Michael McDonald

With his husky, soulful baritone, Michael McDonald has become one of the most distinctive and popular vocalists to emerge from the laid-back California pop/rock scene of the late '70s. See him perform live at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts on December 17th at 7:30pm.

McDonald has found the middle ground between blue-eyed soul and smooth soft rock, a sound that made him a star. He initially essayed his signature style with the Doobie Brothers, ushering in the group's most popular period with hits like "What a Fool Believes" and "Taking It to the Streets." McDonald disbanded the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career, which was initially quite successful, but by the end of the decade his popularity had faded away, since he was reluctant to work regularly and hesitant to update his sound to suit shifting popular tastes.