Michael McDonald (musician)

== Early years ==
McDonald was born on February 12, 1952, into a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Irish Americans|Irish American]] family in [[Ferguson, Missouri]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20140407/from-missouri-to-motown-michael-mcdonald-discusses-his-life-in-music |last=Odam |first=Matthew |title=From Missouri to Motown: Michael McDonald discusses his life in music |access-date=December 1, 2018 |publisher=Statesman}}</ref> a suburb of [[St. Louis]]. McDonald attended [[McCluer High School]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Michael McDonald – Missouri Legends|url=https://missourilegen.ds.com/artists/arts-and-entertainment/michael-mcdonald/|access-date=September 12, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> where he played in local bands, including Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, the Reeb-Toors/Younger Brothers and the Guild. In 1970, while playing with a band called Blue, he was discovered in an [[Illinois]] night club by [[RCA]] staff producer Rick Jarrard, who offered him a record contract and brought him to [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Michael McDonald|author=|date=May 15, 1976|work=Call and Post|page=8A|quote=In 1970 he was discovered while performing in an Illinois night spot by a record producer, who put him under contract and flew him to L.A. There, he recorded an album of his songs for RCA Records. It was never released. Nor was a subsequent album recorded for Bell Records.|id={{ProQuest|184526216}}}}</ref><ref name="RFreMD">Flans, Robyn (September 2, 2016). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/778888360/?clipping_id=115842566 "Michael McDonald takes Westlake stage; Five-time Grammy winner to perform at Blue Sun fest"]. ''Ventura County Star''. p.&nbsp;53. Retrieved January 5, 2022.</ref><ref name="MM2SS">Sutherland, Sam (January 1981). [https://archive.org/details/sim_musician_1981-01_29/page/50/mode/2up?q=%22rick+jarrard%22+%22michael+McDonald%22 "Michael McDonald"]. ''[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]''. p.&nbsp;50. Retrieved January 5, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6icEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=%22mike+mcDonald%22+%22good+old+time+love+song%22 "New Radio Action and Billboard Pick Singles: Pop"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. May 20, 1972. p.&nbsp;58. Retrieved January 5, 2022.</ref>