Music Awards – 6th Annual Judges
  21. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/x-mw0000572007
  22. ↑ "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters. March 27, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Michael McDonald Sings on New Grizzly Bear Single". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  24. ↑ "Santa Barbara Education Foundation". Sbefoundation.org. Archived from the original on |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help). Retrieved 2010-04-12. |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)
  25. ↑ "'30 Rock' 'Kidney Now!' Song Inspires 'We Are The World' Nostalgia". MTV. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  26. ↑ "'Fiesta Bowl'".
  27. ↑ "'American Idol' Crowns A Winner: The Live Blog". MTV News.
  28. ↑ Bobby Allyn (2013-07-15). "Singer Michael McDonald reaches online music deal". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  29. ↑ "Tour Page". Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "PBS Bio". PBS. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  31. ↑ "SCTV 3 Gerry Todd and Michael McDonald". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  32. ↑ "Michael McDonald Hits Back at '40-Year-Old Virgin' Joke". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  33. ↑ "Family Guy Season 6 Episode 6: Padre de Familia". Fox Broadcasting Company. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  34. ↑ "The Cleveland Show Season 3 Episode 4: Skip Day". TV.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  35. ↑ "The Cleveland Show Season 3 Episode 21: Mama Drama". TV.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Justin Timberlake Spoofs Michael McDonald on 'Fallon' Former Doobie Brothers singer joins in on the fun". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
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