On February 12, 1952, Michael McDonald was hailed from Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. He was born to an Irish American Catholic family.
Michael McDonald, 69, attended McCluer High School. He moved to Los Angeles in 1970 for a further music career.
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Michael McDonald Net Worth And Career Details
Michael McDonald has a net worth of $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
He is an American singer and songwriter also best known for being on The Doobie Brother and Steely Dan, lead singer, and sometimes a background singer for both bands. McDonald also begins his solo career successfully and is a winner of five-time Grammy awards.
Michael McDonald started his career when he attended McCluer High School. His first performance was in the band Mike and the Majestics. Then, he joined another local band, including Reebtoors, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, and the Guild. Finally, he is shifted to Los Angeles in 1970 to pursue his further music career.
Before McDonald's career rose to stardom, he wrote songs and sang songs for other artists. Then, in 1974, he was hired by Steely Dan as an in-studio member. During his career in Steely Dan, he worked as a keyboardist and background singer of a Steely Dan album.
In April 1975, Michael McDonald joined The Doobie Brother. The band initially asked him to perform as the lead singer, Tom Johnston, was ill. However, the band was impressed by Michael's work and took the initiative to join a full-time member. He worked for the band as a lead singer and songwriter lead the band and took it to a great height. Their song What a Fool Believes has brought them Grammy Awards. Apart from the band, he also collaborated with various artists such as Toto, Christopher Cross, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Jones, and Kenny Loggins.
In addition, he worked as a keyboardist and session vocalist on their songs and albums. In the early 1980s, he left the band The Doobie Brother. Michael McDonald continued his solo career after he left the band. Then he released his solo album ‘If That's What it Takes’ in 1982. With his partnership with James Ingram, they have released a song, Yah Mo B There, in 1982, which peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The duo wins the prestigious Grammy Award for the duo.
In 1986, McDonald performed a duet with Patti LaBelle, On My Own, which is a peak at number 1 position on Billboard Hot 100. Later that year. In 1987, he partnered with the gospel music quartet The Winans for their album titled Love Has No Color, and in 1988, he again partnered with the gospel music quartet for the album ‘Take It to Heart’ which also featured Diane Warren as one of the songwriters. In 1992, he collab with Donald Fagen and Steely Dan's Walter Becker for a touring group, the New York Rock & Soul Revue. In 1995, he briefly joined The Doobie Brother for an expenditure. After three years later, he joins the tour for Stevie Nicks.
In 2000, Michael McDonald partnered with Jeff Bridges and Chris Pelonis and founded a record label, Ramp Records.
In 2011, Berklee College of Music awarded him the degree of Honorary Doctorate of Music. He has also performed for various recovery organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous to support the cause of rehabilitation of alcoholics. In December 2009, Michael performed in Santa Barbara, California, where he played at the newly renovated Granada Theater. From that performance, generated income was donated to Santa Barbara Education Foundation.
Then, in 2010, McDonald collaborated again with Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs to form The Dukes of September. In June 2012, The Dukes of September presented on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to push their tour. In addition, the group performed at Lincoln Center broadcast as a PBS special and later released on DVD. Next, in 2013, McDonald settled a $500,000 breach-of-contract suit with Warner Music over the less payment of several online sales. Then, within the summer of 2014, he cooperated a U.S. tour with the rock group Toto.
In 2017, McDonald partnered with Kenny Loggins on Thundercat's single Show You the way, which was included on the latter's album Drunk. Then, in June 2017, on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, McDonald, Loggins, and Thundercat presented the song together. In 2018, he performed as a guest singer on the What the world needs Now on Barbra Streisand's Walls.
The Doobie Brother reunion with Michael McDonald concert was scheduled. But, a touring member tested positive, and until further notice, concerts were canceled.
Michael McDonald Married Life With Wife Amy Holland
Michael McDonald has been married to Amy Holland since 1983. Together, they were blessed with two children, Dylan(born in 1987) and Scarlett(born in 1991).
Talking about their first encounter, while Amy was 15 years old in Capitol Records when Michael and Amy met. Both of them were both working for the same label at that time. But until five years they haven't been in touch with each other. The couple again met after Michael produced Amy's first, self-titled, studio album. And soon, they got hitched on May 21, 1983. The couple welcomed two children, Dylan(born in 1987) and Scarlett(born in 1991).
Michael McDonald's wife, Amy Holland, is also a musician and has released four studio albums, including Amy Holland (1980), On Your Every Word (1983), and Journey To Miracle River (2008). Her debuted album was nominated by Grammy Award in the category of Best New Artist.
Former The Doobie Brother Michael McDonald played a solo at Tarrytown's Music Hall, but biggest applaud when his wife performed a duet with him. He himself dedicates songs to Michael's wife.
When singer Amy Holland, McDonald's wife, stepped up to sing a duet with her husband, she gave a huge shout-out to her hometown: "This is really exciting for me because I grew up just across the river," Holland said.
Michael added, "She grew up in Palisades."