b. 2 December 1952, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. McDonald has one of the most effortless and powerful voices in modern soul/rock. For a period in the 80s he also became a major, although not always completely consistent, hit songwriter. He recorded an abortive solo session for Bell Records in the early 70s, but found greater fame as a guest vocalist with Steely Dan and as a member of the Doobie Brothers. McDonald was instrumental in steering the latter's sound towards highly commercial soul-based rock.
Following his departure from the Doobie Brothers in 1982, McDonald embarked on a popular solo career. He had already won a Grammy for the Doobie Brothers hit, co-written with Loggins, Kenny, 'What A Fool Believes', but during the 80s he had his compositions recorded by numerous artists, including Franklin, Aretha, Jackson, Millie and Simon, Carly. He almost made the top of the US charts in 1982 with the soulful 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)'. His 'Yah Mo B There', recorded with Ingram, James in 1984, is a modern soul classic - it is not often that a white singer is able to write and sing in a predominantly black music genre with such conviction and integrity.
The 1985 album No Lookin' Back was a dance favourite, and was followed the next year by his epic US number 1 duet with LaBelle, Patti, 'On My Own'. During that year, he enjoyed an international hit with the theme from the movie Running Scared, the graceful 'Sweet Freedom'. His commercial profile declined in the 90s and with Reprise Records losing interest he joined the re-formed Doobie Brothers. In 1999, McDonald inaugurated the Ramp Records label with the support of actor Jeff Bridges and Chris Pelonis. The following February he released Blue Obsession, an album originally scheduled for release on his old label.
