The husky, soulful baritone voice of Michael McDonald is one of the most effortless and powerful voices in modern soul/rock. His hit-making days include the Doobie Brothers (“What a Fool Believes,” “Minute by Minute,” “Takin’ It to the Streets”), his acclaimed solo recordings (“On My Own,” “Sweet Freedom,” “I Keep Forgetting”) and his guest performances on recordings with Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, James Ingram and countless others. Following his departure from the Doobie Brothers in 1982, Michael McDonald embarked on a popular solo career and 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 James Ingram in 1984, is a modern soul classic. McDonald didn’t deliver his second solo album, No Lookin’ Back, until 1985. Then, the following year, his duet with Patti LaBelle, “On My Own,” shot to number one and “Sweet Freedom,” climbed into the Top Ten. By 1996, McDonald had returned to the Doobie Brothers, touring with the reunited group. The following year, McDonald released Blue Obsession, his first album of new material in three years. He began a series of recordings devoted to the Motown catalog with 2003’s Motown. Motown Two and Soul Speak followed in 2004 and 2008 respectively. McDonald continues to tour the world.
