Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (Michael H. McDonald) was born on February 12th, 1952 and is currently 74 years old. Michael McDonald was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Michael McDonald is a songwriter and singer best known for his work as a keyboardist and vocalist for the
Doobie Brothers rock band. He was a fixture on rock radio with his soulful and rich vocals on the
Doobie Brothers followed by a successful solo career working on film soundtracks and duets.
Growing up in Ferguson, Missouri, McDonald loved to listen to rhythm and blues, show tunes from Broadway, and British invasion music. It was while he was in high school that he formed
Mike and the Majestics, his first band. However, he got good with his keyboard ans singing skills performing at nightclubs in St. Louis.
In 1970, Michael moved to LA where he recorded a bunch of unsuccessful singles and demos before he became a keyboardist and vocalist backup for
Steely Dan in 1973. By 1974, he became a bonafide member of the
Steely Dan band and was instrumental in their success as he provided backup vocals to several songs in
Katy Lied their 1975 album.
In 1975, he was recommended by guitarist Jeff Baxter as a temporary replacement for Tom Johnstone the lead singer of the band who was ill at a critical time. He had such a good performance that the
Doobie Brothers convinced him to become a full-time member of the band where he performed for years.
Michael McDonald has won several Grammy awards with the
Doobie Brothers including Best Arrangement, record of the Year, and Song of the Year for the song
What a Fool Believes. He also won a Grammy for the song
Minute by Minute.
Michael McDonald published his memoir
What a Fool Believes in 2014. In this memoir, he tells the story of his music career and his life. He dropped out of high school in the 1970s to pursue a career as a professional musician and became a backing vocalist and rising session musician. He had a series of encounters that saw him go on a wild ride across the world and reach the heights of superstardom as a member of
Steely Dan and the
Doobie Brothers. He also chronicles his journey toward becoming a bestselling solo rhythm and blues artist.
Related Authors
Fans of Michael McDonald also enjoy these authors:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- Lisa Gardner, author of the Detective D.D. Warren Series.
- John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
- Caroline Kepnes, author of the You Series.
- Shari Lapena, author of: The Couple Next Door.
Michael McDonald: F.A.Q
When was Michael McDonald Born? How old is Michael McDonald?
Michael McDonald was born on February 12th, 1952. Michael McDonald is currently 74 years old.
Where was Michael McDonald Born?
Michael McDonald was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA and is American.
What was the first book Michael McDonald wrote?
The first book written by Michael McDonald was What a Fool Believes: A Memoir, published in 2024.
What was the most recent book Michael McDonald wrote?
His most recently released work was What a Fool Believes: A Memoir on May 21st, 2024.
Are there upcoming new books by Michael McDonald?
Michael McDonald does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
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How many books has Michael McDonald written?
Michael McDonald has written 1 book. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.