Michael McDonald (singer)

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A different person also named Michael McDonald is a co-founder of ATO Records.

Michael McDonald (born February 12, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American R&B/soul singer (sometimes described as a "blue-eyed soul" singer), known for his trademark husky baritone voice.

McDonald played in several local bands (such as Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, the Reebtoors, and The Guild) while attending McCluer High School in his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.

He was 'discovered' while playing with a group called Blue and consequently moved to Los Angeles in 1970. He first gained wide attention as an adjunct member of the group Steely Dan, providing back-up vocals - in particular his unique phrasing in "Peg" on Aja (1977) - and keyboards. Michael continued to do background vocals for Steely Dan up to their 1980 Gaucho release.

McDonald was recruited by The Doobie Brothers in April 1975 when lead singer Tommy Johnston became ill during a national tour. As a member of the Doobies, he recorded some of his most memorable songs, such as "Takin' It To The Streets," "Little Darling," "It Keeps You Runnin'" (used in the movie Forrest Gump),"Minute by Minute," and "What a Fool Believes" (which became a number one single in the U.S. and earned him a 1980 Grammy Award for Song of the Year).

After the Doobies' first farewell tour, McDonald continued with a very successful solo career. Among his hits are

• "I Keep Forgettin'", a duet with his sister Maureen, later sampled in 1994 by Warren G and in 2005 by Papoose.
• "Sweet Freedom", the theme to the 1986 MGM film Running Scared
• "Take It To Heart"
• "Yah Mo B There", a duet with James Ingram which won a 1985 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
• "On My Own", a 1986 duet with Patti Labelle which reached #1 on the US charts

McDonald has produced and/or appeared on albums recorded by many other artists, including his singer wife Amy Holland and Grammy winner Christopher Cross. He sang back up vocals for Bonnie Raitt's 1977 album, Sweet Forgiveness, on the songs "Gamblin Man", "Runaway", "Sweet Forgiveness", and "Two Lives." McDonald is also a co-founder of the small independent recording label Ramp Records, with studio designer Chris Pelonis and actor Jeff Bridges.

McDonald has reunited as a guest performer with the Doobies several times since their initial dissolution in 1982 (the 1996 double live album Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert features him on three of his classic tunes), but he continues his solo career with a series of tribute albums to the Motown sound. The best example of this is his 2003 Motown Records album Motown which earned McDonald two Grammy nominations. He also sang "Eyes of a Child" (written by Trey Parker), the ending credits song satirizing his career and songs, for the 1999 animated film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

In 2003, McDonald was featured in an ad campaign for MCI. A videotaped concert of the artist was used as a running joke in the 2005 film The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Beginning in 2005, an Internet-based comedy series of video shorts called "Yacht Rock" has fictionalized the smooth songwriting exploits of McDonald and frequent collaborator Kenny Loggins.

In 2003 McDonald received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

McDonald joined Steely Dan on tour during the summer of 2006.

[edit] External links

• Michael McDonald official web site
• St. Louis Walk of Fame
• Michael McDonald at the Internet Movie Database