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Biography
Other people|Michael McDonaldMultiple issues| refimprove=April 2008| intro-tooshort=July 2008Infobox musical artist | name = Michael McDonald| image = Michael McDonald (singer).jpg| caption =| image_size =| alt = Man with silver shoulder-length hair and goatee in white v-neck top.| background = solo_singer| birth_date = birth date and age|1952|02|12| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri , United States| instrument = Singer|Vocals , piano , Keyboard instrument|keyboards , guitar | genre = Soft rock , blue-eyed soul | occupation = Singer , songwriter | years_active = 1971–present| label = Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , Reprise Records|Reprise , Ramp Records|Ramp | associated_acts = Steely Dan , The Doobie Brothers | website = URL| http://www.michaelmcdonald.com Michael McDonald (born February 12, 1952) is a five-time Grammy Award winning United States|American singer and songwriter . McDonald is known for a soulful tenor cite news|last=Woodard|first=Josef|title=McDonald Still Has the Voice--and the Heart|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1996-03-14/entertainment/ca-46865_1_michael-mcdonald|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 14, 1996 singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan . He became a member of the Doobie Brothers from 1976 to 1981, a period which resulted in several hit songs for the band.
Early years
Born in St. Louis, Missouri , McDonald played in several local bands (such as Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, the Reeb-Toors, the Del Rays and The Guild) while attending McCluer High School in his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri , now a city of some 25,000 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. McDonald was discovered while playing with a group called Blue and consequently moved to Los Angeles in 1970.
Steely Dan
Michael McDonald became one of the many in-studio adjunct members of the group Steely Dan , providing back-up vocals on tracks for 1975's Katy Lied . He would return on subsequent Steely Dan recordings including 1976's The Royal Scam and 1977's Aja (album)|Aja . He also played keyboards on some Steely Dan tracks. McDonald continued to do background vocals for Steely Dan through their 1980 release, Gaucho (album)|Gaucho . He was part of Steely Dan's last touring band in the 1970s, playing keyboards and singing backup.
Doobie Brothers
McDonald was recruited by the band The Doobie Brothers in April 1975 when lead singer Tom Johnston (musician)|Tom Johnston became ill during a national tour. His time with the band proved so successful that they decided to retain him as a full time member.
As a member of the Doobie Brothers he recorded some of his best-known songs such as "Real Love", "Takin' It to the Streets", "Little Darling", "It Keeps You Runnin'", " 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 along with co-writer Kenny Loggins ). At the same time he appeared as a session singer and piano player for artists such as Christopher Cross , Stephen Bishop , Jack Jones (singer)|Jack Jones , Bonnie Raitt , the rock band Toto (band)|Toto and Kenny Loggins .
Solo career
Listen|filename = Kenny Loggins - This Is It.ogg |title = This Is It |description = " This Is It (Kenny Loggins song)|This Is It ", written and sung with Kenny Loggins . After the Doobies' first farewell tour, McDonald compiled some of his earlier songs in the 1982 release That Was Then: The Early Years which has never been issued on CD. His first solo album, '' If That's What It Takes (Michael McDonald album)|If That's What It Takes ,'' also released in 1982, featured the hits " 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 recorded it as well.
McDonald co-wrote Van Halen 's Top 20 hit " I'll Wait ", from their landmark 1984 (Van Halen album)|1984 album. McDonald co-wrote " You Belong to Me (The Doobie Brothers song)|You Belong to Me " with Carly Simon .
" Yah Mo B There ", a duet with James Ingram , won the Grammy Awards of 1985|1985 Grammy for Grammy Award for Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals .cite web|url= http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx? title=& winner=Michael%20McDonald& year=0& genreID=0& hp=1 |title=– Grammy winners |publisher=Grammy.com |date=2009-02-08 |accessdate=2010-04-12 He followed that up with " On My Own (Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald song)|On My Own ", a duet with Patti LaBelle , which reached #1 on the U.S. charts in 1986. Also in 1987 McDonald did a featured collaboration with American gospel group The Winans from their Decisions album: "Love has no color". That same year he performed the single "Sweet Freedom" that appeared on that summer's hit movie Running Scared (1986 film)|Running Scared soundtrack.
McDonald's 1990 album Take It to Heart featured a minor hit with the title song, co-written with Diane Warren . The 1991 in music|following year he joined the New York Rock and Soul Revue , put together by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen . 1991's "Ever Changing Times" with Aretha Franklin , a duet on Arista Records , had moderate success and radio play (peaking at #19 on US R& B charts). In 2003, he earned two Grammy nominations for his album Motown (Michael McDonald album)|Motown , a tribute to the Motown Records|Motown sound .
In 2008 McDonald released his SoulSpeak album which (in addition to including three new songs penned by McDonald) featured his interpretations of 11 carefully selected soul-inspired songs. Ranging from universal evergreens like Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" and Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City" to lesser-known numbers like Van Morrison's atmospheric "Into The Mystic" and the late 60s Chicago soul of Tyrone Davis' "Baby Can I Change My Mind".cite web|url= http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/262/michael_mcdonald_speaks_from_the_soul/ |title=Michael McDonald interview by Pete Lewis, '& #39;Blues & Soul'& #39;, April 2008 |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-22
McDonald has reunited as a guest performer with the Doobies several times since their initial dissolution in 1982 and joined Steely Dan on their 2006 summer tour, both as the opening act and as part of the band. http://steelydan.com/tour06.html Steely Dan website: Tour '06. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
2000–present
In 2000, McDonald, along with partners Chris Pelonis and actor Jeff Bridges , founded the independent recording label Ramp Records . http://www.ramprecords.com/flash/RampSite.swf Ramp Records – homepage. Retrieved 2008-08-16. In 2003, McDonald received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame . http://stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/michael-mcdonald.html St. Louis Walk of Fame – Michael McDonald. Retrieved 2008-08-16. McDonald recorded a duet with Ray Charles on Charles' 2004 Genius Loves Company . In 2007, McDonald helped judge the 6th annual The Independent Music Awards|Independent Music Awards . http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2007.asp Independent Music Awards – 6th Annual Judges The following year, in 2008, McDonald performed " America the Beautiful " at the 2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado|Denver , Colorado .
In 2009, McDonald, along with the West Angeles Church of God in Christ|West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir, released the song “Storm Before the Calm” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration|Oh Happy Day .cite web|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE52Q6WQ20090327|title=Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"|date=March 27, 2009|publisher=Reuters McDonald also contributed an alternate lead vocal track for " While You Wait for the Others ", a single by the indie rock band Grizzly Bear (band)|Grizzly Bear , which released as a 7" single.cite web|url= http://pitchfork.com/news/35952-michael-mcdonald-sings-on-new-grizzly-bear-single |title=Michael McDonald Sings on New Grizzly Bear Single |publisher=Pitchfork |date= |accessdate=2010-04-12
In December 2009, McDonald donated his performance to Keep the Beat in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he played to a maximum capacity crowd at the newly renovated Granada Theater. Harry Rabin, producer & head of Keep the Beat, an initiative of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, produced the show, including two Video productions and worked with student chorale groups from Primary and secondary schools as well as a brass section so they could perform in the show with Michael and his band. http://sbefoundation.org/mcdonald/tickets.html/ dead link|date=April 2010 cite web|url= http://sbefoundation.org/ |title=Santa Barbara Education Foundation |publisher=Sbefoundation.org |date= |accessdate=2010-04-12 On hand for the performance were Dave Mason , Kenny Loggins , Jackson Browne , David Crosby , members of the band Venice (band)|Venice and the event was hosted by Harry Rabin and emceed by Jay Thomas.
In 2009, Michael McDonald appeared on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock as one of the benefit singers in the season finale episode " Kidney Now! ".cite web|url= http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/05/15/30-rock-kidney-now-song-inspires-we-are-the-world-nostalgia/ |title=‘30 Rock’ ‘Kidney Now!’ Song Inspires ‘We Are The World’ Nostalgia » MTV Newsroom |publisher=Newsroom.mtv.com |date=2009-05-15 |accessdate=2010-04-12
Singer Michael McDonald performs the national anthem before the 2010 Fiesta Bowl|Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between the 2009 Boise State Broncos football team|Boise State Broncos and 2009 TCU Horned Frogs football team|TCU Horned Frogs at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona .cite web|url= http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ucyLzMGBmpX/Tostitos+Fiesta+Bowl+TCU+v+Boise+State/TlbahG-THSH/Michael+McDonald | title='Fiesta Bowl'
Michael McDonald sang "Takin' It to the Streets" on the final episode of American Idol , season nine, in 2010.
In 2010, Michael McDonald released 'The Voice of Michael McDonald', a compilation of The Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald hits, and duets with various artists. The album includes yet another re-recording of Arron Neville's 1966 song 'Tell It Like It Is', done in the style of Michael McDonald.
Michael also sang the United States National Anthem at game one of the 2011 NBA Finals .
Recently Michael McDonald has contributed backing vocals for the indie electronic band Holy Ghost! self titled album on their song "Some Children."
Personal life
McDonald has been married to singer Amy Holland since 1983. They have two children: a son named Dylan (after Bob) and a daughter named Scarlet (after Mike's mother).Citation needed|date=December 2011
Awards
Grammys
1979: Record of the Year for "What a Fool Believes" (The Doobie Brothers)
1979: Song of the Year for "What a Fool Believes" (with Kenny Loggins )
1979: Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "Minute by Minute" (The Doobie Brothers)
1979: Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals for "What a Fool Believes" (The Doobie Brothers)
1984: Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Yah Mo B There" (with James Ingram )
In popular culture|date=January 2012A fictionalized version of McDonald (portrayed by actor JD Ryznar ), and other popular singers and band members of the 1970s and 1980s appeared in the online Channel 101 video series Yacht Rock , a parody of the "smooth music" of the period. The fictionalized McDonald and songwriting partner Kenny Loggins were at the center of nearly all the episodes.Citation needed|date=August 2011 McDonald was parodied in a Second City Television skit in the early 1980s, where he is portrayed by Rick Moranis and is seen driving at speed through the streets in order to reach a recording studio to record his part as a back up singer for the Christopher Cross track " Ride Like the Wind ". McDonald was in high demand as a backing vocal artist at the time, and would travel from studio to studio completing these requests.cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=HDojwQ8cJC4 |title=SCTV 3 Gerry Todd and Michael McDonald |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2011-10-22
McDonald and his Soundstage (TV series)|Soundstage concert were referenced numerous times in the movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin , where the electronics store manager insists on incessantly playing McDonald's DVD concert in store.
In the Family Guy episode Padre de Familia , McDonald is shown being hired to briefly perform backing vocals for everything Peter and other characters are saying.
In a sketch on Late Night With Conan O'Brien , McDonald is parodied as a camp counselor who sings to children rather than talking to them.
In an episodeWhich? |date=January 2012 of The Cleveland Show , his voice is impersonated adding a vocal from his driveway to a song. He is identified by the name "McDonald" on his mailbox.
References
reflist|2
External links
http://michaelmcdonald.com/ Michael McDonald official web site
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmcdonald Official MySpace site
http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/michael-mcdonald.html St. Louis Walk of Fame
IMDb name| id=0567909 | name=Michael McDonald
http://pitchfork.com/news/35952-michael-mcdonald-sings-on-new-grizzly-bear-single Michael McDonald Sings on New Grizzly Bear Single
http://www.yachtrock.com/ Yacht Rock official site
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=d0lKVFcTZoA Ween song "Boys Club"
http://www.insidemusicast.com/musicasts/2011/6/20/michael-mcdonald.html June 20, 2011 Inside MusiCast interview
Steely DanThe Doobie BrothersGrammy Award for Song of the Year 1980sGrammy Award for Record of the Year 1980s Persondata | NAME =Macdonald, Michael | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =1952-02-12 | PLACE OF BIRTH = St. Louis, Missouri , U.S. | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, Michael Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:People from St. Louis, Missouri Category:American male singers Category:American baritones Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American soft rock musicians Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Motown artists Category:Musicians from Missouri Category:Steely Dan members Category:The Doobie Brothers members Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:Musicians from St. Louis, Missouri Category:American soul singers
