mcd

New Amy Holland song featuring Michael McDonald

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:02:11 GMT

Brand new single by Amy Holland featuring Michael McDonald is out now...

Legendary Rocker and His Wife Team Up on New Song for Woodstock Novel

A new novel set at Woodstock is getting its own original song—co-written and produced by a five-time Grammy winner.

A new novel set during the legendary Woodstock festival is getting a soundtrack of its own—courtesy of a five-time Grammy winner.

Lisa Patton’s upcoming book “Kissing the Sky” will be accompanied by an original song co-written and produced by Doobie Brothers member Michael McDonald , with vocals by his wife, Amy Holland .

The track, titled “If Not For You,” will be included in the audiobook edition of the novel.

“Kissing the Sky” transports readers back to the summer of 1969, when Woodstock became a defining cultural moment. The story follows Suzannah, a sheltered Southern college student whose conservative father condemns rock music and sends her brother off to the Vietnam War. When her free-spirited best friend invites her on a secret road trip to upstate New York for three days of peace and music, Suzannah makes a choice that changes her life.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Writers: Michael McDonald, Lisa Patton, Amy Holland

Producer: Michael McDonald

Re-Mix Engineer: Dom Camardella

12 String guitar, pedal steel guitar, baritone guitar: John McFee

Bass guitar: John Cowan

Drums: Ed Toth

Piano/Organ: Michael McDonald

Lead vocals: Amy Holland

Background vocals: Michael McDonald

GET IT HERE

Santana and The Doobie Brothers announce the Oneness Tour!

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:40:12 GMT

Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists Santana and The Doobie Brothers announce the Oneness Tour...

Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists Santana and The Doobie Brothers announce the Oneness Tour, bringing together two of classic rock’s most beloved and celebrated acts for a special run of dates across North America.

https://thedoobiebrothers.com/pages/tour

or visit Michael's Tour Section

Pre-sale runs from Tuesday, February 17 at 2pm local time through Thursday, February 19 at 10pm local time.

General on sale begins Friday, February 20 at 10am local time.

Michael to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:50:55 GMT

Michael to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame 2026...

Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum Announces 2026 Inductees: Dann Huff, Dolly Parton, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Boylan, Keith Urban, Leland Sklar, Michael McDonald and Nicky Hopkins

Musicians Hall Of Fame Concert and Induction Ceremony
To Take Place at The Fisher Center for Performing Arts,
April 28, 7:30 PM

Tickets on sale Tuesday, February 10 at 10:00 AM CT., HERE .

READ FULL ARTICLE

Inside MusiCast Interview: Michael McDonald talks about the renewal of the Doobies, and the new album, Walk This Road.

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:21:31 GMT

Inside MusiCast Interview: Michael McDonald talks about the renewal of the Doobies, and the new album, Walk This Road...

Michael McDonald talks about the renewal of the Doobies, and the new album, Walk This Road. For nearly 55 years, The Doobie Brothers have been creating music and touring the world with no signs of slowing down. And for the first time in the band’s history, the four current, principal members have recorded in-studio together for their upcoming album release titled, “Walk This Road”, which is set to be released on June 6. The album launch will also include an extensive tour of Europe and the States that begins in July. “Walk This Road” contains ten tracks and is a true band effort, and it includes the return of Michael McDonald alongside founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, as well as John McFee, and was produced by John Shanks. The new album contains a variety of musical styles, with great vocal harmonies and the incredible musicianship we’ve all come to expect from this Hall of Fame caliber band. Here to talk to us today about “Walk This Road”, and his reentry into the band, is our good friend and past guest, Michael McDonald.

Listen below or visit InsideMusicCast.com

The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald Q&A: On the Doobies’ New Album ‘Walk This Road,’ His Steely Dan Era and the Keys to “Living Successfully”

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:13:15 GMT

The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald Q&A: On the Doobies’ New Album ‘Walk This Road,’ His Steely Dan Era and the Keys to “Living Successfully”...

The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald Q&A: On the Doobies’ New Album ‘Walk This Road,’ His Steely Dan Era and the Keys to “Living Successfully”.

In celebration of the Doobies’ new album and upcoming tour, join us for an exclusive and extensive conversation with all four members of this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame institution — Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee.

To read Michael's article please click here .

ROCK CELLAR

Michael will be joining David Foster: The Hitman Cruise this January 15–20, 2026.

Thu, 01 May 2025 21:02:14 GMT

Michael will be joining David Foster: The Hitman Cruise this January 15–20, 2026...

I'm excited to announce that I'll be joining David Foster: The Hitman Cruise this January 15–20, 2026.
We'll be sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West and Nassau aboard the beautiful Celebrity Summit, with five nights of incredible performances and unforgettable memories at sea.

I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with so many talented artists — and most importantly, sharing this experience with all of you.
Pre-sail registration is open now at davidfostercruise.com. Hope to see you there.

Michael is honored to be joining the 9th annual #LoveRocksNYC benefiting @godslovenyc, on March 6th at @beacontheatre!

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:41:34 GMT

Michael is honored to be joining the 9th annual #LoveRocksNYC benefiting @godslovenyc , on March 6th at @beacontheatre !

Michael is honored to be joining the 9th annual #LoveRocksNYC benefiting @godslovenyc , on March 6th at @beacontheatre !    @godslovenyc is an organization that cooks and home-delivers FREE medically tailored meals for New Yorkers affected by severe and chronic illness. They just delivered their 40 *millionth* meal and have been nourishing New York since 1985! This year, #LoveRocksNYC will not only support God’s Love, but also their @fimcoalition peer organization @projectangelfood in Los Angeles as a response to the devastating wildfires in the area.

Pre-Sale tickets go on sale tomorrow, February 13th at 10am and tickets on sale to the public on Friday. Get the pre-sale code at this link: https://www.glwd.org/events/love-rocks-nyc-with-executive-producers-john-varvatos-greg-williamson-and-nicole-rechter/

Doobie Brothers Summer Tour Dates Announced!

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:54:08 GMT

Doobie Brothers Summer 2025 Tour Dates Announced!

See you this summer! Sign up now for pre-sale access at thedoobiebrothers.com.

General sale begins Friday at 10AM local.

See Michael's Tour Page

The Doobie Brothers announce 2025 Summer Tour dates in UK and Ireland

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:32:27 GMT

The Doobie Brothers announce 2025 Summer Tour dates

in UK and Ireland including Hyde Park in London with ELO...

UK and Ireland, we’ll see you this Summer!

Tickets on sale Friday at 10AM local.

More Info: https://thedoobiebrothers.com/pages/tour

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM WALK THIS ROAD OUT JUNE 6, 2025

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:52:37 GMT

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM WALK THIS ROAD OUT JUNE 6, 2025... NEW SINGLE OUT NOW!

Legendary hitmaking band The Doobie Brothers announced today the release of their upcoming new studio album WALK THIS ROAD, out June 6 on Rhino Records. The 10-track studio album will see former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald rejoin the band alongside Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee both in the recording studio, writers room and on an upcoming global tour. Two tracks on the album were released today: “ Walk This Road ,” and “ Call Me ” in addition to the previously released “ Lahaina .” Pre-order the album now HERE .

The Songwriters Hall of Fame also announced today that the enduring and beloved band’s songwriting would be inducted at its June 2025 ceremony in New York. Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons will all receive the prestigious award in the Performing Songwriters category, recognizing and celebrating the exceptional work and lives of composers and lyricists who make an indelible impact creating music around the world.

WALK THIS ROAD was recorded in the winter of 2024 with producer John Shanks and showcases the band’s unique songwriting process and diverse stylistic perspectives. All three of the songwriting members of the band worked one-on-one with Shanks, bringing their individual vibes to their trusted producer and songwriting partner for what would be melded into one cohesive work, featuring the signature Doobie Brothers sound. The result, as the album credits illuminate, is an album comprised of and reliant on the songwriting contributions and individual musical styles of all three principal songwriters.

Recurring themes on the album include recovery, enlightenment – “waking up to see the important things you’ve been missing,” says Simmons. The title track on the album, “Walk This Road,” featuring Mavis Staples, embodies a sense of hope and togetherness, in terms of searching for the right path forward.”

“We all sang on ‘Walk This Road,’ that’s a diaerent kind of track for us to do,” says Johnston. “I think it’s good to try to do things you haven’t done before, that’s the way it should be.” The team eaort and cooperation so successful and fruitful in Shanks’ studio on WALK THIS ROAD is the same mindset and philosophy that has served The Doobie Brothers so well for over 50 years of songwriting, performing and touring their GRAMMY Award -winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hit songs around the world for decades. The band have remained good friends over decades and are looking forward to embarking on their 2025 tour to perform their new tracks as well as much-loved, fan-favorite hits.

“Getting back in with the guys and playing again is great,” said McDonald. “In my heart I’ve always been a Doobie Brother. We’ve all remained friends over the years. We’ve all been enjoying it tremendously, even more than we thought we would.” Indeed, whereas in many bands having three exceptional songwriters with diverse musical influences and styles might cause internal challenges in the studio, The Doobie Brothers continue to create their signature brand of music together that weaves their individual rhythms into a musical force greater than the sum of its parts.

TRACKLISTING:
1. “Walk this Road” Featuring Mavis Staples
2. “Angels & Mercy”
3. “Call Me”
4. “Learn to Let Go”
5. “State of Grace”
6. “Here to Stay”
7. “The Kind That Lasts”
8. “New Orleans”
9. “Speed of Pain”
10. “Lahaina”

New in Rolling Stone - MICHAEL MCDONALD: MY LIFE IN 15 SONGS

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 01:10:51 GMT

New in Rolling Stone : MICHAEL MCDONALD: MY LIFE IN 15 SONGS - The Doobie Brother walks us through key songs in his career, from "What a Fool Believes" to "Yah Mo B There" with James Ingram...

By ANGIE MARTOCCIO

November 26, 2024

In the early Eighties, Michael McDonald was such an omnipresent force in the music industry that he inspired one of the greatest sketches on SCTV. It stars a bearded Rick Moranis as McDonald, who frantically parks his vehicle at a studio and comically races in and out of the room just in time to sing backing vocals on Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind.” His signature voice — those immeasurably deep, blissful pipes — echo through the control room.

The zany sketch was grounded in truth, since McDonald was indeed absurdly busy when it aired, juggling his commitments to the Doobie Brothers, guest spots with Steely Dan, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, and more, and cutting songs for his 1982 debut solo LP, If That’s What It Takes. Throughout the decades after that, McDonald never really left the pop cultural landscape. The sketches continued, with McDonald even joining in on the joke . In 2005’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin, electronic store employee Paul Rudd explodes on his boss, Jane Lynch, about “Yah Mo B There” incessantly playing on the television sets. “If I hear ‘Yah Mo B There’ one more time, I’m going to yah mo burn this place to the ground,” he tells her...

READ THE FULL ONLINE ARTICLE

Congratulations to Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald on being Grammy Nominated in the category, Best Traditional R&B Performance!

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:55:55 GMT

Congratulations to Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald on being Grammy Nominated in the category, Best Traditional R&B Performance! Listen here...

Congratulations to Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald on being Grammy Nominated in the category, Best Traditional R&B Performance on @lalahhathaway ’s track “No Lie”

YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY premiering NOV 29 on HBO/MAX

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:47:45 GMT

YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY Premiers NOV 29 on HBO/MAX ... watch the new trailer here...

YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY chronicles the emergence and popularity of the West Coast, soft rock pop culture epitomized by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Retroactively dubbed “Yacht Rock” in 2005 by a parody website series, the easy listening, relaxing sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were beloved by many, came to be gently mocked and even dismissed by rock lovers and critics, but have since reclaimed their legitimate place in music history and are celebrated in this groove-infused film from the Music Box anthology series.

RELEASE DATE: November 29

CAST: Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto

"Forever Young" videos out now featuring Michael & Dylan McDonald!

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:16:36 GMT

"Forever Young" videos out now, featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald with Brian Owens. Watch both the lyric & studio versions here...

"Forever Young" - new single featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald

Fri, 31 May 2024 02:53:54 GMT

"Forever Young" - new single featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald with Brian and Thomas Owens out now!

Michael McDonald Fresh Air interview on NPR

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:52:49 GMT

With age and sobriety, Michael McDonald is ready to get personal. Listen to his recent interview on NPR's Fresh Air.

With age and sobriety, Michael McDonald is ready to get personal. Listen to his recent interview on NPR's Fresh Air .

Michael appears with Paul Reiser on The Tonight Show

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:24:45 GMT

Michael appeared with Paul Reiser on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote their new book, "What A Fool Believes... watch the video here.

Michael appeared with Paul Reiser on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk about their new book, "What A Fool Believes. They shared a few stories and even sang a little...

Michael will be on Today & Jimmy Fallon 5/20

Sun, 19 May 2024 22:34:16 GMT

MICHAEL MCDONALD & PAUL REISER with guest on The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Monday 5/20 to talk about their new book, "What A Fool Believes"...

Check local listings for times.

The Tonight Show

He Sang ‘What a Fool Believes.’ But Michael McDonald Is in on the Joke.

Thu, 09 May 2024 19:13:59 GMT

He Sang ‘What a Fool Believes.’ But Michael McDonald Is in on the Joke ... The singer and songwriter with a silky-smooth voice has written a memoir with Paul Reiser that recounts his story of pain and redemption with dashes of humor.

Michael McDonald’s new memoir is titled “What a Fool Believes,” after the Grammy-winning hit he wrote in 1978 with Kenny Loggins. Credit...

Ariel Fisher for The New York Times

The voice of Michael McDonald has been compared to velvet , silk and sandpaper , melted chocolate and last year, by a besotted 11-year-old girl, an angel . He has harmonized with the best in the business. But his latest duet might cause even the most Botoxed foreheads of Hollywood to furrow.

“How you like us so far?” joked Paul Reiser, the actor and comedian, from one corner of a squishy sofa in McDonald’s Santa Barbara, Calif., aerie on a recent Tuesday morning. He was there to talk about the singer’s memoir, which they wrote together and will be published by Dey Street Books on May 21.

In the other corner, emanating the equanimity that’s as beloved as his baritone, was the man whose 50-plus-year career has included backup vocals for Steely Dan, Elton John , El DeBarge , Toto , Bonnie Raitt and on and on — backup so extensive and distinctive it’s inspired playlists on Apple Music and Spotify . He was wearing a paisley-patterned shirt, black trousers and, as one might expect of an angel who must tread this cursed Earth, puffy Hoka sneakers ...

McDonald, 72, has also spent decades in the spotlight, albeit sidlingly, often with his famous blue eyes shut . (“Singing is such an intimate act,” he explains in the book, “and like kissing, it does no real good to see what the other person is doing.”) He led the Doobie Brothers in various iterations with his gospel-inflected keyboard style; released nine solo studio albums traversing multiple genres and continues to make live appearances at venues from Coachella to the Carlyle .

The book is titled “What a Fool Believes,” after the Grammy-winning hit McDonald wrote in 1978 with Kenny Loggins, though with some hesitation. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s just too obvious,’” he said. “I wanted it to be something clever and mind-provoking, and I couldn’t really think of anything because, you know, I have a problem provoking my own mind.”

He was convinced by Reiser, who among many other projects wrote the best-selling books “Couplehood” and “Babyhood” in the 1990s, and a follow-up, “Familyhood,” in 2011.

“I mean, how lucky am I?” McDonald said.

“Awwww,” Reiser said. But seriously: “He’s very introspective, which you don’t see at first and then you go, ‘Oh, this guy is deeper than you think.’” A beat. “Not that I thought you were shallow!”

As if in a marathon therapy session, they plunged together back to the past. McDonald grew up Irish Catholic, bracketed by two sisters in a suburb of St. Louis. His father was a streetcar driver and ex-Marine, a teetotaler with an eye for the ladies and a beautiful singing voice. His mother worked in a trading stamps store and had a weakness for pep pills. The marriage didn’t last.

He had an Aunt Mame with a Victrola from which, at age 5, he learned to imitate Mario Lanza warbling “ Love is a Many-Splendored Thing ”; an Aunt Bitsy who introduced him to Rodgers and Hammerstein; and an Aunt Ann Catherine whose record collection included, revelatorily, Ray Charles. Burt Bacharach was a big influence, too. Beatles-wise, he gravitated more toward McCartney than Lennon.

“I always related to him,” McDonald said, “because I could sense from him that he heard a lot of the same music I heard — that kind of barroom, Tin Pan Alley chord progression.”

In one devastating passage, McDonald writes of getting his girlfriend pregnant in eighth grade and biking over to confront her parents, who insisted, along with his own, that she give the baby up for adoption. Too young to sort through this emotional wreckage, he steered away. “Disappearing became my MO,” he writes. “Distancing myself from whatever it was that might require accountability.”

He dropped out of high school and joined a series of colorful-sounding bands — the Majestics, the Sheratons, the Delrays, the Guild, the Blue. Old ballrooms; natty threads. Beer and marijuana became staples, and later, after he moved to Los Angeles and began breaking into the big time, cocaine.

Referred to Steely Dan by the drummer Jeff Porcaro in 1973, he “came to rehearsal a few days later and knocked everyone out,” Donald Fagen, the band’s surviving founder, wrote in an email. “There was a serious discussion about whether he should replace me as the lead singer, which would have been my personal preference. But, for some dumb reason, I was voted down. I didn’t insist, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I mean, here’s this monster singer and musician, and he’s also really funny and a sweetheart of a guy. What’s not to like?”

Patti LaBelle called about recording “ On My Own ” (1986) with McDonald, after a solo version went sour. “I said, ‘The person I would love to sing it with is quiet, beautiful Michael,’” she remembered. Recently they crooned it together on a jazz cruise on the Norwegian Pearl where, she said, he confessed nerves beforehand; when he emerged onstage, the crowd went bananas. “He’s one of a kind. He comes out whispering and then — all this power. It’s like he doesn’t even open his mouth, he’s just so laid back.”

Indeed, so constitutionally low-key is McDonald that Loggins, with whom he also composed “ This is It ” and “ I Gotta Try, ” and who released his own memoir, “ Still Alright ,” in 2022, didn’t even know his old collaborator is about to join him on the bookshelves.

On the phone, Loggins remembered the first time he heard McDonald in the Doobies’ “ Livin’ on the Fault Line .” “I just felt like, ‘Oh, this is going to be a major American voice,’” he said. “He kind of goes into a trance when we write, and if I say ‘play it again,’ he won’t remember, so I have to record all the time. We have completely different styles vocally, but blend really well. It’s not logical.”

In 2005, the duo, along with Hall and Oates, Christopher Cross, Toto, Steve Perry and others, were affectionately spoofed in J.D. Ryznar’s web series, “ Yacht Rock .” A strain of the much-maligned catchall “adult contemporary” category was suddenly rebranded as “smooth music”: gleaming with high production values and a general mellifluence; the polar opposite of punk. McDonald was portrayed as the genre’s earnest common denominator: its anchor, its intergenerational secret sauce, who stumbles out of fashion and then rises again when “ I Keep Forgettin ’” is sampled by Warren G in 1994.

McDonald compared the yacht-rock phenomenon to oldies radio. “Even though I was a little ambivalent about both, at first, they turned out to be the two best things that ever happened to us from the ’70s,” he said, “because we kept getting airplay.”

This wasn’t his first time as a figure of comedy. In 1981, in an SCTV sketch, Rick Moranis portrayed McDonald driving intently down a highway in a convertible to clap on headphones and sing bits of backup for Cross’s “Ride Like the Wind” before rushing off to his next gig. McDonald contributed a song to the 1999 “South Park” movie and sang at a fictional “30 Rock” benefit . In “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005), an electronics-store manager played by Jane Lynch is excoriated by an employee for broadcasting a McDonald concert video ad nauseam. (“If I have to hear ‘ Yah Mo B There ’ one more time I’m going to yah mo burn this place to the ground!”) And in 2013 Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake donned silver McDonald wigs to sing “ Row, Row, Row Your Boat ” with him.

We have his current writing partner to thank, or blame, for the chapter title “Doobie or Not Doobie, That Is the Question.” Reiser, an accomplished musician himself who can sit down at the Yamaha and spontaneously ripple off a Rachmaninoff concerto, first encountered McDonald performing during an event at a neighbor’s house. “And in a surge of moxie, I went, ‘I live literally next door, and I got a music studio with two pianos that I put in just in case this ever happened,’” Reiser recalled. “Would you like to come over?’”

A jam session ensued. A friendship developed. Then the pandemic descended. McDonald thought that during lockdown he might apply himself with renewed vigor to his painting hobby . Reiser had another idea. “He’s the only reason the book exists, as far as I know,” McDonald said. “Putting one foot in front of the other was never my strong suit, on my own power. By myself, I become like a blob.”

McDonald’s wife, the singer Amy Holland, wandered briefly into their living room, which is large, cozy and barnlike, with plenty of blankets and candles and a banjo mounted on the wall bearing the visage of her mother, Verna Sherrill Boersma, who did a hillbilly routine as Esmereldy in the 1940s and resembled …. was it Bette Davis? “Celeste Holm,” McDonald said.

He and Holland were married in 1983, with the lead singer of Ambrosia performing “Biggest Part of Me” at the reception. They have two adult children, a submissive golden retriever, and a possessive Chihuahua who sleeps in between the couple.

One of their previous pooches cringed at his singing, McDonald noted, and would try to pry his master’s hands off the piano keys every time he played.

“Everyone’s a critic,” Reiser said.

Working with McDonald, he said, was often just a process of having him slow down and fill out anecdotes that, to him, seemed like no big deal — Steely Dan partying in the penthouse of a London hotel, for one. “I’m going, ‘That’s like a Fellini movie!’” One chapter is devoted to an extended bender with the band’s co-founder, Walter Becker , who died in 2017; another features an unintentional acid trip. ( David Gest also makes an appearance.)

“I remember looking to the guys who seem to manage it well — guys who did a little of this and did a little of that but didn’t have a problem like I suspect that I already did,” McDonald said. “Their whole thing was ‘You just got to manage it — you can’t overdo it, man.’” He paused. “And every one of those guys, to a man, is gone.”

Sober since the mid-80s — he said his current vices are “food and sloth” — McDonald is not only still here, but discreetly ubiquitous.

Forget about velvet and silk: The more you read and think and listen, the more his voice seems like a connecting thread running through America’s popular-music tapestry that, if pulled, might unravel the whole thing — or at least, leave a significant, unmendable hole.

And yet, he said, “to this day I keep expecting the doors to fly open and the impostor police to come and grab me and take me out.”

Alexandra Jacobs is a Times book critic and occasional features writer. She joined The Times in 2010. More about Alexandra Jacobs

Paul Reiser, left, with McDonald. The actor, known for “Mad About You,” said his musical collaborator is “very introspective.” Credit...

Ariel Fisher for The New York Times

McDonald onstage with the Doobie Brothers in 1977. Credit...

Richard McCaffrey/ Michael Ochs Archive, via Getty Images

Working with McDonald, Reiser said, was often just a process of having him slow down and fill out incredible anecdotes. Credit...

Ariel Fisher for The New York Times

McDonald said he always related to Paul McCartney “because I could sense from him that he heard a lot of the same music I heard — that kind of barroom, Tin Pan Alley chord progression.” Credit...

Ariel Fisher for The New York Times

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be inducted into the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs's Hall Of Fame for our recording of “What A Fool Believes”

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:25:48 GMT

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be inducted into the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs 's Hall Of Fame for our recording of “What A Fool Believes”...

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be inducted into the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs 's Hall Of Fame for our recording of “What A Fool Believes”.
As we celebrate this milestone, we would like to congratulate our fellow honorees who will be celebrating at this year's GRAMMY Museum inaugural GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala. Gala details here: https://grammymuseum.org/hall-of-fame-gala/

Michael McDonald interview with Rick Beato

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 20:15:57 GMT

Michael McDonald: The Voice That Defined a Generation - Interview with Rick Beato

Early copies of my upcoming memoir, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES, have arrived!

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:43:02 GMT

Early copies of my upcoming memoir, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES, have arrived! Be one of the first to read it by entering our galley sweepstakes...

Early copies of my upcoming memoir, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES , have arrived!

Be one of the first to read it by entering our galley sweepstakes: https://m.cmpgn.page/jFHtQJ

Michael McDonald will be performing at Mavis Staples 85th All-Star Birthday Concert

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:29:44 GMT

Michael McDonald will be performing at Mavis Staples 85th All-Star Birthday Concert at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on April 18th...

Excited to announce Michael McDonald will be performing at Mavis Staples 85th All-Star Birthday Concert at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on April 18th. Tickets are on sale this Friday 2/16 at 10am local...

The Doobie Brothers have announced The 2024 Tour!

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:15:33 GMT

The Doobie Brothers have announced The 2024 Tour which will touch down in 38 U.S. cities, beginning with Seattle at the White River Amphitheatre on June 15...

The Doobie Brothers have announced The 2024 Tour which will touch down in 38 U.S. cities, beginning with Seattle at the White River Amphitheatre on June 15. The 2024 Tour will go on to major markets like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City at Madison Square Garden on August 7, before wrapping in Salt Lake City at the USANA Amphitheater

on August 30, 2024.

The Doobie Brothers will also be joined by artists Robert Cray and Steve Winwood on various dates.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, January 26 at 10:00 AM local time.

For more information visit https://thedoobiebrothers.com/pages/tour or Michael's Tour page .

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES: A MEMOIR BY MICHAEL MCDONALD WITH PAUL REISER OUT MAY 21 FROM DEY STREET BOOKS

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 17:16:50 GMT

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES: A MEMOIR BY MICHAEL MCDONALD WITH PAUL REISER OUT MAY 21 FROM DEY STREET BOOKS

Available at these booksellers:

December 13, 2023—Singer/songwriter, five-time Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Michael McDonald confirms the release of What a Fool Believes: A Memoir —written with actor, comedian and bestselling author Paul Reiser —via Dey Street Books on May 21 .

Interwoven with unforgettable tales from his storied career and a cast of music greats including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon and Quincy Jones, What a Fool Believes finds McDonald reckoning with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him and the highs and lows of fame and popularity. Along the way he relays the hard-earned lessons he has learned.

Co-authors McDonald and Reiser first crossed paths at a party a number of years ago. McDonald was aware of Reiser’s work as an actor and bestselling author, but that night he learned of Paul’s love for music and his own skill as a pianist and songwriter. Reiser invited McDonald over to check out his home studio; the two ended up jamming into the wee hours and a friendship was born. It was Reiser who convinced McDonald that he needed to tell his story.

A member of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan as well as a chart-topping solo artist and collaborator with some of the biggest names in music, McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of popular music with hits like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” the James Ingraham duet “Yah Mo B There,” the Patti LaBelle duet “On My Own” and many more. Hailing from Ferguson, Missouri, McDonald chased his musical dreams in 1970’s California. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters sent him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom.

About Michael McDonald

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Michael McDonald’s career encompasses five Grammys, countless platinum hits and chart successes. After being an integral part of Steely Dan, McDonald was invited to join the Doobie Brothers as the band redefined their sound with McDonald serving as singer, keyboardist and songwriter on numerous Top 40 singles. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s McDonald’s solo career took off with a string of hits including “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” “Sweet Freedom,” “On My Own” (with Patti LaBelle), and the Grammy-winning James Ingram duet “Yah Mo B There.” McDonald has performed with a who’s-who of critically acclaimed artists including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, Thundercat, Solange Knowles and Grizzly Bear.

About Paul Reiser

Paul Reiser is a comedian, Emmy Award-nominated actor, screenwriter and #1 New York Times bestselling author. Reiser has recently appeared in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and “The Kominsky Method” as well as Hulu’s critically-acclaimed comedy “Reboot” and Amazon’s “The Boys.” Reiser created and starred (along with Helen Hunt) in the long-running hit 90s comedy “Mad About You” and has appeared in classic films like Diner, Aliens, the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and Whiplash. His latest film The Problem With People , which he wrote, starred in and produced, is slated to hit theaters early 2024. Reiser is the author of the bestselling books C ouplehood, Babyhood and Familyhood .

Michael McDonald and @PaulReiser will be a part of an intimate live television show taping!

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 20:22:36 GMT

On December 13th, Michael McDonald and @PaulReiser will be a part of

an intimate live television show taping

On December 13th, Michael McDonald and @PaulReiser will be a part of an intimate live television show taping that will include stories, music and some highlights from their upcoming book, "What a Fool Believes" .

Get tickets to this one-night-only event, “Recorded Live at Analog" Series!

Tickets are on sale now!

Michael duets with Dolly Parton on her new Rockstar album!

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 15:34:05 GMT

Michael duets with Dolly Parton on her new Rockstar album singing "Bittersweet". Listen Now!

Hear Michael and Dolly Parton duet on "Bittersweet" from her just released Rockstar album. She covers 30 songs on this album with other guest appearances like Sting, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pat Benetar, Steve Perry, Debbie Harry and many more! Get it now whereever you get your music.

The Doobie Brothers, have released a brand new single “Lahaina”

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:52:07 GMT

The Doobie Brothers, have released a brand new single “Lahaina”

The Doobie Brothers, have released a brand new single “Lahaina” along with a music video to provide aid and support to Maui amidst the fires that have devastated the community.

“Lahaina,” featuring Mick Fleetwood, Jake Shimabukuro, and Henry Kapono will serve as a beacon of hope to the victims and a commemoration to the town that has been ravaged by the disaster. Proceeds from the writing of the song will go to the fundraising efforts on behalf of the People’s Fund of Maui.

Michael is part of the new book, "The Singers Talk"

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 17:16:10 GMT

Michael was honored to help the kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by participating in a groundbreaking book called The Singers Talk.

Go to https://thesingerstalk.com/ to purchase your copy.

The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One Thing They're Never Asked About: Their Voices

A groundbreaking collection of inspiring and instructive conversations about the beauty, brutality, discipline, and technique of being a successful singer.

“This is a captivating look at both the nitty-gritty preparation and emotional energy that ‘it takes [for artists] to stand up to that mic... reach down into their guts, and give everything they’ve got for the sake of the song.’ Its star power and up-close, revelatory detail will keep readers riveted from start to finish.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review

“For all of the conversations we have about music, there is precious little talk about the art of communicating emotion and meaning via the human voice. The Singer's Talk remedies this by reaching out to a wide range of different singers, who speak insightfully about both the skill and the magic required to change minds and break hearts.” —Steven Hyden, author of Twilight of the Gods and other books

These revelatory, frequently funny, and deeply engrossing in-depth interviews provide fans and aspiring singers a backstage pass to the challenges every vocalist faces onstage and in the studio. Packed with never-before-heard stories, The Singers Talk reveals a truly intimate side to these iconic personalities while offering a master class on how the best in their field keep their vocal cords in shape and protect themselves on the road—along with countless other tricks, techniques, strategies, and philosophies to help vocalists at every level perfect the craft of singing.

“This is the most geeked out I’ve ever talked about my voice!” —Thom Yorke

This historic roster of artists includes: Bryan Adams, Tony Bennett, Nick Cave, Chuck D, Roger Daltrey, Joe Elliott, Emmylou Harris, Brittany Howard, Chrissie Hynde, Norah Jones, Simon Le Bon, Geddy Lee, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, LeAnn Rimes, Smokey Robinson, Robert Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Rod Stewart, Paul Stanley, Michael Stipe, Jeff Tweedy, Roger Waters, Dionne Warwick, Ann Wilson, Thom Yorke, and many more. Additionally, the book features conversations about legendary voices no longer with us, such as Butch Vig on Kurt Cobain, Clive Davis on Whitney Houston, Nile Rodgers on David Bowie, and Jimmy Iovine on Tom Petty.

“Singing is so much more than hitting the right note. It’s about connecting with the audience, connecting with something divine to a certain degree. It’s connecting to your most primitive and deepest intuition, and to your nature as a human on this planet.” —Karen O.

More than just an indispensable guide for singers of any level, The Singers Talk is an unforgettable read for music fans everywhere.

All royalties from The Singers Talk will benefit the kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their Music Gives to St. Jude Kids campaign.

Go to https://thesingerstalk.com/ to purchase your copy.

Michael to join Patti LaBelle on the Norwegian Pearl

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:36:41 GMT

Michael is excited to join his dear friend, the incredible Patti LaBelle on the Norwegian Pearl for the “Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle: A One-Time Only Cruise Getaway”!

This three-day luxury cruise sets sail April 10-13, 2024, from Miami to Nassau. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime getaway and concert experience, hosted by Michael's friend Marcus Miller and featuring the very best in music.

Learn more: https://mcdonaldlabellecruise.com | Jazz Cruises

Michael to appear on A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:30:48 GMT

Michael and Take 6 with appear together on

A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys, April 9 on CBS.

Michael McDonald & Take 6 will perform “Don’t Worry Baby”. The Beach Boys special will air on Sunday April 9 from 8 – 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Michael is thrilled to be featured on Tommy Emmanuel’s new duet album...

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:18:56 GMT

Michael is thrilled to be featured on Tommy Emmanuel ’s new duet album, ‘Accomplice Two’.

Michael is thrilled to be featured on Tommy Emmanuel ’s new duet album, ‘Accomplice Two’ performing a new original song called “Someone Like You.” The album comes out on April 28.

Pre-Save the album here: tommyemmanuel.lnk.to/AccompliceTwo

The Doobie Brothers have announced 35 U.S. dates from June through October 2023.

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:25:59 GMT

The Doobie Brothers have announced 35 U.S. dates from June through October 2023,

an extension of their 50th Anniversary Tour.

The Doobie Brothers have announced 35 U.S. dates from June through October 2023, an extension of their 50th Anniversary Tour.

Tickets for all newly announced dates will go on sale to the public beginning Friday, March 3, 2023 at 10am local time with the exception of the Sparks, NV; New Brunswick, NJ; Morristown, NJ; Washington, DC; and Uncasville, CT dates which go on sale beginning Friday, March 10 at 10am local time.

For more information visit our TOUR PAGE

Michael is excited to perform at the MusiCares 2023 Persons of the Year gala!

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 22:54:17 GMT

Michael is excited to perform at the MusiCares 2023 #PersonsoftheYear gala, honoring the legendary #Motown founder and GRAMMY Award nominee Berry Gordy, and GRAMMY Award winner and seven-time GRAMMY Award nominee Smokey Robinson .

Michael is excited to perform at the MusiCares 2023 #PersonsoftheYear gala, honoring the legendary #Motown founder and GRAMMY Award nominee Berry Gordy, and GRAMMY Award winner and seven-time GRAMMY Award nominee Smokey Robinson .

The annual #GRAMMY Week event, happening on February 3, raises significant funds for #MusiCares ’ year-round efforts, to continue their mission of helping the music community in times of need.

Michael is looking forward to an amazing night honoring this incredible duo, benefitting an important cause.

Michael is excited to share that he is Harper's Bazaar magazine’s February 2023 Music Director.

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 20:27:45 GMT

Michael is excited to share that he is Harper's Bazaar magazine’s February 2023 Music Director.

Michael is excited to share that he is Harper's Bazaar magazine’s February 2023 Music Director. His music playlist feature will be available in the February print issue of Harper’s BAZAAR.

In the meantime, you can check out the online version at http://harpersbazaar.com/michael-mcdonald-playlist .

The Doobie Brothers' Radio City Music Hall Concert to Air on PBS

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:03:40 GMT

The Doobie Brothers' Radio City Music Hall Concert to Air on PBS.

The special premieres on PBS stations beginning on November 26.

For over five decades, The Doobie Brothers have been known for delivering mind-blowing, roots based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven rock and roll - all of which recently culminated in an induction into the 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Boasting one of the most loyal fan bases in music, selling more than 48 million albums, and winning four GRAMMY® Awards, The Doobie Brothers continue to write and record new material and tour the world.

Their No. 1 singles "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes," both gold, lead a catalog of indelible songs that include: "Listen to the Music," "China Grove," "Jesus Is Just All Right," "Rockin' Down the Highway," "Long Train Runnin'," "Take Me In Your Arms," "Takin' it to the Streets," "Minute by Minute," "You Belong to Me" and more.

Celebrating five decades of great music, TOM JOHNSTON, MICHAEL MCDONALD, PAT SIMMONS and JOHN MCFEE are back on the road together for the first time in over 25 years with more than 60 stops across North America. Taped in September 2022 in New York City, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS: 50TH ANNIVERSARY AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning Saturday, November 26, 2022 ( check local listings ).

The Doobie Brothers nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:27:02 GMT

Michael and The Doobie Brothers are honored to be nominated for the

Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class.

We are extremely honored to be nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class. Thank you so much to our fans for your ongoing support!

https://www.billboard.com/.../songwriters-hall-of-fame.../

“Tears To Come” Single Release

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 22:25:45 GMT

Michael McDonald- “Tears To Come” Single to release Sept 9, 2022

Michael is excited to announce that his new single, “Tears To Come” will be releasing this Friday!

Presave now at:

https://stem.ffm.to/tearstocome

"You Belong To Me" - New Single - OUT NOW!

Thu, 05 May 2022 16:41:43 GMT

"You Belong To Me - OUT NOW!

"You Belong To Me" Out Now!

“I've recently had the great privilege to perform with one of my all-time favorite vocalists, Buika on the recently reimagined version of “You Belong To Me”. After the song was finished, it was obvious that I needed to ask Buika to be a part of it. Bringing this song to life has been a fantastic journey for both of us. I hope you’ll give it a listen.”

-MM

Listen to “You Belong To Me” now at stem.ffm.to/youbelongtome

Michael and Buika are excited to announce their single, “You Belong To Me”

Tue, 03 May 2022 16:27:40 GMT

Michael and Buika are excited to announce their single,

“You Belong To Me” releasing this Thursday, May 5th!

Michael and Buika are excited to announce their single, “You Belong To Me” releasing this Thursday, May 5th! Once Michael finished this reimagined version of the Doobie Brothers’ “You Belong To Me”, co-written by Carly Simon and Michael, he knew he needed to ask Buika to be a part of it. This beautiful collaboration brought two voices together to celebrate and spread love, and they are looking forward to releasing this song this Thursday.

Pre-save the single now at stem.ffm.to/youbelongtome

Listen to Michael featured on Jake Shimabukuro’s upcoming album

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 16:34:05 GMT

Listen to Michael featured on Jake Shimabukuro ’s upcoming album “Jake & Friends"

Michael is featured on Jake Shimabukuro ’s upcoming album “Jake & Friends,” along with many other legendary collaborators. “Jake & Friends” is out November 12 – pre-save or pre-order the album now:

smarturl.it/JakeShimabukuro

The Doobie Brothers on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:54:34 GMT

Watch the live performances by The Doobie Brothers

From Jimmy Kimmel Live Sept 23, 2021

New live version of Takin’ It To The Streets

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 23:16:26 GMT

In honor of the 45th anniversary of its release,

watch a new live version of Takin’ It To The Streets.

In honor of the 45th anniversary of its release, watch a new live version of Takin’ It To The Streets and read about its origins at

https://consequence.net/.../the-doobie-brothers-takin-it.../

New album from Dylan McDonald & the Avians

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:02:09 GMT

Dylan McDonald & the Avians have released their 3rd album with 11 new songs!

AVAILABLE NOW at:

iTunes/Apple Music | AMAZON | SPOTIFY

Listen to "River Rise" by David Crosby featuring Michael McDonald

Mon, 24 May 2021 20:32:27 GMT

“David Crosby is an artist whose professional career has spanned six decades. Always an example of excellence and innovation he is as we speak at the top of his game as much as ever..."

“ David Crosby is an artist whose professional career has spanned six decades. Always an example of excellence and innovation he is as we speak at the top of his game as much as ever. This latest project produced by gifted composer/producer and musician James Raymond is just another example of why David Crosby remains such an inspiration to me and so many of his colleagues. For that matter just about everyone who hears his music.” - Michael McDonald

AVAILABLE on iTunes and Spotify and other streaming sites

“Dreams of the San Joaquin” Official Video

Thu, 20 May 2021 19:46:36 GMT

My friends Willie Nelson and David Hidalgo joined me recording this track and video of the classic song “Dreams of the San Joaquin” which we released to benefit RAICES...

My friends Willie Nelson and David Hidalgo joined me recording this track and video of the classic song “Dreams of the San Joaquin” which we released to benefit RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and the UFW, United Farm Workers of America. I hope you can take some time today to watch to this video that was directed and edited by Micah Nelson. Any purchases of the song on Bandcamp will directly support RAICES and the UFW .

Now available at: https://themichaelmcdonald.bandcamp.com

United Farm Workers: https://ufw.org/sparechange/

RAICES: https://www.raicestexas.org/ways-to-give/donate/

Michael McDonald and Willie Nelson are joining forces with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos for a rendition of “Dreams of the San Joaquin”

Fri, 07 May 2021 18:03:09 GMT

Michael McDonald and Willie Nelson are joining forces with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos for a rendition of “Dreams of the San Joaquin”

Universally acclaimed singer/songwriters Michael McDonald and Willie Nelson are joining forces with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos for a rendition of “Dreams of the San Joaquin” to benefit RAICES , the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and the UFW , United Farm Workers of America. The classic song, written by Randy Sharp and Jack Wesley Routh and made famous by both Kenny Rogers and Linda Ronstadt, tells the story of a worker in the fields of San Joaquin Valley during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression in the ’30s and ’40s.

Exclusively on Bandcamp now: https://themichaelmcdonald.bandcamp.com/

Livestream tonight: https://boxoffice.mandolin.com/collections/michael-mcdonald

Michael McDonald is proud to present his third livestream concert event, “Home Alone 3: Yo Mama Be There”, taking place this Mother’s Day weekend!

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 19:27:08 GMT

Michael McDonald is proud to present his third livestream concert event, “Home Alone 3: Yo Mama Be There”, taking place this Mother’s Day weekend!

Michael McDonald is proud to present his third livestream concert event, “Home Alone 3: Yo Mama Be There”, taking place this Mother’s Day weekend! Enjoy the show for yourself, or get a two-pack for you and the special lady in your life. The show will stream live on Friday, May 7th and be available to watch or rewatch all weekend long! Tickets and special merch bundles are on sale now at https://smarturl.it/YoMamaBeThere

Michael will join John Oates and many more on March 20th for Oates Song Fest 7908

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:46:37 GMT

Michael will join John Oates and many more on March 20th for Oates Song Fest 7908

Michael will join John Oates and many more on March 20th for Oates Song Fest 7908, a free streaming music festival on nugs.net. This star-studded roster of musicians will be performing songs from the heart and soul to help feed our nation’s hungry families by raising donations for Feeding America . Head over to feedingamerica.org/oatesfest for more information. #OatesSongFest

Michael McDonald will join Lyle Lovett for Livestream Concert March 19

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 02:47:38 GMT

Michael McDonald will join Lyle Lovett for Livestream Concert March 19

Michael McDonald will join Lyle Lovett to swap songs and stories during a special livestream event on Friday March 19th. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased now at http://bit.ly/3bsOkC4 .

Michael McDonald, Home Alone 2: Birthday Bash: A Party of One

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:20:26 GMT

From American Songwriter

The most soulful Doobie delivered a stunning solo show in honor of his own birthday and Valentine’s Day

I’ve loved the music of Michael McDonald even before he joined The Doobie Brothers and began writing a songbook of rock-soul classics. It was that warm, rich, deeply soulful sound of his harmony vocals on classic Steely Dan songs such as “Peg” that grabbed me and never let go. There was nothing quite like it. Then came his emergence with The Doobie Brothers, replacing Tom Johnson and injecting that band with some serious soul in his singing and songs. Successive classics poured out of him—“Taking It To The Streets,” “Minute by Minute”—you know the rest. Like the rest of the world, I woke up to the fact that anything he sang was golden. Whether he sang one of his own great songs, or a soul classic such as “Knock On Wood”—which he and Phoebe Snow absolutely lit on fire playing in Fagen’s New York Rock and Soul Revue—it was always as good as it gets.

Then came news of “Home Alone 2: Birthday Bash: A Party of One,” a solo show to be livestreamed on February 12, his 69th birthday. On his website, in advance of this show, he sang The Beatles’ “Birthday” and said, “I’ll be performing songs from my solo career, from The Doobies, and some special cover tunes to celebrate yet another trip around the sun, and Valentine’s Day while we’re at it.”

Admittedly, after seeing him many times over the years, live solo and with The Doobies (back in the days of old, when audiences would all congregate in the same venue in real-time) I wondered if he could conjure up the same kind of magic and fire in a remote show, created alone in a studio. Without other musicians—without even an audience—could it still get to that place?

Yes. And immediately. The man is a consummate musician, and true lover of great songs. He played a bounty of these—his own, and some famous covers. He played solo, as well as with recorded backing tracks that were simple and right—the remote musicianship and vocals of others.

This solo focus, with Michael McDonald only, wasn’t a detriment. It was wonderful. He was relaxed, funny, and his voice was as strong and soulful as ever as he inhabited a succession of great songs.

In honor of “Valentine’s Day” around the corner—sweetly indulging our memories of the old world, when holidays were holidays—he opened with “My Funny Valentine,” the Rodgers & Hart classic that remains arguably the best Valentine’s Day song. He played it on a gut-string guitar, beautifully, easily swinging through the changes. Who knew he could play guitar? He even did a Django-like chordal solo. The man contains multitudes.

From there flowed a copious concert which combined his own classics with heartfelt, beautiful songs like “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” Written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfeld, it’s one of those songs—not unlike a Beatles song—which has been so famously and powerfully performed already (by Marvin Gaye, among others), that any cover is bound to always sound lesser.

Unless Michael McDonald sings it. He delivered his essential “Grapevine,” a song of true mystery and soul (its grapevine secret never divulged by its songwriters) that he sang as if he wrote it himself.

He also brought powerful versions of his own great songs, along with their remarkable keyboard parts, such as “What A Fool Believes” and “Minute by Minute.” On guitar again, he brought a new intensity to “You Belong To Me.” Slowing down the tempo from the original, the melody came across with crystalline purity that went right to the heart, punctuated by a gentle percussion groove and rich harmonies.

On piano, he played “I Keep Forgetting,” easily covering the complex, funky piano part while singing against his own vocal harmonies. That title seemed ironic, given that its melody kept playing in my jukebox brain for days after this show. Long after we all forget most of our lives, no doubt we’ll all remember “I Keep Forgetting.” Songs like that—and those by other songwriters he sang—matter. They help us hold the world together, and lift our hearts with hope. And singular soul.

Thanks for inviting us to your birthday party, Michael. Please do this on every holiday there is.

Michael on The Zane Lowe Show

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:56:49 GMT

Michael McDonald on his birthday licestream performance

Thanks to everyone who celebrated Michael’s birthday with him this weekend! Zane Lowe chatted with Michael about his “Home Alone” shows and more on Ep. 85 of The Zane Lowe Show .

LISTEN HERE on APPLE MUSIC

Michael McDonald Teases Birthday Livestream With ‘What a Fool Believes’

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 22:36:30 GMT

Doobie Brother appeared on Kimmel prior to Friday’s Home Alone 2,

Birthday Bash: A Party of One

From Rolling Stone.com

By BRENNA EHRLICH

Michael McDonald turns 69 on Friday, February 12th, and to celebrate he’s hosting a livestream titled Home Alone 2, Birthday Bash: A Party of One . He teased the show on Jimmy Kimmel Live Monday with a performance of the Doobie Brothers’ 1978 track “What a Fool Believes.”

Kitted out in a paisley shirt, his impressive mane of white hair coiffed to perfection, McDonald busted out the sad-sack anthem from behind a grand piano.

McDonald hosted his first Home Alone livestream in September 2020 during which he performed Doobie classics as well as songs from his own catalog. Last year also saw the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee performing Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” a timely acoustic rendition of his “ On My Own ,” a cover of “ What the World Needs Now, ” and a home-shot Tiny Desk concert .

“It’s great news for us. It’s very exciting,” McDonald previously told Rolling Stone of the Doobie Brothers’ entrance into the Rock Hall. “It’s always been an honor for me to work with the guys over the years. It’s been a huge chapter of my life. Just on a personal level, getting this award with these individuals means a lot.

The Greatest and Yacht-iest of the Doobie Brothers, According to Michael McDonald

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:51:49 GMT

The Greatest and Yacht-iest of the Doobie Brothers, According to Michael McDonald

Michael chatted with Vulture to name some of his favorite The Doobie Brothers tunes and share stories from his time with the band.

Oh captain, my captain. The Michael McDonald era of the Doobie Brothers can best be summed up in a few breezy categories: technical excellence, distinctively soulful harmonies, and damn good hair. McDonald, who joined the Doobies as a singer, songwriter, and keyboardist in 1975 to replace an ailing Tom Johnston, steered the band in a creative direction that was less Hells Angels and more Steely Dan, with albums Takin’ It to the Streets (1976), Livin’ on the Fault Line (1977), Minute by Minute (1978), and One Step Closer (1980) achieving new levels of commercial success, culminating in the band’s two Grammys for the crossover bop “What a Fool Believes.” Sure, the Doobies’ sound might be affectionately brushed off as yacht rock, but their yacht has a full bar and plenty of joints, and everyone is welcome to leave the dock and join in on the fun whenever they want...

Read the full interview at the HERE .

“Home Alone 2 - Birthday Bash: A Party of One” on February 12th

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:32:10 GMT

“Home Alone 2 - Birthday Bash: A Party of One” on February 12th

You’re invited to Michael McDonald’s “Home Alone” Virtual Birthday Bash on February 12 ^th ! Join him for an intimate livestream concert featuring songs from his solo career, a few Doobie classics and some select cover songs to celebrate his birthday, as well as Valentine’s Day!

Tickets and special merchandise bundles are on sale now!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

WATCH: THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ROCK HALL OF FAME ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:54:47 GMT

WATCH: THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ROCK HALL OF FAME ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES

It's official: The Doobie Brothers are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The legendary San Jose band kicked off this year's annual Rock Hall Induction Special with Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons all sharing their heartfelt thanks for the honor.

Across the three speeches, the true breadth of the band's music over was the years was readily apparent. Starting out as a hardcore biker band, The Doobie Brothers' evolved over the years to such a degree that they're known by a generation for a legendary appearance on popular '70s sitcom, What's Happening!!

Dylan McDonald and The Avians on Springboard 2020

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:13:53 GMT

Dylan McDonald and The Avians performing live on Springboard 2020

Learn more about Dylan McDonald and The Avians at: https://www.dylanmcdonaldandtheavians.com

Listen Now Michael McDonald on a new episode of NPR World Cafe

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:59:45 GMT

Michael McDonald on NPR World Cafe

Michael McDonald appeared on NPR's World Cafe on August 18. Listen on the player about or visit the NPR website here .

Michael with Dave Mason and the Quarantines

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:00:14 GMT

Dave Mason & The Quarantines "Feelin' Alright" (Sirius XM World Premiere)

The Quarantines feature - Dave Mason, Mick Fleetwood, Sammy Hagar, Michael McDonald and Pat McFee, Tom Johnston & Pat Simmons from The Doobie Brothers.

Michael McDonald appears courtesy of Chonin Records.

Support MusiCares - Donate Today! https://www.grammy.com/musicares

Michael appears in "Give More Love" video

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:06:03 GMT

Michael joins other artists and friends to wish Ringo a happy 80th!

Michael to appear on Ringo Starr 80th bash!

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 23:35:08 GMT

RINGO STARR TO CELEBRATE 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH
STARR STUDDED CHARITY BROADCAST

"RINGO'S BIG BIRTHDAY SHOW", TO BENEFIT BLACK LIVES MATTER GLOBAL NETWORK, THE DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION, MUSICARES AND WATERAID

RINGO STARR TO CELEBRATE 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH STARR STUDDED CHARITY BROADCAST, “RINGO'S BIG BIRTHDAY SHOW” TO BENEFIT BLACK LIVES MATTER GLOBAL NETWORK, THE DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION, MUSICARES AND WATERAID

SHOW TO AIR ON YOUTUBE ON JULY 7, 2020 AT 5PM PST FEATURING PERFORMANCES FROM STARR, PAUL MCCARTNEY AND JOE WALSH AND GARY CLARK JR, SHERYL CROW, SHEILA E, BEN HARPER AND MICHAEL MCDONALD.

VISIT RINGO'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

Michael McDonald: A Conversation in Lockdown Times

Sat, 30 May 2020 14:39:32 GMT

Michael McDonald: A Conversation in Lockdown Times

Paul Zollo - May 28, 2020

The legendary songwriter-singer discusses songs, songwriting, Steely Dan, Doobies, and his new recordings of classic songs such as “What The World Needs Now” and “What’s Going On.”

That the man possesses one of the greatest and most distinctive voices to grace popular music has been well-established for decades. It is a sound unlike any other – rich, poignant and deeply soulful. It’s a sound many of us first heard in the background vocals on great Steely Dan tracks, such as “Peg” – in which he sang all the parts. (Which, as he says in the following, remains one of his hardest singing jobs ever, due to the close and complex Becker-Fagen harmony parts).

Then he joined the Doobie Brothers, replacing founding member Tom Johnston, at which time we all learned quickly that the man writes songs as distinctive and soulful as his singing. The sophisticated soul of his songs, such as “What A Fool Believes” (co-written with Kenny Loggins), “Taking It To The Streets,” “Minute By Minute” and others both transformed and expanded the sound of the Doobies, as it did the sound of pop radio at the time.

Since then he’d done many great solo albums, and more. And when the man signs a cover, and brings that soulful sound, there’s nothing much better, such as his duet with Phoebe Snow on “Knock On Wood,” or with his wife Amy Holland on Louise Goffin’s great “Bridge Of Sighs.”

He’s being inducted, along with Tom Johnston and his fellow Doobie Brothers, into the Rock Hall of Fame this year. The original plan was for the band to go out on tour this summer, but since the pandemic has changed all that, Michael has been working on music at home in Northern California. His newest album of originals Wide Open came out in 2017, and he’s working on a new project recording classic songs, all designed to speak to this moment in time. His voice and songs have always been healing, but now especially, in times of fear and chaos, it’s an especially calming and hopeful sound.

Part of that magic is that we connect that voice to happy, carefree moments in our life, such as those summer nights seeing him and the Doobies, everyone dancing under the moon. It’s something he understands in a big way, as he reaches back to the soulful music of his St. Louis youth. He’d been noticing the unique power of certain classic songs to resonate with a current moment better than anything else. Two of these stood out to him to share during these lockdown times, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and Bacharach and David’s “What The World Needs Now (Is Love Sweet Love).”

All of which and more we covered in this new talk we had over the phone, like all interviews right now, here in this singular Spring of 2020.

AMERICAN SONGWRITER: We’re so happy to talk with you. You’re not only one of the great songwriters – but one of the greatest vocalists ever in recorded music. Your voice is unlike all others, and is a sound we so love to hear.

MICHAEL McDONALD: Thanks. I appreciate that. When it’s there, the voice, it’s good. It isn’t always there. I guess everybody goes through that. And I’m lucky that I don’t go through it more. But on any given night there’s sometimes when it isn’t all the way there.

I was listening to something the other night, a live track that I found and I could tell it was one of those nights. It made me cringe a little bit. I’m always grateful when it’s there to any degree.

When we first heard it in a big way was on Steely Dan records. Especially on the song “Peg” from Aja. And that is such a delicious sound, you doing all those parts. Becker & Fagen’s use of your voice and your talent really added a whole other dimension in their music.

Yeah. And it was really Donald [Fagen] who brought to my attention that, as far as recording with myself, doing all the backgrounds and then doubling each part, is a great sound. But not easy to do!

Because whenever you double backgrounds in a background session, when you’re singing with other singers, it always sounds better, but there’s something very ethereal about, and I think this goes for anyone really, not just me, but when anyone doubles many parts of their own voice.

I did it a lot on demos and that’s why I was kind of used to it, but I never quite inverted the parts the way Donald has done on “Bad Sneakers.” It was kind of an epiphany for me that doing that could create a texture and a sound that was unique.

The secret to that is doing all the parts with one person, and then that person doubling those parts. It’s going to take on a certain kind of phasing and an ethereal nature that you’re not going to get if it’s just different people singing with you.

And Donald and Walter, knowing sonics better than most, seem to really recognize that your voice has a special quality. We could understand why they wanted that sound on their records. It adds a warmth and vigor that is powerful. And especially to have you sing all the parts. Though I can imagine how hard that was.

Yeah. I kind of cheated on that session for “Peg.”

I told Donald, “Man, let me just do the parts without hearing the last part I did.” Because the harmonies were so close together, and not being a really trained vocalist in a formal sense, it was tough. It’s not that I didn’t understand the harmony theory of it, but I didn’t have the skill to sing up against my own voice a half step away, or even a whole step away, without having it confuse my sense of pitch.

So I just did each part without hearing any of the other parts. [Donald] would give me the part and I would sing it, and then double it, and then we heard it all together after I did all the parts and doubled them.

That was the first time we actually heard the backgrounds, after I’d done all that. And it was interesting. I think everybody was happy how it turned out.

It’s very special. And they mixed it in a way that it really features your voice too. You could really hear your soul coming through. It’s such a soulful sound, yet so individual to you. Growing up, were there singers you loved that shaped your singing?

I had really picked up so many stylistic things from growing up singing the Top 40in clubs. Back when I was a teenager and I was in some of the more popular bands in the St. Louis metropolitan area. We felt we were embroiled in a competition, if you will, to who sounds the most like the record. So we would learn all the Top 40 music from the day. And early on I learned that you don’t want to try to imitate anyone, because the audience doesn’t buy that. But if you can understand the phrasing and the sensibilities of the singer on the record, then you can come a lot closer to helping the band actually sound like the record more.

That was the thing to do when you’re a popular Top 40 band in a metropolitan area. People come to hear you because they want that; they say, “Wow, you sound like the Beach Boys!” Or “Wow, they sound like the Four Seasons!” Or “Wow, you sound like Aretha!” Or Satchmo, or Sam & Dave.

I was always learning from these singers, the nature of their phrasing, to make our performance of those songs feel closer to the record and more realistic. So I grew up doing that. And from that I came away with a lot of those sensibilities. My style is an amalgam of many, many singers that I grew up listening to.

You mentioned Aretha and Sam & Dave. That makes sense as there’s so much soul in your singing. Especially for a white guy. You don’t sound like Perry Como.

[Laughs] The band I was for the longest time was Jerry Jay and the Sheratons. We were, believe it or not, a 13- piece group. We had a six-piece horn section and a rhythm section. And it was a great dance band, a really good band. We would play dance and R&B music for the most part. Soul music was always popular, but on the radio it was the British invasion morphing into the acid music in the West Coast.

So we were these guys with Bruni haircuts and [inaudible 00:08:01] like 13 of us. And playing kind of like dance music from, the people kind of like to dance to from Memphis and [inaudible 00:08:11] records, something like that that were more traditional soul bands.

We loved The Doobies before you joined the band. You so transformed that band. Similar to how Fleetwood Mac was transformed when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined, which changed the sound of the band profoundly. Your songs, and your voice and playing with them was phenomenal – but different for them. Was that an easy transition for them to make, and for you?

Well, it happened fairly naturally. And I really can’t take credit for the whole metamorphosis that the band went through at the time. I mean, I was part of it. But really I think it had more to do with the absence of Tom Johnson than anything else, because he was such a strong influence and such a strong provider of original music for the band. Him and Pat pretty much were the main writers for the band. So Pat was still in place. But even Pat was getting pretty experimental at that point in time. He was starting to write things that had more of a jazz flavor. Up to that time, he’d written stuff that was more a kind of Delta Blues or folk rock or classic rock kind of stuff.

“South City Midnight Lady” was a beautiful guitar ballad. His styles were very diverse all along. He always contributed a slack key guitar piece, instrumental. But then when I joined the band, it seemed like it was between Jeff Baxter, myself and Pat. It was a kind of a collective, and we thought, “Where do we go from here without Tommy?”

So it was more by default than by intention. We just went into this jazz, R&B and pop kind of thing because it’s kind of what we knew. Pat was willing to explore on his own, with his own writing. So the band morphed collectively more than just because of one person.

From the outside we heard the sound of your voice and your songs at the heart of this guitar-oriented band. “What A Fool Believes” was the first we heard, which is such a pianistic sounding song, not something a guitarist would write, with all those alternate bass notes on the chords. Was that song an easy fit for them?

Yeah. I’ve been lately kind of moving towards learning some of my own songs on guitar. And it’s an interesting transition for me. I find that you’d have to think differently and there’s a way to do it and it’s always interesting how that works out. I tend to think of it the chords and the chord progressions differently playing them on guitar than on piano.

They look one way to me on the piano. Typically I think in terms of not so much what the chord really is, but what the chord is if I break it down in my own head. Which is easier for me to think of on piano.

Like if I’m going to play a G chord with a D in the bass or an F in the bass. I look at the top on my right hand as just a simple triad, and the bass is dictating what the chord actually is in many cases, what the left hand is. I don’t really think of it as like a G-11 or flat-nine. I’ll think of it as an F minor-major seven over a G in the bass.

It’s weird. It’s a very simplistic way of looking at it. But because I was never really formally trained on piano, I tend to kind of think that way because that’s how I taught myself with the bass-lines and the chords. So learning them on guitar has kind of proven to be an eye-opening experience.

Yeah, because that’s much harder to do on a guitar. Almost impossible. Though, of course, Skunk Baxter can do it easily, as he did with Steely Dan. Do you recall what it was like when you brought “What A Fool Believes” to them? Was it tough for them to get it right?

No, not really. When I wrote the song, I was thinking of some of the older Pop and R&B things from Motown that I liked, and some of the old Four Seasons records that I liked. And I thought, that would be interesting for the band. Because we had been kind of bravely going into this vintage pop mode sometimes with some of the other songs we’d done. And so this just seemed like a kind of a continuation of that. We experimented with old gospel feels and stuff.

When I went to the band with the song, I said, “I kind hear this as like an old Four Seasons record, like a `Walk Like a Man’ or a Sherry.”

And then there’s an old Motown song, years back [by The Four Tops], called “Sweet Understanding Love.” And it has that lilting piano figure. And I thought that there’s a way we could make a record like that. It was my effort to write a song that would fit that kind of description. And even in the production value, recording it, I remember Teddy at one point pulled out a piece of plywood and put it on the studio floor and we all stomped on it, four on the floor with our feet, just to make it sound like the old Four Seasons record.

You wrote “What A Fool Believes” with Kenny Loggins. Was that written while you were in the Doobies or before that?

Yeah. I was in the Doobies at the time. Kenny came down from Santa Barbara. That was the first song we wrote together.

Did you intend it to be a song for you with the Doobies?

Well, yeah. It was a little piece of the song that I had laying around. I mean every time I played it with Ted [Templeman, producer], he would go, “Man, you got to finish that. That’s just it. I’m telling you.” And I would go, “Yeah, I will. I will. I just got to figure out where it’s going to go.”

Even when Kenny and I decided to get together and write, I kind of played it in the morning. And oddly enough, the way that actually worked out was I was playing things for my sister at my house. She had come to visit. I had never met Kenny before. He was coming down. We made this day to write.

So as I was playing some things for my sister, and I said, “I’m thinking of playing Kenny this. What do you think of this?”

She said, “Yeah, that sounds good. Whatever.“

The doorbell rang and I go to the door and it was Kenny. I said, “Hey, man, come on in. I’m glad you made it down okay.”

And he said, “Man, before I say anything else, you were just playing something on the piano. Is that new?”

I said, “Yeah. As a matter of fact, I was playing it in anticipation of thinking about playing it for you.”

He said, “That’s what I want to work on. Let’s go right into that.”

He liked the feeling and the piano figure and everything. So we did. And then within two days we wrote the song.

Before today I hadn’t heard Aretha’s version of it. I wondered if she would do it well. And yes, she so does.

Oh, yes, yes. No doubt about it.

You also wrote “Minute by Minute,” then, another hit for The Doobies. Just the piano intro on that alone blew us away. It’s amazing. Also pianistic – super fast but so complex.

It’s simpler than it sounds. It has that groove where it feels like it’s kind of competing, time-wise. But it emulates a lot of things I’ve heard on old gospel records. It’s really on the upbeat, so you don’t really get where one is until the song starts and drops in.

One of my favorite covers ever you did was when you were in the Dukes of September with Donald Fagen, and did “Knock On Wood” with Phoebe Snow. Her voice was also so amazing, and the two of you together on that is so great.

Yeah. I miss Phoebe. She was a sweet gal. She was a very funny girl. Yeah, we had a great song for sure.

Also, the duet you did with your wife Amy Holland on “Bridge of Sighs,” which Louise Goffin wrote, is so great. It’s a great song, and the two of you on it was really beautiful.

That is a great song. I’ve always loved that song from when I heard her record of it. I was always looking for the chance to do a cover of that and this was the perfect opportunity.

Speaking of classic songs, I love your current project of recording great songs. Your version of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” is great. And as you said, it’s amazing how certain songs from the past resonate with present times so powerfully. That’s a perfect example, especially when you sing it like that. As is “What The World Needs Now” by Bacharach and David.

Yeah, vocal songs, “What the World Needs Now” and “What’s Going On.” We’ve played them quite often live because it’s hard to beat that. They’re both just beautiful prayers for peace. And that’s the subject matter that can condemn the times, especially times of nationalistic fervor, and people thinking that the U.S. should beat the rest of the world over the head with its own philosophy of things.

And basically what we’ve got to remember is that we really should be leading the charge on promoting good will and peace and understanding. Because that is our strength. That’s what’s always made us great. And when we start thinking that it’s other things that made us great beyond that, we start to lose our way.

I agree. And at times like this when people are not sure what’s real and they’re scared, to hear a song and a singer like you, that’s real. It’s undeniable. So this helps right now so much in a healing way.

Well, thanks, I appreciate that. Yeah, these are interesting times. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise that none of us would have done for ourselves. Unfortunately for some people it’s very desperate times financially, and the rest of us got to remember that.

Yeah. A lot of musicians especially are really hurting because they have no gigs right now. And music folks of all kinds, in studios, on tours, teaching. All of it.

Yeah. And it’s kind of hard to, of course, with all the people who are hurting, to realize that there are certain things we’ve got to do to beat this thing, and keep it from really ravaging humanity anymore than it already has.

But at the same time we have to understand each other and how so many of us live paycheck to paycheck. And I know what that’s all about. I grew up that way. And in many ways, people that have built a certain amount of personal wealth for themselves, it’s a house of cards. It takes one year where all of a sudden all your work disappears. You realize you’re living paycheck to paycheck, too, whether you like to admit it or not.

So it’s kind of scary. But at the same time, it’s probably important for us in the way these things happen providentially, where we’re all starting to get in touch with ourselves in a way we wouldn’t have done without this. We’re getting in touch with each other and realizing what is actually important.

One last question. If you had to just choose a song that you didn’t write as an example of a great song, what comes to mind? Is there one?

Well, yeah. I’m kind of a sucker for some of the songs that were written in the early Sixties. I love Brenda Lee and Etta James, some of those songs I love a lot. “I’m Losing Me” is one of those Brenda Lee songs I always love to play at the piano when I’m just sitting by myself.

It’s a pretty song. Also, Nancy Wilson’s “How Glad I Am.” I love that song. And every time I hear that record, I have to crank it up. Those are songs I love to sit around and mess around with at the piano and kind of reharmonize and stuff like that.

Michael McDonald Ponders Future of 2020 Tour, Shares Timely Cover

Wed, 13 May 2020 20:16:31 GMT

Michael McDonald Ponders Future of 2020 Tour, Shares Timely Cover

FROM BILLBOARD ONLINE

5/13/2020 by Gary Graff

McDonald debuts poignant version of 'What the World Needs Now Is Love'

Rest assured there's nothing random about Michael McDonald's decision to release live covers of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the 1965 Burt Bacharach-Hal David penned Jackie DeShannon hit "What the World Needs Now Is Love," the latter of which is premiering below.

"We always end our evening with one of those two songs, or both," McDonald -- who's slated to inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Doobie Brothers on Nov. 7 -- tells Billboard from quarantine in his home near Santa Barbara, Calif. "We've tried to make our live shows leave people with a sense of community and a little something more important than just all of us getting together to hear some live music. That's certainly a wonderful thing...but nonetheless we take the opportunity to say something beyond that to all the people who are nice enough to come hear us that points to the fact we're a community. And the mindfulness of being a community is always important -- especially now."

McDonald's version of the song was recorded during 2019, and in addition to sharing a poignant sentiment for the time it's also helping him achieve some recording ambitions. "For a long time I thought about taking some live shows and making use of that stuff," he explains. "I've always thought people should have it made available to them if they want to check it out. Over the years the record companies would always say, 'Oh, nobody buys live records' and I never thought that was true. So this just seemed like an opportunity to get some live music out there and let people check us out as a band."

McDonald says there will be more music coming, too -- much of it original. He's been working on a new studio album, his first since Wide Open in 2017. But before that he's planning to release an EP of material he's been working on with local musicians in a converted barn studio on a ranch his friend owns north of Santa Barbara. Intended to be a merch item for the Doobie Brothers' 50th anniversary tour this year, the set combines "some songs I've written over the years I thought I might never record" -- including a composing collaboration with David Crosby -- as well as a "very broke down" version of Neil Young's "Helpless" and renditions of some of McDonald's previous material, including the Doobies' "It Keeps You Runnin'," "What a Fool Believes" and "You Belong to Me" done in samba and bossa nova styles.

"It turned out to be a California kind of project," says McDonald. "We just kind of hang out at the barn and jam, and we started doing some of these songs and this is what it turned into. It was originally going to be something I did just for the tour but it's turned into something a little more than that."

The Doobies tour, with McDonald joining the existing lineup of the band, is slated to kick off July 9 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and has not yet been postponed or canceled. In the midst of the pandemic McDonald says that "I can't imagine we'll go out this summer or any time soon" but is awaiting word on what will happen. "I have yet to hear about the summer dates as far as anything official," he notes. "I think everybody's waiting to hear what happens before they make any announcements, even to us as a band. So we're all in limbo wondering, 'Well, what's gonna be the plan?' I know they have all kinds of formulas in place." McDonald is, nevertheless, hoping that the shows do happen -- as well as the Hall of Fame induction, which was moved back six months -- even if they're moved a year or more after they were initially planned.

"We're all pretty geared up to go do it -- but such is everybody's fate these days," he says. "I know I'm really looking forward to it, and I hope all the other guys are up for it come next year."

NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:09:49 GMT

NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

NPR invited Michael to be perform a Tiny Desk Concert from his home studio. You can watch the session by clicking here:

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/01/823928589/michael-mcdonald-tiny-desk-home-concert

Michael McDonald Performs 'Just Dropped In'

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:47:09 GMT

Michael McDonald Performs 'Just Dropped In'

Michael McDonald 'Just Dropped In' to share his love and admiration for the one and only Kenny Rogers. ��

To learn more or donate to COVID-19 relief in Kenny Rogers' name text KENNYCARES to 41444 or visit MUSICARES.ORG/KENNYCARES .

Michael will be the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next Thursday, April 16th

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:41:24 GMT

Michael will be the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next Thursday, April 16th

Michael will be the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next Thursday, April 16th.

Be sure to tune in or set your DVRs!

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces Rescheduled Induction Ceremony for November 7th

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:33:45 GMT

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces Rescheduled Induction Ceremony for November 7th

HBO to Live Broadcast the Ceremony

CLEVELAND (March 24, 2020) – The rescheduled 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony presented by Klipsch Audio will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. HBO will broadcast the show live beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

The 2020 Induction Ceremony honors Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T-Rex, and Ahmet Ertegun Award recipients Irving Azoff and Jon Landau.

“Important cultural events like the Induction Ceremony are what make Cleveland strong. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Hall is a great asset for our State and Induction Week provides a significant economic benefit to our region,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Following the recommendation of public health officials, the 2020 Induction Ceremony was postponed as a precaution due to COVID-19 concerns. The Ceremony was originally set to take place on May 2nd.

Tickets for the original date will be honored. Fans do not need to exchange their tickets. Those who cannot attend the rescheduled date can refund their tickets by accessing their Ticketmaster account.

Updates on the Rock Hall’s temporary closure to the public can be found at rockhall.com and its social media channels. With schools closed across the nation, and classes being conducted online, the Rock Hall is providing FREE online materials about rock & roll that can be used in virtual classrooms. Please help us reach teachers with these resources by sharing this link https://www.rockhall.com/education.

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall) and Instagram (@rockhall). Long Live Rock!

Rolling Stone Interview

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 16:28:00 GMT

Michael McDonald on the Doobie Brothers Entering the Rock Hall: ‘They Deserve the Nod’

The unofficial Yacht Rock captain is overjoyed to be entering the Hall of Fame with the Doobie Brothers

By ANDY GREENE

The Doobie Brothers were one of the most popular bands in America when Michael McDonald joined their ranks in 1975. Frontman Tom Johnston had just departed due to medical issues and they wanted someone to contribute to the harmonies and add keyboards into the mix. At that point, McDonald was best known for his studio work with Steely Dan, and the group had no idea he was a brilliant songwriter until he showed them a demo for “Takin’ It to the Streets,” which quickly became the title for their sixth studio record and an enormous radio hit.

It was the beginning of a long string of McDonald-penned Doobie Brothers hits like “What a Fool Believes,” “Minute by Minute,” and “Real Love.” The group broke up in 1982 and it was the earlier “China Grove” lineup that re-formed five years later, though McDonald toured with them in 1995 and has guested sporadically with them ever since, often at corporate gigs. But this summer he’s hitting the road with the Doobies for an extensive 50th-anniversary tour.

We spoke to McDonald about the Doobie Brothers entering the Hall of Fame, plans for the upcoming tour, and what it’s like to be the captain of the Yacht Rock scene.

Congrats on the big news.

MM: Thank you! It’s exciting, for sure.

What was your first reaction to hearing about it?

MM: I guess I was a little apprehensive just in the sense that I didn’t want to assume too much too soon because you never know how these things are going to fall. Even just up to a couple of days ago, I thought, “Well, anything could happen.” But it’s great news for us. It’s very exciting. It’s always been an honor for me to work with the guys over the years. It’s been a huge chapter of my life. Just on a personal level, getting this award with these individuals means a lot.

Is this something you thought much about over the years? You guys have been eligible for a long time.

MM: I don’t think I ever really thought about it too much, but I always thought it would be nice. And I thought the band, with or without me, just as a band, deserved the nod. They are such an American band, starting in 1970. I felt as an entity the band deserved a nod from the Hall of Fame, so I’m happy to see that happen and couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.

The timing is pretty perfect because you guys are going on that huge tour this summer.

MM: Going out for the 50th and having this be the way the year starts off is really exciting.

Bands usually play four songs. Any idea what you might play?

MM: We don’t know yet. I’m guessing we’ll do “Long Train Runnin’,” “Listen to the Music” and maybe “Takin’ It to the Streets” and “Black Water.” That would be my guess.

You’re going in alongside Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T. Rex, Notorious B.I.G., and Whitney Houston.

MM: There’s something about all those bands that I really enjoy a lot. More than anything, each of those bands has helped shape the form that rock & roll has taken over the years. That’s what I like to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame do, pick those bands that have sculpted what we see rock & roll as today.

Can you envision an all-star jam between all you guys?

MM: Sure. I’ve always found in those situations that it’s amazing how there’s usually mutual admiration on some level. A friend of mine, David Pack from Ambrosia, was just telling me the other day that he was on a plane with Ronnie James Dio one time. He said, “I don’t know what came over me, but I apologized for having written ‘I’m Not In Love.'” Maybe it was another ballad like “That’s How Much I Feel.” Either way, Ronnie said “Are you kidding? I’d give anything to write a song like that.” It just goes to show you.

Are you open to the idea of playing with Skunk Baxter and Tiran Porter at the induction?

MM: Sure. Yeah. The way I look at it is that it’s a night for for anything to happen. Anything could happen and probably should. It’s a magical night for us and the one chance in a long time that we’d all get to play together and take the stage together.

I’m sure standing at the podium will be a very emotional moment for you.

MM: It’s the culmination of a lot of years of traveling together and working together. We are fortunate that our friendship has remained the most important thing to us through all the various incarnations of the band. We all had an appreciation for what the band has meant to each of us individually and what it’s been as an experience collectively.

The band was never a real critic’s band, but in so many ways that just doesn’t matter.

MM: Yeah. We always kind of had to look for our validation from our fans because that was really where we got it, on the road playing for people live and having that communication. As far as the media goes, we weren’t referred as a cutting-edge band.

I hear those songs all the time though. That matters more than what any critic wrote decades ago.

MM: I hope you’re right. It certainly has been an amazing ride for us.

Are you thinking much about how the show will be structured this summer when you hit the road with them?

MM: We haven’t really got into the nitty-gritty of it. We’ll probably start rehearsals in May. I’ve talked to [keyboardist] Billy Payne myself and John [McFee]. I’m just trying to get as much material from those guys as I can. I really want to come into this thing as finely meshed into it as I can with Billy. He’s such a phenomenal keyboard player and [has] always been one of my favorites. I want to know what he’s playing and what he thinks I should play and kind of go from there and suss out what my role in keyboards will be. I want to contribute. I don’t want to be the guy that jumps in the pool and splashes everybody who is having a great, great time without me.

With any band, but especially one on the larger size, you want to look for where you can be a contribution to the whole thing. And I know my job as singing will be just what it is. I’ll sing the songs that I sing and then just do backgrounds. I’m really looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to having less responsibility as a lead singer [than] I do with my band. When you’re out on the road for months, there’s always these periods of time where you’re gasping for air and hoping your voice will show up. It’s going to be fun for me to just sing a couple of songs a night.

I’ve seen Neil Young say that he used to love the CSNY tours since the whole thing wasn’t on his shoulders. It’s the same here. You’re just part of a band.

MM: Yeah. I think that appeals to most people by nature. There are people that are gifted with great performing skills, but a lot of musicians are not. They were pushed out into the spotlight in certain circumstances, but would usually prefer to be pushed into the backline doing their thing and not having too much responsibility as far as performing goes. I think 80 percent of the musicians I know feel that way.

And Tom and Pat both really have their voices.

MM: Yeah. The band has never sounded better to me. I saw them recently in Nashville. It struck me that this was the best they’ve ever sounded. It’s inspiring to see that. We’re all getting older. You think, “Geez, am I going to be able to do this forever? When do I give up the ghost?” It’s a physical endeavor like anything else. But to see those guys really nail it to the wall, and anyone, the Stones and all these different acts performing at the top of their game, with some of them in their seventies. It gives me great hope.

Are you going to sing any non-Doobies songs in the set?

MM: I’m not sure about that. I think we’ll suss that out, but I’m going to do as much pre-studying and woodshedding as I can knowing that the band — and it’s always been this way — we figure out what we’ll do when we get together. We’ll see what feels good and what doesn’t feel good. There will be a lot of trial and error in rehearsals.

Are you working on any new songs right now?

MM: I’ve actually been recording an album. It started out as an EP and I don’t know what it is at this point. As long as I can think of things to do, I’ll be recording. It’s actually a very simple project. It’s just live. A couple of tracks are with local musicians in Santa Barbara, just musicians I play with in the different local haunts there. I decided to pull them in for a little project. Everything is live. I’m playing live and singing live. I just thought I’d do something like that, that was really simple and kind of represented my experience in California.

It’s nothing too ambitious, really. Just myself and some local friends. We went up to a studio in Santa Barbara on the coast and just played some stuff live and decided what to record and hoped we’d remember the words by the time we got to taping. We’re all playing in one big room with an engineer. It’s a barn and we’re all on headphones in the same room tying to get out of everyone’s way.

When might that come out?

MM: I’m hoping to get it ready to go as merch on the Doobies tour. We’re trying to come up with stuff for the merch area. I think the Doobies are coming out with an EP. They asked me if I had anything and said, “I’ve got about 100,000 copies of the last record I did since I can’t seem to give it away.” I’m going to bring those out on the tour. I thought I’d record this EP for fun just as a California experience.

Do you still get a kick out of being sampled by rap artists? I can’t hear “I Keep Forgettin'” today and not think about “Regulate.”

MM: That was always fun. What I really found interesting was a lot of my synth sounds that have been sampled come from old records in the 1970s, not just the Doobies. Typically those sounds were things the producer and engineer hated that I came up with. I wasn’t too thrilled with it either, but it was the best I could figure out since I couldn’t work those contraptions very well. If I ever really wanted some decent synth sounds, I would call Billy Payne and get him to program some synths for me, which is what we did on “A Fool Believes.” On a lot of the other stuff I would go it alone. Nobody wanted to be in the room with me and a synthesizer. Let’s put it that way.

And so I hear a lot of that stuff on rap records in a different application where it sounds cool — that was kind of amusing to me. And “Regulate” in particular. I got a chance to meet Warren [G] on the road and his wife on the road. He’s a great guy. The first time I met him he was driving past me on the street in New York City. He rolled down the window and waved to me and we had two seconds to say hello.

They came down to a gig we did in Orange County. It was fun to sit and talk to him. That was one of the early stages of hip-hop sampling that kind of materialized from that point on.

Has any part of you grown weary of the term “Yacht Rock?”

MM: I’ve always found it funny, those Internet episodes. It was uncanny how it’s almost become a genre of music. The way I look at it is, it’s something people love to laugh about, but they still have a certain affection for it. In the 1970s when we were writing songs, it was a time when pop musicians were exploring more traditional jazz chord progressions and stuff like that. There was actually a period of time where you couldn’t put enough chords in a song for the radio.

Then there was the great Eighties backlash to that. It’s just a cyclical thing. I toured with Steely Dan a few years ago. I was listening to them from the side of the stage one night and it struck me how amazing it was these guys were the darling of pop radio for more than a decade and their songs are so strange and so harmonically and chordally experimental in some ways, and yet harkening to more traditional musical entities like Duke Ellington. Who would have ever guessed that would have become popular music for a decade?

It’s a pretty amazing thing. And you’re on so many songs from that time, you’re kind of seen as the captain of Yacht Rock. Do you like that moniker?

MM: [Laughs] I’ll take whatever I can get at my age.

Michael appears on Sanborn Sessions

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 20:03:59 GMT

Michael with Brian Owens on Sanborn Sessions

You can now watch a session for the new Sanborn Sessions webcast hosted by legendary saxophonist David Sanborn. Michael joins David and his fine group of musicians along with Michael's friend Brian Owens.

https://www.sanbornsessions.com/sessions

Michael Appears at Last Waltz 50 Year Celebration

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 22:47:52 GMT

At Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN Nov. 23, 2019

The night offered a reunion with "The Last Waltz" and one of its chief architects — The Band guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson.

On stage, Robertson joined the night's core players: Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule fame, celebrated Nashville player Jamey Johnson and Lukas Nelson, roots rock troubadour and son to Willie Nelson as well as Don Was.

Robertson, who's only performed live a handful of times this decade, anchored the show with guitar and backing vocals on a roaring rendition of marquee Band number, "The Weight."

Michael joined the stage to perform "Helpless" (Neil Young) with Emmylou Harris singing harmonies and "The Shape I'm In" (Robbie Robertson). The 3 1/2 hour show also included appearances by Margo Price, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Darius Rucker and Nathaniel Rateliff.

Michael McDonald reunites with The Doobie Brothers for 50th Anniversary Tour!

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:42:59 GMT

The Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour!

"Performing again with the Doobie Brothers is something I’ve been looking forward to for some time, especially in celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary. Now that it’s happening, I couldn’t be more excited."

Michael McDonald

The Doobie Brothers today announced a 30-city North American tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band’s founding. TOM JOHNSTON, MICHAEL MCDONALD, PAT SIMMONS and JOHN MCFEE will be back on tour together for the first time in nearly 25 years. The announcement came at the conclusion of the band’s performance at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, in which they played two of their iconic albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me. MICHAEL MCDONALD took to the stage during the band’s encore and gave a surprise performance of The Doobie Brothers’ smash hit single, “Takin’ It To The Streets,” before Pat Simmons announced that the entire band would be teaming up for a North American tour.

Tickets to THE DOOBIE BROTHERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, December 6 at 10am local time at. A limited number of LaneOne Premium Packages will also be available, including amazing seats, transportation, preferred entrance and more.

Check the Tour Page for full list of dates and onsale details.

Michael collaborates with the New Orleans band Bonerama

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 23:02:25 GMT

Michael collaborates with the New Orleans band, Bonerama

Michael collaborated with the New Orleans band, Bonerama on the song ‘Empty World’ as a tribute to Allen Toussaint. Song will be available next Friday 10/4, wherever you enjoy music.

http://hyperurl.co/suxata

The Last Waltz Tour Nashville

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 22:57:47 GMT

Michael McDonald to perform at The Last Waltz Tour in Nashville

The Last Waltz Nashville: An All-Star Celebration of the Band’s Historic Farewell Concert will be held on Saturday, November 23 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

This inaugural holiday event captures the excitement of The Band’s historic 1976 Thanksgiving concert with some of music’s biggest stars including Darius Rucker, Michael McDonald, Emmylou Harris,

Vince Gill, Nathaniel Rateliff, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Don Was,

John Medeski, Cyril Neville, Dave Malone, Bob Margolin, Terence Higgins and Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns.

This once in a lifetime concert event includes a rare, very special appearance by music icon Robbie Robertson of The Band.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 10 AM CT at http://ticketmaster.com . VIP packages, including great seats and exclusive event merchandise, will be available.

Blackbird Presents continues its tradition of supporting important charities, particularly during the holiday season. Thus we are excited to announce that a portion of proceeds will go directly to Farm Aid http://farmaid.org , whose mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America, and Thistle Farms http://thistlefarms.org , a nonprofit social enterprise, based in Nashville, TN, dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. In addition to supporting these organizations, Blackbird Presents will organize a donation drive to help support Second Harvest http://secondharvestmidtn.org , whose mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in Middle Tennessee.

DOOBIE BROTHERS NOMINATED FOR ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 22:57:43 GMT

DOOBIE BROTHERS NOMINATED FOR
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and thrilled that members of the band, past and present, have been included. Congratulations to the other incredible artists nominated this year.

Vote daily beginning on October 15, 2019 and continuing through 11:59p.m. EST on January 10, 2020 at www.rockhall.com/vote . Voting is capped at one ballot per day.

mcd

New Amy Holland song featuring Michael McDonald

Brand new single by Amy Holland featuring Michael McDonald is out now...

Santana and The Doobie Brothers announce the Oneness Tour!

Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists Santana and The Doobie Brothers announce the Oneness Tour...

Michael to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame

Michael to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame 2026...

Inside MusiCast Interview: Michael McDonald talks about the renewal of the Doobies, and the new album, Walk This Road.

Inside MusiCast Interview: Michael McDonald talks about the renewal of the Doobies, and the new album, Walk This Road...

The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald Q&A: On the Doobies’ New Album ‘Walk This Road,’ His Steely Dan Era and the Keys to “Living Successfully”

The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald Q&A: On the Doobies’ New Album ‘Walk This Road,’ His Steely Dan Era and the Keys to “Living Successfully”...

Michael will be joining David Foster: The Hitman Cruise this January 15–20, 2026.

Michael will be joining David Foster: The Hitman Cruise this January 15–20, 2026...

Michael is honored to be joining the 9th annual #LoveRocksNYC benefiting @godslovenyc, on March 6th at @beacontheatre!

Michael is honored to be joining the 9th annual #LoveRocksNYC benefiting @godslovenyc , on March 6th at @beacontheatre !

Doobie Brothers Summer Tour Dates Announced!

Doobie Brothers Summer 2025 Tour Dates Announced!

The Doobie Brothers announce 2025 Summer Tour dates in UK and Ireland

The Doobie Brothers announce 2025 Summer Tour dates

﻿ in UK and Ireland including Hyde Park in London with ELO...

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM WALK THIS ROAD OUT JUNE 6, 2025

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM WALK THIS ROAD OUT JUNE 6, 2025... NEW SINGLE OUT NOW!

New in Rolling Stone - MICHAEL MCDONALD: MY LIFE IN 15 SONGS

New in Rolling Stone : MICHAEL MCDONALD: MY LIFE IN 15 SONGS - The Doobie Brother walks us through key songs in his career, from "What a Fool Believes" to "Yah Mo B There" with James Ingram...

Congratulations to Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald on being Grammy Nominated in the category, Best Traditional R&B Performance!

Congratulations to Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald on being Grammy Nominated in the category, Best Traditional R&B Performance! Listen here...

YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY premiering NOV 29 on HBO/MAX

YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY Premiers NOV 29 on HBO/MAX ... watch the new trailer here...

"Forever Young" videos out now featuring Michael & Dylan McDonald!

"Forever Young" videos out now, featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald with Brian Owens. Watch both the lyric & studio versions here...

"Forever Young" - new single featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald

"Forever Young" - new single featuring Michael and Dylan McDonald with Brian and Thomas Owens out now!

Michael McDonald Fresh Air interview on NPR

With age and sobriety, Michael McDonald is ready to get personal. Listen to his recent interview on NPR's Fresh Air.

Michael appears with Paul Reiser on The Tonight Show

Michael appeared with Paul Reiser on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote their new book, "What A Fool Believes... watch the video here.

Michael will be on Today & Jimmy Fallon 5/20

He Sang ‘What a Fool Believes.’ But Michael McDonald Is in on the Joke.

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be inducted into the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs's Hall Of Fame for our recording of “What A Fool Believes”

The Doobie Brothers are honored to be inducted into the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs 's Hall Of Fame for our recording of “What A Fool Believes”...

Michael McDonald interview with Rick Beato

Michael McDonald: The Voice That Defined a Generation - Interview with Rick Beato

Early copies of my upcoming memoir, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES, have arrived!

Early copies of my upcoming memoir, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES, have arrived! Be one of the first to read it by entering our galley sweepstakes...

Michael McDonald will be performing at Mavis Staples 85th All-Star Birthday Concert

Michael McDonald will be performing at Mavis Staples 85th All-Star Birthday Concert at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on April 18th...

The Doobie Brothers have announced The 2024 Tour!

The Doobie Brothers have announced The 2024 Tour which will touch down in 38 U.S. cities, beginning with Seattle at the White River Amphitheatre on June 15...

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES: A MEMOIR BY MICHAEL MCDONALD WITH PAUL REISER OUT MAY 21 FROM DEY STREET BOOKS

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES: A MEMOIR BY MICHAEL MCDONALD WITH PAUL REISER OUT MAY 21 FROM DEY STREET BOOKS

Michael McDonald and @PaulReiser will be a part of an intimate live television show taping!

On December 13th, Michael McDonald and @PaulReiser will be a part of

﻿ an intimate live television show taping

Michael duets with Dolly Parton on her new Rockstar album!

Michael duets with Dolly Parton on her new Rockstar album singing "Bittersweet". Listen Now!

The Doobie Brothers, have released a brand new single “Lahaina”

The Doobie Brothers, have released a brand new single “Lahaina”

Michael is part of the new book, "The Singers Talk"

Michael was honored to help the kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by participating in a groundbreaking book called The Singers Talk.

The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One Thing They're Never Asked About: Their Voices

Michael to join Patti LaBelle on the Norwegian Pearl

Michael is excited to join his dear friend, the incredible Patti LaBelle on the Norwegian Pearl for the “Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle: A One-Time Only Cruise Getaway”!

Michael to appear on A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys

Michael and Take 6 with appear together on

A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys, April 9 on CBS.

Michael is thrilled to be featured on Tommy Emmanuel’s new duet album...

Michael is thrilled to be featured on Tommy Emmanuel ’s new duet album, ‘Accomplice Two’.

The Doobie Brothers have announced 35 U.S. dates from June through October 2023.

The Doobie Brothers have announced 35 U.S. dates from June through October 2023,

an extension of their 50th Anniversary Tour.

Michael is excited to perform at the MusiCares 2023 Persons of the Year gala!

Michael is excited to perform at the MusiCares 2023 #PersonsoftheYear gala, honoring the legendary #Motown founder and GRAMMY Award nominee Berry Gordy, and GRAMMY Award winner and seven-time GRAMMY Award nominee Smokey Robinson .

Michael is excited to share that he is Harper's Bazaar magazine’s February 2023 Music Director.

Michael is excited to share that he is Harper's Bazaar magazine’s February 2023 Music Director.

The Doobie Brothers' Radio City Music Hall Concert to Air on PBS

The Doobie Brothers' Radio City Music Hall Concert to Air on PBS.

The special premieres on PBS stations beginning on November 26.

The Doobie Brothers nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class

Michael and The Doobie Brothers are honored to be nominated for the

﻿ Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class.

in UK and Ireland including Hyde Park in London with ELO...

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES: A MEMOIR BY MICHAEL MCDONALD WITH PAUL REISER OUT MAY 21 FROM DEY STREET BOOKS

an intimate live television show taping

Songwriters Hall of Fame 2023 Class.

Birthday Bash: A Party of One

“Home Alone 2 - Birthday Bash: A Party of One” on February 12th

RINGO STARR TO CELEBRATE 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH
STARR STUDDED CHARITY BROADCAST