Michael McDonald has released a new live recording of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” to digital and streaming services. Download here.
Tune in to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this Thursday April 16th to watch Michael as the musical guest.
His voice is unmistakable. Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On” is also unmistakable and pertinent for our current times. A five-time Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter, pianist, producer, Michael McDonald’s voice is as rich as it is soulful and lends comfort during the time of quarantine and shelter-in-place because of the coronavirus.
McDonald’s band includes Bernie Chiaravalle (guitar, vocals), Dan Needham (drums, percussion), Pat Coil (keys), Drea Rhenee (vocals, percussion.) With many solo albums to his name, his solo career included collaborations with several well-known artists such as Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs Phoebe Snow, James Ingram, the band Toto, Kenny Loggins, and more. He began his career as a member of Steely Dan, singing lead and backing vocals, and then became a member of The Doobie Brothers in 1975. He sang lead vocals for some of the band’s best-known songs and reunited with the band several times since the band’s initial dissolution in 1982.
Michael McDonald has lent his talents and energies to a long, varied list of charitable causes throughout the first three decades of his career and he has contributed an overwhelming amount to numerous benevolent events and enterprises. Michael’s recent appearances have included a tsunami relief concert sponsored by The Wave in Los Angeles; TJ Martell’s Stevie Wonder tribute, NARAS/MusiCares’ tribute to Brian Wilson in 2005 and again in the 2007 tribute to Don Henley; Morehouse College’s tribute to Ray Charles, a fundraiser for Stax Museum and shows for The Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro, CA, and the Sisters of Mercy, in Oakland, CA, among others. And much more
On this day in 1979, “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers became the #1 song in the country on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to win two Grammy Awards in 1980 for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Michael McDonald Online
Love what Michael brings to one of my favorite tunes! Fantastic!!
This song has been a staple in Mike’s live sets for years …since his Motown tribute albums era, I think. Of course, it remains timely -and timeless. Glad he’s released it. He always seems to feature a classic tune in his live shows that’s generally not available on an official recording. A year ago I was fortunate to hear him do “What The World Needs Now is Love’…live in concert, just Mike and his keyboard for this solo spot in the middle of his regular band set. It was wonderful and moving. If he ever decides to release a collection of these soulful ballads from his shows, I’ll certainly buy it.