Table of Biography
Michael McDonald is a popular singer, songwriter, and keyboardist from the United States. Moreover, Michael McDonald is known for his distinctive, soulful voice and as a member of the bands the Doobie Brothers (1975–1982, 1987, 2019–present) and Steely Dan (1973-1974).
Early Life
Michael McDonald was born on the 12th of February 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. According to his birth date, he is 71 years old and holds American nationality.
McDonald grew up in an Irish-American Catholic family. However, there is no other information regarding his early childhood days, parents, or siblings.
Education
Regarding his academic qualification, he studied at McCluer High School where he performed in his first band ‘Mike and the Majestic.’ He was also a member of the Reebtoors, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, and the Guild.
Moreover, he moved to Los Angeles in 1970 to pursue his music career.
Professional Career
Michael McDonald began by writing and singing songs for other artists’ albums. Steely Dan hired him as an in-studio member in 1974. He also contributed to Steely Dan’s albums as a keyboardist and background singer.
In April 1975, he also collaborated with the Doobie Brothers. This band initially requested him to stand in for its lead singer Tom Johnston, who was out due to illness at the time. However, the band members were so impressed with McDonald’s work that they requested him to join as a full-time member.
He was the band’s lead singer and songwriter, and he pushed it to new heights, generating major hits like “What a Fool Believes.” He also worked as a keyboardist and session vocalist on the songs and albums of his contemporaries, including Toto, Christopher Cross, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Jones, and Kenny Loggins.
After splitting from the Doobie Brothers in the early 1980s, he went on to create his debut solo album, ‘If That is What It Takes,’ in 1982. His collaboration with James Ingram on ‘Yah Mo B There’ reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1983.
Caption: Michael McDonald giving his performance (Source: Billboard)
In 1986, he recorded a duet with Patti LaBelle called “On My Own,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he contributed background vocals to Toto’s album ‘Fahrenheit.’
He collaborated with the gospel music quartet ‘The Winans’ on their album ‘Love Has No Color’ in 1987. A few years later, in 1990, he worked on his album ‘Take It to Heart,’ on which Diane Warren was also a songwriter.
In 1992, he formed the New York Rock & Soul Revue with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan.
Touring and Other works
He temporarily rejoined the Doobie Brothers for an expedition in 1995. Moreover, he toured with Stevie Nicks three years later. In 1999, he contributed backing vocals on the Warren Brothers’ album ‘Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World.’
He also provided vocals for one of three tracks on Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert that year. Michael McDonald co-founded the record label “Ramp Records” with Jeff Bridges and Chris Pelonis in 2000. In 2010, he went on tour with Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagan.
He has even performed with the electronic group Holy Ghost. He has also had appearances on the television shows American Idol and ’30 Rock.’ In 2010, he reformed The Dukes of September with Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs.
To promote their tour, the quintet appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in June 2012. He settled a $500,000 breach-of-contract suit (out of court) with Warner Music in 2013 regarding the underpayment of online sales royalties.
He co-headlined a U.S. tour with the rock band Toto in the summer of 2014. In 2017, he collaborated with Kenny Loggins on Thundercat’s tune “Show You the Way” which appeared on the latter’s album Drunk.
McDonald, Loggins, and Thundercat played the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June 2017. In 2018, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Barbra Streisand’s Walls song “What the World Needs Now.” He recently appeared on “The Best Of Me” from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s seventh studio album, Starting Now, in 2021.
Awards
In his musical career, he has earned a total of 5 awards and 8 nominations. Record of the Year (1979), Song of the Year (1979), Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus (1979), Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals (1979), Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1984) are some of the awards which he won.
Caption: Michael McDonald with his band member of Doobie Brothers (Source: Los Angeles Times)
Michael McDonald – Net Worth 2024
Being a singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, and working in the music industry for more than 4 decades, he has collected a huge sum of money in his career. As of 2022, McDonald has an estimated net worth of $50 million which he earned from his albums, songs, and concerts.
Relationship Status
Talking about his personal life, he married his wife Amy Holland in 1983. Professionally, his wife Am Holland is a pop-rock singer and songwriter. With the marriage, the couple has two children whose names are unknown.
Caption: Michael McDonald with his wife (Source: Facebook)
In the late 1990s, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, with his family, and has since settled in Nashville, Tennessee. However, this American singer and songwriter has not been a part of controversy or rumors and stays far from such things which may harm his professional career.
Body Measurements
This American singer stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 61 kg. Moreover, he has green eyes with white hair color and there is no other information regarding his other body measurements.
Michael McDonald – Social Media
On his Instagram page, there are more than 55k followers. Likewise, there are more than 497k followers on Facebook and more than 95.4k followers on Twitter. Moreover, he has a self-titled YouTube channel, there are more than 62k subscribers as of November 2022.