Biography

Oddly enough, when he and Patti LaBelle first recorded the Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager song "On My Own," neither artist had even met. LaBelle recorded her part of the song in Philadelphia while McDonald completed his part in Los Angeles. Even after filming a video for the song, both singers had still not met. Not until after the song went to number one on the charts in June 1986 did the two artists finally meet when they performed *together* for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).

At age 22 Michael was living in a Los Angeles garage when he got the call inviting him to join The Doobie Brothers.

Michael McDonald was a replacement keyboard player for The Doobie Brothers. He was so good, they invited him to tour and then to join the group. In 1979, he led them to the top, with the album "Minute by Minute" and the hit song "What a Fool Believes" (#1) (which he co-wrote with Kenny Loggins). That album eventually nabbed McDonald 4 Grammy Awards (for album, song, record and musical arrangement). The Doobies split in 1982 and McDonald went solo, scoring a #4 hit with "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and the #44-charting "I Gotta Try" (off the album If That's What It Takes). In 1983, he teamed up with James Ingram for "Ya Mo Be There" (#19), which won McDonald a fifth Grammy. He became the 1st white musician to win in an R&B category in 25 years. Although he would release several more albums, he wouldn't get any hits out of them. He scored hits in 1986 with "Sweet Freedom" (#7) and the Patti LaBelle duet "On My Own" (#1), but these songs were on other people's albums, not his. He has continued to make albums, scoring a cult hit with his deleted rendition of "Tell It Like It Is" (2002).

As the new member of The Doobie Brothers, he was responsible for the change in their style, changing from Tom Johnston's bluesy, funky rock into more of a jazzy R&B sound.

Nominated for 2 Grammys (2003) for his "Motown" tribute album.