Michael Mcdonald Net Worth In 2023, Birthday, Age, Wife And Kids
American singer-songwriter and musician Michael McDonald is renowned for the Grammy-winning songs he wrote and performed with the Doobie Brothers. Since the 1980s, he has had success as a solo artist, and his career is still flourishing today. We shall examine Michael McDonald net worth, biography, height, and earnings in this post.
American singer-songwriter and musician Michael McDonald is renowned for the Grammy-winning songs he wrote and performed with the Doobie Brothers. Since the 1980s, he has had success as a solo artist, and his career is still flourishing today. We shall examineMichael McDonald net worth, biography, height, and earnings in this post.
On February 12, 1952, Michael McDonald was born in the St. Louis neighborhood of Ferguson, Missouri. He participated in local bands while attending McCluer High School, including Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, and The Guild. After being recognized while performing with the band Blue, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1970 to pursue a career in music.
In 1974, McDonald joined Steely Dan's touring group as a lead and backup vocalist. He joined the band as one of several in-studio auxiliary musicians and sang backup vocals to many songs on Steely Dan's 1975 album "Katy Lied." He appears on the albums "The Royal Scam" from 1976 and "Aja" from 1977, both of which included keyboards on a few of the songs. He remained the band's backup singer until the 1980 release of "Gaucho." Michael accompanied Steely Dan on their summer tour in 2006 as both an opener and a band member.
The Doobie Brothers, a rock band, hired McDonald in 1975. After their main singer Tom Johnston became sick during a tour, they first brought in McDonald as a temporary substitute, but they decided to keep him on as a full-time member after seeing how well he performed.
Many of the band's most well-known songs, including the successes "Takin' It to the Streets," "Real Love," "Little Darling," "It Keeps You Runnin'," "Minute by Minute," and "What a Fool Believes," which reached No. 1 in the U.S., had McDonald on lead vocals. In addition, he performed with several musicians who were well-known at the time, such as Kenny Loggins, Toto, and Bonnie Raitt, as a session singer and pianist.
Around this time, McDonald collaborated with Carly Simon to write the song "You Belong to Me". After The Doobie Brothers' first breakup in 1982, McDonald reconnected with the group many times as a guest performer. McDonald made an appearance in 2010 on the group's 13th studio album, "World Gone Crazy." He collaborated with them in March 2014 on a new album that included the Doobies' 40-year career's biggest hits. The "SouthBound" album, the group's 14th studio album, was released in November 2014.
With the release of his first album "If That's What It Takes" in the early 1980s, McDonald began a solo career after the conclusion of the Doobie Brothers' first farewell tour. The album included the number-one singles "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and "I Gotta Try." Throughout this time, he continued to work with other musicians, contributing to the top-20 smash "I'll Wait" by Van Halen in 1984. He released "No Lookin' Back," his second studio album, in 1985.
He had co-produced and either co-authored or written all of the tunes alone for the first time in his solo career. A small success, co-written by Kenny Loggins, was the title song. The album "No Lookin' Back" had not been very successful by 1986, but McDonald had a tremendous hit with the release of the song "Sweet Freedom." The single, which was McDonald's last top-10 smash on the Billboard Hot 100, was included on the soundtrack for the movie "Running Scared."
In addition to his smash single "On My Own," a duet with Patti Labelle that reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts in 1986, he also re-released "No Lookin' Back" with several tracks that had been remixed. Later on in the year, McDonald contributed backup vocals to Toto's album "Fahrenheit," singing on the top-charting song "I'll Be Over You." McDonald's third studio album, "Take it to Heart," was released in 1990. He made a duet with Aretha Franklin called "Ever Changing Times" available as a single in 1991.
Trey Parker's humorous ballad "Eyes of a Child" was sung by McDonald in 1999 for the "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" closing credits. Additionally, he has had appearances on both "30 Rock" and "The Young and the Restless." McDonald received two Grammy nominations in 2003 for his album "Motown," an homage to Motown music. "Motown 2" was published in 2004.
He published another collection of covers in 2008 called "Soul Speak." With regard to the underpayment of royalties from internet sales, McDonald and Warner Music reached an out-of-court settlement in 2013. The rock group Toto and Michael co-headlined a U.S. tour the following year. He collaborated once again with Kenny Loggins in 2017 on the song "Show You the Way" by Thundercat from the album "Drunk."
McDonald later that year released his 10th studio album, "Wide Open." He contributed vocals as a guest performer to Barbra Streisand's 2018 rendition of "What the World Needs Now." He has received five Grammys, including the Song of the Year and Record of the Year awards for "What a Fool Believes" and "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for "Yah Mo B There" in 1984. He collaborated with musicians including Jack Jones, Van Halen, Patti LaBelle, Carly Simon, and Bonnie Raitt during his career.
Michael McDonald, the American singer and songwriter, is married to his wife, Amy Holland. Amy Holland is also a singer and songwriter. The couple has been married since 1983 and has worked together on various musical projects.
Since 1983, Michael McDonald has been wed to Amy Holland. Together, they have two kids: Dylan (born in 1987) and Scarlett (born in 1991). Holland and McDonald are Nashville, Tennessee residents.
Michael McDonald is said to have a net worth of around $40 million. His lucrative career in the music business has allowed him to amass his money. In addition to being nominated for several prizes, including six Grammy prizes, he has sold millions of CDs worldwide. Additionally, he has made money through his live concerts and other musical endeavors.
In 1974, McDonald became well-known after becoming the main vocalist for Steely Dan's touring band. 1975's Katy Lied, 1976's The Royal Scam, 1977's Aja, and 1980's Gaucho all included Michael's vocals. On a few songs the band recorded, he also played piano. He was employed by The Doobie Brothers in 1975 to take Tom Johnston's position as their bands' main singer.
After the band's 1975 tours were a big success, Michael joined the group permanently and contributed to the writing of several of their popular songs, including Takin' It to the Streets, Little Darling (I Need You), It Keeps You Runnin', and Minute by Minute. The Grammy Award for Song of the Year was given to McDonald in 1980 for his number-one hit, "What a Fool Believes."
Michael McDonald's talent and contributions to the music industry have been recognized with various awards and honors throughout his career. He has won several Grammy Awards both as a solo artist and as a member of The Doobie Brothers. Notable Grammy wins include "Record of the Year" (as a co-writer of "What a Fool Believes" with Kenny Loggins) and "Album of the Year" (as a member of The Doobie Brothers for "Minute by Minute") in 1980, as well as "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" for "Yah Mo B There" with James Ingram in 1984.
In 2002, Michael McDonald received an honorary doctorate from Berklee Collegeof Music, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the music industry. He was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004 for his achievements in the recording industry. In 2007, he received the SESAC Legacy Award for his role in shaping American music and his accomplishments as a songwriter and artist.
Further solidifying his impact on music, McDonald was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2015. These awards and honors reflect his enduring musical career and the significant mark he has left on the music industry.
Michael McDonald co-wrote "What a Fool Believes" with Kenny Loggins and provided his distinctive vocals to the song, contributing significantly to its success.
Michael McDonald's work as a session musician and backing vocalist for Steely Dan exposed him to a wider audience and helped shape his musical style before his solo and Doobie Brothers career.
In conclusion, Michael McDonald is a multifaceted musical talent whose career spans decades and genres. From his early influences and contributions to iconic bands like Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, to his successful solo endeavors, McDonald's impact on the music industry is undeniable.
His signature salt-and-pepper beard and distinct vocal style have made him a recognizable figure, while his collaborative efforts with various artists showcase his versatility. His timeless hits, like "What a Fool Believes," have earned him Grammy Awards and continue to resonate with audiences. Beyond his musical achievements, McDonald's philanthropic contributions and lasting influence on contemporary artists demonstrate the profound mark he has left on the world of music.
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