Michael McDonald (singer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The introduction of this article is too short. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, it should be expanded. Please discuss this on the talk page and read the lead section guide to ensure it summarizes the article. |
| Michael McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 12 1952 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Rock Pop R&B Adult contemporary Blue-eyed soul |
| Instrument(s) | Singer (voice) PianoKeyboardist |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Associated acts | Steely Dan The Doobie Brothers |
| Website | http://michaelmcdonald.com |
- 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 smooth, husky tenor and countertenor voice. He is perhaps best known for his work as a member of the Doobie Brothers, and for several hits as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
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 on tracks for 1975's Katy Lied. He would return on subsequent albums including 1976's The Royal Scam and have his unique phrasing in "Peg" on the 1977 album Aja. His talent on the keyboards was also showcased during this time. Michael continued to do background vocals for Steely Dan up to their 1980 Gaucho release. He also was a member of the original Steely Dan touring band playing keyboards/piano and singing backup in the short time they toured in the early '70s.
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 Heard It Through the Grapevine", a cover song that still garners heavy radio rotation today
- "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", a duet with his sister Maureen, later sampled in 1994 by Warren G and Nate Dogg in the hugely popular "Regulate". In 2001, Jadakiss made " Kiss Is Spittin'", which sampled the song, and also coincidentally features Nate Dogg on the chorus.
- "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 U.S. 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 for the first time since 1974 in a live setting, opening their concerts with his own set, and then joining them for the latter half of the Steely Dan set in true historic manner.
In late 2007, McDonald was featured in the Family Guy episode Padre de Familia when Peter Griffin hires him to sing backup accompaniment to his conversations.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1982 If That's What It Takes #6 US (Gold)
- 1985 No Lookin' Back #45 US
- 1990 Take It to Heart #110 US
- 1993 Blink of an Eye
- 1997 Blue Obsession
- 2001 In the Spirit: A Christmas Album
- 2003 Motown #14 US (Platinum)
- 2004 Motown Two #9 US (Gold)
- 2005 Through the Many Winters (Gold)
- 2005 The Ultimate Collection
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. AC | U.K. | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" | 4 | - | 8 | 43 | If That's What It Takes |
| 1982 | "I Gotta Try" | 44 | - | 28 | - | If That's What It Takes |
| 1983 | "Yah Mo B There" with James Ingram | 19 | 5 | 10 | 12 | It's Your Night |
| 1985 | "No Lookin' Back" | 34 | - | 18 | - | No Lookin' Back |
| 1986 | "On My Own" (w/ Patti Labelle) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Winner In You |
| 1986 | "Sweet Freedom" | 7 | 17 | 4 | 12 | Running Scared soundtrack |
| 1990 | "Take It To Heart" | 98 | - | 4 | - | Take It To Heart |
| 1990 | "Tear It Up" | - | - | 27 | - | Take It To Heart |
| 1991 | "All We Got" | - | 88 | - | - | Take It To Heart |
| 1993 | "I Stand For You" | - | - | 21 | - | Blink Of An Eye |
| 1998 | "One Heart at a Time" (w/ Garth Brooks, Billy Dean, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton-John, Neal McCoy, Victoria Shaw, and Bryan White)A | 56 | - | - | - | single only |
| 2003 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | - | - | 20 | - | Motown |
| 2004 | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | - | - | 5 | - | Motown |
| 2004 | "Reach Out, I'll Be There" | - | - | 12 | - | Motown Two |
A"One Heart at a Time" was a promotional single that also peaked at #69 on U. S. Country.
[edit] Band members
SCTV did a skit parodying his collaboration with Christopher Cross in the early '80s.
[edit] External links
- Michael McDonald official web site
- Official MySpace site
- St. Louis Walk of Fame
- Michael McDonald at the Internet Movie Database
| Steely Dan |
|---|
|
Walter Becker • Donald Fagen |
| Discography |
|
Studio albums: Can't Buy a Thrill • Countdown to Ecstasy • Pretzel Logic • Katy Lied • The Royal Scam • Aja • Gaucho • Two Against Nature • Everything Must Go |
es:Michael McDonald fr:Michael McDonald (chanteur) it:Michael McDonald nl:Michael McDonald ja:マイケル・マクドナルド (ミュージシャン) pt:Michael McDonald
Categories: Wikipedia introduction cleanup | All pages needing cleanup | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since November 2007 | 1952 births | American male singers | American baritones | American rhythm and blues singers | Grammy Award winners | Living people | Motown artists | Soul musicians | Yacht rock musicians | People from St. Louis, Missouri | Missouri musicians | People from St. Louis County, Missouri | Steely Dan members | The Doobie Brothers members
