McDonald, born and raised in St. Louis, not only grew up on Motown music, he went on to incorporate his vocal passion of the music with his love of rock n' roll into a stellar Grammy winning career that has expanded over thirty years. As a keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist, McDonald started out in local combos throughout St. Louis, singing Motown tunes in clubs. He soon moved to California where in 1972 he worked with Steely Dan for years before joining the Doobie Brothers in 1976. With his voice and songwriting style, he helped transform the Doobie Brothers into a more soulful rock group with hit songs like "What A Fool Believes," "Real Love,""You Belong To Me," "It Keeps You Runnin'," and "Little Darling (I Need You)," among countless others.
McDonald quickly became one of most distinctive and popular singer-songwriters to emerge from the 70's rock scene and began his successful multi-platinum solo career after the Doobie Brothers disbanded in 1982. He has since released eight albums with singles that have reached Top 10 on the Billboard R&B and Pop Charts. He has written songs with Kenny Loggins "This Is It" and Carly Simon ("You Belong To Me") as well as written for Patti Austin, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Anita Baker, Paul Carrack , Stanley Clarke and more while performing duets with Patti, James Ingram and others. He and Ingram had a Top 10 R&B hit with their duet "Yah Mo B There" in 1983. Motown is nothing less than McDonald's passionate emotional nod towards the record collection that started him down the road to his stellar career. "Motown music was something I always gravitated to as a kid. Diana & Marvin albums and Marvin Gaye's Super Hits were records I played thousands of times," says McDonald. "Music of My Mind," "Talking Books" they were albums that were albums that were always on my turntable, so of course this record was a joy for me."
McDonald's 1990 album Take It To Heart featured a minor hit with the title song, co-written with Diane Warren. The following year he joined the New York Rock and Soul Revue, put together by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen. In 2003, he earned two Grammy nominations for his album Motown, a tribute to the Motown sound. In 2000, McDonald, along with partners Chris Pelonis and actor Jeff Bridges, founded the independent recording label Ramp
Records. In 2003, McDonald received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. 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. In 2008, McDonald performed "America the Beautiful" at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado at Mile High Stadium.
Michael McDonald as a solo artist, have recorded 16 albums, including three on the Motown label featuring covers of soul classics. McDonald is currently on tour promoting his latest recording "Soul Speak," with such hits as "Into the Mystic" and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," along with 12 other tracks.
McDonald, born and raised in St. Louis, not only grew up on Motown music, he went on to incorporate his vocal passion of the music with his love of rock n' roll into a stellar Grammy winning career that has expanded over thirty years. As a keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist, McDonald started out in local combos throughout St. Louis, singing Motown tunes in clubs. He soon moved to California where in 1972 he worked with Steely Dan for years before joining the Doobie Brothers in 1976. With his voice and songwriting style, he helped transform the Doobie Brothers into a more soulful rock group with hit songs like "What A Fool Believes," "Real Love,""You Belong To Me," "It Keeps You Runnin'," and "Little Darling (I Need You)," among countless others.