Noted for his virile and passionately soulful set of pipes, Missouri singer/songwriter MICHAEL McDONALD returns with his first album in almost a decade. It’s called ‘Wide Open’ and features twelve new songs co-produced by the 65-year-old singer with Shannon Forrest. The album follows in the wake of 2008’s ‘Soul Speak,’ McDonald’s take on a set of classic R&B covers, but is significant in that it is his first album of all-original material since 2000’s ‘Blue Obsession.’
McDonald’s career began in the 1970s, initially doing background vocals for Steely Dan – he appeared on their ‘Royal Scam,’ ‘Aja,’ and ‘Gaucho’ LPs – though he is best remembered for his hit-making stint in the Doobie Brothers between the years 1975-1982. In the ’80s, the singer found solo fame, and scored hits on his own with ‘Sweet Freedom’ as well as smash duets with Patti LaBelle (‘On My Own’) and James Ingram (‘Yah Mo Be There’).
More recently, earlier in 2017, McDonald appeared as a guest on Thundercat’s single ‘Show You The Way’ from the album ‘Drunk.’
‘WIDE OPEN’ IS OUT NOW VIA BMG.
Look out for an interview with Michael McDonald coming soon at SJF.
Read the review of 2008’s ‘Soul Speak’ here: http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/reviews/488-soul-speak.html
