Michael McDonald is a true believer. You can hear it in his passionate vocals and soulful songwriting. Amid the changing fashions of the past three decades, he's kept faithful to his R&B/rock roots. Over the years he's brought his own personal touches to the sounds he loves. But oldschool musical values remain his guiding star.
     Born in St. Louis, Missouri, McDonald played in a series of local bands during his teenaged days. After releasing a number of singles via RCA and Bell, he gained notice as a touring vocalist/keyboardist with Steely Dan in 1974. From there he was invited by old friend Jeff "Skunk" Baxter to fill in on a 1975 Doobie Brothers tour. This led to a full-time partnership when McDonald was asked to sing on and contribute songs to the band's next album.
     McDonald's "Takin' It To The Streets" became the title track for the Doobies' 1976 LP. Its lyric was inspired by a college term paper written by Michael's sister, Maureen. "She was talking about inner-city problems and the state of the economy," he says. "We had grown up in that environment-it seemed like real good subject matter for a song." Also on the album was "It Keeps You Runnin'," an early example of McDonald's use of polyrhythms: "To me, all of those things revolved around a gospel core....But I think the idea for that song came out of my Marvin Gaye fetish at the time."
     Takin' It To The Streets was a notable success, leading Michael to remain with The Doobie Brothers for 1977's Livin' On The Fault Line. Among the latter's highlights was "You Belong To Me," written by McDonald and Carly Simon. "We wrote the song without speaking a word to each other," he recalls. "I sent her the track, and she sent me back a great lyric. About a year and a half later, she cut it herself and had a Top 10 record with it."
     Next came Minute By Minute (1978), best known for its #1 single, "What A Fool Believes," an ode to romantic self-delusion that McDonald cowrote with Kenny Loggins. Perfecting the song's  rhythm track took some doing. Michael says: "We almost gave up-we got up to Take 32 or something, and it was getting ridiculous. Then Ted [Templeman, the Doobies' producer] pulled two tapes out of a huge pile and spliced them together, and that was the take we used." "What A Fool Believes" went on to earn Grammy awards for Record and Song of the Year. Minute By Minute's title song (cowritten by McDonald with Lester Abrams) also became its Top 5 single.
     Despite their huge popularity, the Doobies nearly broke up in 1980. After a lineup shift, the group released One Step Closer later that year. "Real Love," a fervent number written by Michael with Patrick Henderson, became its Top 5 single.
     In 1982 the Doobies finally disbanded. McDonald began his Warner Bros. solo career later that year with If That's What It Takes, produced by Ted Templeman and Lenny Waronker. The album quickly yielded a Top 5 hit with "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," a new spin on a classic Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller tune. "I Gotta Try," an upbeat R&B/pop effort by McDonald and Loggins, likewise made the Singles chart. Says Michael:""I Gotta Try' is about the importance of the social issues of our generation and trying to persevere with making a difference."
     In 1983 McDonald released a duet with James Ingram, "Yah Mo B There." The soaring single had an unmistakably spiritual theme. "The title was an original phrase on our part, thought I'd have to give James most of the credit," says Michael. "We wanted the message to be strong, but we felt certain words would be too overwhelming to the mainstream audience. James said that the original name for God in Hebrew is Yahweh, the Unnamable One. So we took it from there."
     No Lookin' Back-a homegrown project recorded in Michael's garage studio with vintage equipment-followed in 1985. "Lost In The Parade" and the title track are indicative of the record's raw-boned spirit:  "That album was a series of demos I'd cut and decide to keep-they were kind of rough around the edges but had a certain realness."
     McDonald returned to the top of the charts in 1986 with "On My Own," a bittersweet Burt Bacharach ballad sung with R&B diva Patti LaBelle. The two artists recorded their voices separately: "I sang to Patti's voice on tape, and I think I got the better end of the deal....She's such an awesome performer that I would've been a little apprehensive to go one-on-one with her in the studio." Later in '86 Michael was back in the Top 10 with "Sweet Freedom,"a Rod Temperton tune from the soundtrack to the film Running Scared.
     After taking a breather from recording, he released Take It To Heart in 1990. This eclectic LP delved into contemporary sounds courtesy of various producers, including the renowned Don Was. Heart's title tune was cowritten with hitmaker Diane Warren. "I played her a rough song idea, and we built it from there," says Michael. "It's one of my favorite things I've ever done."
     Blink Of An Eye (1993) veered away from synthesized sounds toward a more organic feel. The title track featured a tangy New Orleans-style groove-Michael says that "the song is talking to my kids, and mentions the sighs and sounds of my life and how you never know what's going to affect you."
"I Stand For You," a collaboration with old St. Louis friend Chuck Sabatino, matches a reggae beat with a positive message.
     Increasingly, McDonald felt compelled to return to basics. "During the '80s people would say to me, 'You gotta stop doing that rhythmic piano thing-you gotta be more simple, more techno,'" he recalls. "And I never really graduated to that. I tried to assimilate those things, and I found out that, at best, I'm not gonna be the guy who does this very well. I should stick to what I do best."
     Blue Obsession (2000) reflected this desire. Released by Ramp records, the album was written and recorded in Nashville, Michael's new home base. "I felt that I was back doing what I grew up doing-being in the company of really good players, as opposed to sitting around watching somebody work on a computer," he says. "Open The Door" (cowritten with album producer Tommy Sims) captured this mood. "When I listened back to this track, I thought, I'm speaking my own language again," says Michael. "No Love To Be Found"-a moody tune cowritten with guitarist Bernie Chiaravalle-has a similarly unvarnished sound.
     The time was right for McDonald to reconnect with his audience by embracing his roots. He did this brilliantly with Motown, his 2003 album for Universal. With British producer Simon Climie at the helm, Michael delivered inspired performances of the songs that helped shape hiw own music. His version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was typical: "It's a wonderful representative of Ashford and Simpson's song catalogue," says Michael. "What I love about Nick and Val's writing is that it's not far removed from classic gospel chord changes and inspirational lyrics. But it's still very much their own." Motown resonated with listeners, leading McDonald to release Motown Two in 2004.
     Michael continues to work within American musical traditions while adding his individual signature to anything he creates. Behind whatever he does, there's an authentic voice always present. He puts it this way: "People ask me, what do I write about? Once in a while, I try to be topical. But I don't deal with specifics-what's easiest for me to write about is human nature, the kind that never changes. With songs, the ones that speak to me are those that tell of simple human desires." It's McDonald's ability to express the universal message that's kept his music meaningful all these years.

- Barry Alfonso

Ain't No Mountain High Enough
(Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson)

Produced by Simon Climie
From the album Motown (6/03)
Also issued as Motown single #2114 (10/03); AC #5

Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, background vocals - Toby Baker: keyboards, drum programming • Tony Swain: Rhodes • Chris Rodriquez: electric guitar • Michael Thompson: guitars • Nathan East: bass • Ricky Lawson: drums • Ann McCrary, Tammy Taylor, Gale M. West: background vocals

(p) 2003 Universal Music International Ltd. under exclusive license to Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Courtesy of Motown Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
(Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From the Doobie Brothers album Minute By Minute (12/78)
Also issued as Warner bros. single #8725 (1/79); Pop #1, AC #22

Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards, synthesizer • Patrick Simmons: guitar, vocals • Jeffrey Baxter: guitar • Tiran Porter: bass, vocals • John Hartman: drums • Keith Knudsen: drums vocals
With/Bill Payne: additional synthesizer • Bobby LaKind: congas, vocals

(p) 1978 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
(Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Michael McDonald/Ed Sanford)

Produced by Ted Templeman & Lenny Waronker
From the album If That's What It Takes (8/82)
Also issued as Warner bros. single #29933 (7/82); Pop #4, R&B #7, AC #8

Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer • Greg Phillinganes: Clavinet • Steve Lukather: guitar • Louis Johnson: bass • Jeff Porcaro: drums • Maureen McDonald: background vocals

(p) 1982 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Yah Mo B There (Single Version) - with James Ingram
(James Ingram/Michael McDonald/Rod Temperton/Quincy Jones)

Produced by Quincy Jones
From the James Ingram album It's Your Night (10/83)
Qwest single (remix) #29394 (10/83); Pop #19, R&B #5, AC #10

Featuring/Michael McDonald & James Ingram: vocals, synthesizer • Michael Boddicker & Rod Temperton: synthesizer • John Robinson: drums • Paulinho Da Costa: percussion • Quincy Jones: African voices

(p) 1983 Qwest Records. Courtesy of Qwest Records, under license from Universal Music Enterprises

Takin' It To The Streets (Single Version) - The Doobie Brothers
(Michael McDonald)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From the Doobie Brothers album Takin' It To The Streets (3/76)
Warner Bros. single (edit) #8196 (3/17/76); Pop #13

Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards • Patrick Simmons: guitar, vocals • Jeffrey Baxter: guitar • Tiran Porter: bass, vocals • John Hartman: drums, percussion • Keith Knudsen: drums, vocals
With/Jesse Butler: organ • Bobby LaKind: congas

(p) 1976 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Sweet Freedom (Single Version)
(Rod Temperton)

Produced by Rod Temperton, Dick Rudolph & Bruce Swedien)
From the album Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack "Running Scared" [Various artists] (5/86)
MCA single [edit] #52857 (5/86); Pop #7, R&B #17, AC #4

Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals • Larry Williams: keyboards, synthesizer, horns • Anthony Patler, Greg Phillinganes, Danny Sembello & Rod Temperton: keyboards • Wells Christy: Synclavier • Paul Jackson JR. & Michael Thompson: guitar • Chuck Findley, Gary Grant & Jerry Hey: trumpet • William Reichenback: trombone • Dave Boruff & Kim Hutchcroft: sax, flute • Rod Temperton & Larry Williams: horn arrangement • Siedah Garrett: background vocals

(p) 1986 Geffen Records. Courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

Minute By Minute - The Doobie Brothers
(Michael McDonald/Lester Abrams)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From The Doobie Brothers album Minute By Minute (12/78)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards, synthesizer • Patrick Simmons: guitar, vocals • Jeffrey Baxter: guitar • Tiran Porter: bass, vocals • John Hartman: drums • Keith Knudsen: drums, vocals
With/Bill Payne: additional synthesizer • Bobby LaKind: congas, vocals

(p) 1978 Warner Bors. Records Inc.

On My Own - with Patti LaBelle
(Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager)

Produced by Burt Bacharah & Carole Bayer Sager
From the Patti LaBelle album Winner In You (5/86)
MCA single #52770 (3/86); Pop #1, R&B #1, AC #2
Featuring/Michael McDonald & Patti LaBelle: vocals • Burt Bacharach: acoustic piano • Greg Phillinganes: DX-7 • David Foster & Peter Wolf: synthesizer • Dann Huff: guitar • Neil Stubenhaus: bass • Carlos Vega: drums • Paulinho Da Costa: percussion • Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Barbara Ingram, Clydene Jackson, Julia Tillman Waters & Maxine Willard Waters: background vocals

(p) 1986 Geffen Records. Courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

You Belong To Me - The Doobie Brothers
(Michael McDonald/Carly Simon)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From the Doobie Brothers album Livin' On The Fault Line (8/77)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards • Patrick Simmons: guitar, vocals • Jeffrey Baxter: guitar • Tiran Porter: bass, vocals • John Hartman: drums, percussion • Keith Knudsen: drums, vocals
With/Bobby LaKind: congas • David Paich: string & horn arrangements • Rosemary Butler: vocals

(p) 1978 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Real Love
(Michael McDonald/Patrick Henderson)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From the Doobie Brothers album One Step Closer (9/80)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards, synthesizer • Patrick Simmons: vocals, guitar • John McFee: guitar, vocals • Tiran Porter: bass • Keith Knudsen: drums, vocals • Chet McCracken: drums, vibraphone, marimbas • Cornelius Bumpus: sax, vocals
With/Patrick Henderson: keyboards • Bobby LaKind: congas, bongos, vocals • Ted Templeman: tambourine, cowbell, maracas • Jimmie Haskell: string arrangement • Nicolette Larson: vocals

(p) 1980 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

I Stand For You
(Chuck Sabatino/Michael McDonald)

Produced by Russ Titelman & Michael McDonald
From the album Blink Of An Eye (8/93)
Also issued as Reprise single #18469 (7/93); AC #21
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards • Jeff Bova: Hammond organ •
David Frank: synth horns, horns arrangement • Bernie Chiaravalle, David Williams: guitar • Pino Palladino: bass • Jimmy Bralower: drum programming • Manu Katche: additional drums • Lee Thornberg: trumpet • Bruce Fowler: trombone • Brandon Fields: alto sax • Albert Wing: tenor sax • Jenni Muldaur,  Arnold McCuller, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Sir Harry Bowens, Mona Lisa Young & Clydene Edwards: background vocals

(p) 1993 Reprise Records

It Keeps You Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
(Michael McDonald)

Produced by Ted Templeman
From the Doobie Brothers album Takin' It To The Streets (3/76)
Also issued as Warner Bros. single #WBS-8282 (10-5-76); Pop #37
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards • Patrick Simmons: guitar, vocals • Jeffrey Baxter: guitar • Tiran Porter: bass, vocals • John Hartman: drums, percussion • Keith Knudsen: drums, vocals
With/Bobby LaKind: congas

(p) 1976 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Take It To Heart
(Diane Warren/Michael McDonald)

Produced by Don Was & Michael McDonald
From the album Take It To Heart (5/90)
Also issued as Reprise single #19828 (4/90); Pop #98, AC #4
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, synthesizer • Michael Hanna, Michael Mason, John Tesh & Don Was: synthesizer programming & sequencing • Bernie Chiaravalle: guitar, Coral sitar • George Perilli: drums • Paulinho Da Costa: percussion • Sweet Pea Atkinson, Sir Harry Bowens & David Lasley: background vocals • Paul Riser: string arrangement

(p) 1990 Reprise Records

No Love To Be Found
(Michael McDonald/Bernie Chiaravalle)

Produced by Tommy Sims
From the album Blue Obsession (2/00)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, synth Rhodes; rhythm & vocal arrangement • Wendy Moten: vocals, background vocals; vocal arrangement • Bill Livesy: B3 organ • Tommy Sims: rhythm guitar, bass, Clavinet; rhythm, horn & vocal arrangement • Bernie Chiaravalle: solo & rhythm guitar; rhythm arrangement • Dan Needham: drums • Mark Douthit, Doug Moffet, Dennis Solee: saxes • Tim Akers: horn Arrangement

(p) 2001 Ramp Records

I Gotta Try
(Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins)

Produced by Ted Templeman & Lenny Waronker
From the album If That's What It Takes (8/82)
Also issued as Warner Bros. single #29862 (10/82); Pop #44, AC #28
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, piano, synthesizer • Michael Boddicker: synthesizer • Greg Phillinganes: Fender Rhodes • Steve Lukather: guitar • Willie Weeks: bass • Steve Gadd: drums • Paulinho Da Costa & Ted Templeman: percussion • Kenny Loggins: background vocals

(p) 1982 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

No Lookin' Back
(Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins/Ed Sanford)

Produced by Michael McDonald & Ted Templeman
From the album No Lookin' Back (8/85)
Also issued as Warner Bros. single #28960 (7/85); Pop #34, AC #18
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, keyboards • David Pack: guitar • Willie Weeks: bass • Jeff Porcaro: drums • George Perilli: tom (drum) solo

(p) 1985 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Blink Of An Eye
(George Perilli/Michael McDonald)

Produced by Russ Titelman & Michael McDonald
From the album Blink Of An Eye (8/93)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, Wurlitzer piano • Benmont Tench: Hammond organ • Jeff Bova: clavinet, synth bass • David Frank: synth horns, horn arrangement • Warren Haynes: guitar solo • Robben Ford & Randy Jacobs: rhythm guitar • Pino Palladino: bass • Manu Katche, George Perilli & John Robinson: drums • Jimmy Bralower: drum programming • Lee Thornberg: trumpet • Brandon Fields: alto sax • Albert Wing: tenor sax

(p) 1993 Reprise Records

Open The Door (Urban Remix)
(Michael McDonald/Tommy Sims)

Produced by Tommy Sims
From the album Blue Obsession (2/00)
Featuring/Michael McDonald: Wurlitzer • Marc Harris: B3 organ • Tommy Sims: Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, guitar, bass; rhythm & horn arrangement • Dan Needham: drums • Tom Roady: percussion • Mark Douthit, Doug Moffet, Dennis Solee: saxes • Amy Holland (McDonald): background vocals • Tim Akers: horn arrangement

(p) 2001 Ramp Records

Lost In The Parade
(Michael McDonald/Grady Walker)

Produced by Michael McDonald & Ted Templeman
From the album No Lookin' Back (8/85)
Also issued as Warner Bros. single #28847 (10/85); AC #40
Featuring/Michael McDonald: vocals, synthesizer • Brian Mann: synthesizer • Robben Ford: guitar • Willie Weeks: bass • Jeff Porcaro: drums • Staff Fieldhouse: Simmons drums

(p) 1985 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Compilation produced by Michael McDonald

Representation:
Ken Levitan
Joel Hoffner
Vector Management
P.O. Box 120479
Nashville, TN 37212
vectormgmt@earthlink.net

www.michaelmcdonald.com

R2 73167 • 2005 Warner Bros. Records Inc. & Warner Strategic Marketing Inc., a Warner Music Group Company