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Michael McDonald (musician)

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Michael McDonald (musician)

Michael H. McDonald (born February 12, 1952) is an American singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Known for his distinctive, soulful voice, he was a backing vocalist for Steely Dan from 1973 to 1980 and the lead vocalist of the Doobie Brothers across various stints (1975–1982, 1987, 2019–present). McDonald wrote and sang several hit singles with the Doobie Brothers, including "What a Fool Believes", "Minute by Minute", "Takin' It to the Streets", "Real Love" and "It Keeps You Runnin'". McDonald has also performed as a prominent backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists including Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins. McDonald's solo career consists of nine studio albums and a number of singles, including the 1982 hit "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)". During his career, McDonald has collaborated with a number of other artists, including James Ingram, David Cassidy, Van Halen, Patti LaBelle, Twinkie Clark, Lee Ritenour, the Winans, Aretha Franklin, Grizzly Bear, Joni Mitchell, and Thundercat. He has also recorded for television and film soundtracks. McDonald is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Doobie Brothers in 2020.

Infobox

Born
Michael H. McDonald (1952-02-12) February 12, 1952 (age 73)St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Genres
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Occupations
Musiciansingersongwriterrecord producer
Instruments
Vocalskeyboards
Years active
1973–present
Labels
Warner Bros.RepriseRampUniversalMotown
Member of
The Doobie Brothers
Formerly of
Steely Danthe New York Rock and Soul Revuethe Dukes of September
Spouse
mw- Amy Holland (m. 1983)
Website
michaelmcdonald.com

Tables

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

References

  1. "Michael McDonald, Silken-Voiced Yacht-Rock Icon, Talks About Writing His Life Story with Paul Reiser (Yes, That Paul Reiser)"
    https://www.gq.com/story/yacht-rock-icon-michael-mcdonald
  2. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-mcdonald-is-back-with-wide-open/
  3. "Michael McDonald Spills About Working with Grizzly Bear"
    http://pitchfork.com/news/36374-michael-mcdonald-spills-about-working-with-grizzly-bear/
  4. "Michael McDonald Credits"
    http://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-mcdonald-mn0000459616/credits
  5. grammy.com
    https://www.grammy.com/artists/michael-mcdonald/10678
  6. "The Doobie Brothers"
    https://www.rockhall.com/doobie-brothers
  7. "From Missouri to Motown: Michael McDonald discusses his life in music"
    https://www.statesman.com/news/20140407/from-missouri-to-motown-michael-mcdonald-discusses-his-life-in-music
  8. "Michael McDonald – Missouri Legends"
    https://missourilegen.ds.com/artists/arts-and-entertainment/michael-mcdonald/
  9. Call and Post
    https://www.proquest.com/docview/184526216
  10. Flans, Robyn (September 2, 2016). "Michael McDonald takes Westlake stage; Five-time Grammy winner to perform at Blue Sun
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/778888360/?clipping_id=115842566
  11. Sutherland, Sam (January 1981). "Michael McDonald". Musician. p. 50. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
    https://archive.org/details/sim_musician_1981-01_29/page/50/mode/2up?q=%22rick+jarrard%22+%22michael+McDonald%22
  12. "New Radio Action and Billboard Pick Singles: Pop". Billboard. May 20, 1972. p. 58. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=6icEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=%22mike+mcDonald%22+%22good+old+time+love+song%22
  13. Quinn, Anthony (May 2024). "What a Fool Believes by Michael McDonald review". The Guardian. Retrieved September 17, 2025
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/may/26/what-a-fool-believes-by-michael-mcdonald-review-steely-dan-doobie-brothers
  14. AllMusic.com
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/katy-lied-mw0000239621/credits
  15. AllMusic.com
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-royal-scam-mw0000195860/credits
  16. AllMusic.com
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/aja-mw0000191964/credits
  17. AllMusic.com
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/citizen-steely-dan-mw0000622056/credits
  18. faroutmagazine.co.uk
    https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/steely-dan-song-that-defeated-michael-mcdonald/
  19. AllMusic.com
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/gaucho-mw0000321832/credits
  20. "Steely Dan website: Tour '06"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080617213529/http://www.steelydan.com/tour06.html
  21. faroutmagazine.co.uk
    https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-doobie-brothers-tom-johnston-on-being-replaced-by-michael-mcdonald/
  22. "Michael McDonald: Credits"
    http://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-mcdonald-mn0000459616/credits
  23. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1951702
  24. "Top 15 Michael McDonald Songs"
    http://ultimateclassicrock.com/michael-mcdonald-songs
  25. "– Grammy winners"
    http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=Michael%20McDonald&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1
  26. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-17-ca-16307-story.html
  27. Chicago Tribune
  28. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/09/12/fagan-mcdonald-and-scaggs-roast-a-collection-of-rock-and-soul-chestnuts/
  29. Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World
  30. AllMusic
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/motown-two-mw0000142327
  31. Stlouiswalkoffame.org
    https://stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductee/michael-mcdonald/
  32. "Independent Music Awards – 6th Annual Judges"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20091005194007/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2007.asp
  33. AllMusic
    http://www.allmusic.com/album/x-mw0000572007
  34. Blues & Soul
    http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/262/michael_mcdonald_speaks_from_the_soul/
  35. "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day""
    https://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE52Q6WQ20090327
  36. "Michael McDonald Sings on New Grizzly Bear Single"
    http://pitchfork.com/news/35952-michael-mcdonald-sings-on-new-grizzly-bear-single
  37. "Santa Barbara Education Foundation"
    http://sbefoundation.org/mcdonald/tickets.html/
  38. "'30 Rock' 'Kidney Now!' Song Inspires 'We Are The World' Nostalgia"
    https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20091029004959/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/05/15/30-rock-kidney-now-song-inspires-we-are-the-world-nostalgia/
  39. Zimbio
    http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ucyLzMGBmpX/Tostitos+Fiesta+Bowl+TCU+v+Boise+State
  40. MTV News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151224133147/http://www.mtv.com/news/2578686/american-idol-winner-live-blog/
  41. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/15/doobie-brothers-royalty-deal/2517475/
  42. "Tour Page"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234253/http://www.michaelmcdonald.com/michaelMcDonaldTourPage.html
  43. Pitchfork.com
    https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18710-thundercat-show-you-the-way-ft-michael-mcdonald-kenny-loggins/
  44. Billboard.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210917092219/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7824496/tonigh-show-thundercat-show-you-the-way-kenny-loggins-michael-mcdonald
  45. American Songwriter
    https://americansongwriter.com/toad-the-wet-sprocket-are-one-again-starting-now/
  46. billboard.com
    https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lalah-hathaway-talks-new-album-vantablack-tour-1235710827/
  47. "PBS Bio"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110109062437/https://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/mmcdonald2/bio.htm
  48. JazzTimes.com
    https://jazztimes.com/news/berklee-to-present-honorary-doctorate-of-music-degrees/
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