Clarence McDonald
Encyclopedia
Clarence "Mac" McDonald is a Los Angeles based pianist, composer, arranger, and producer. He is a co-writer/co-publisher of the #1 Billboard and Grammy nominated song "Everything To Me" performed by Monica. Most recently McDonald performed on the all-star benefit album entitled Jazz For Japan (Avatar Records). He has worked with a long list of entertainment icons including Ray Charles
, Barbra Streisand
, Ella Fitzgerald
, Justin Timberlake
, Aretha Franklin
, James Taylor
, Carole King
, Freddy Hubbard, Nancy Wilson
, Boz Scaggs
, Seals & Crofts, Bill Withers
, and The Jackson 5
. McDonald is known for his musical diversity, enduring melodies and signature groove.
By the age of 16 McDonald was playing at the local nightclub, Memory Lane, accompanying American jazz & gospel singer Lorez Alexandria
. On the weekends, he was working with the Chico Hamilton
Quartet through an invitation from the Musical Director and saxophonist Charles Lloyd
. McDonald understood the guitar voicing’s required for the quartet and was able to play them on the piano.
In the early 1960s McDonald began working with the Los Angeles based vocal group, The Hi-Fi’s. He replaced Rex Middleton as the Musical Director. They changed their name to The Vocals and began working with American soul singer Lonnie Sattin. While touring, they were contacted to be the opening act for Ray Charles
and traveled with Charles in 1964-65. The group later changed their name to The Fifth Dimension
replacing some of the personnel.
In 1966 McDonald was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam. McDonald received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal
, Vietnam Service Medal
, and Vietnam Campaign Medal
.
McDonald returned to the music business contributing to thousands of songs as session player. Some of his first sessions were for Motown (Los Angeles) recording with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Jackson Five.
, McDonald met James Taylor
. That meeting followed with an invitation from Warner Brothers Producers Lenny Waronker
and Russ Titleman who asked McDonald to record on Taylor’s album, “GORILLA.” McDonald ended up recording on three albums: “Gorilla” (1975), “In the Pocket” (1976) and “JT” (1977). McDonald toured with Taylor from 1975 to 1978.
McDonald’s produced The Emotions
Platinum Album Rejoice with Maurice White
. On the album was the #1 Hot 100 and R&B song, “The Best of My Love.” The song won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single.
In 2004, McDonald recorded keyboards with Ray Charles
on the song “Heaven Help Us All” for the Grammy Winning Best Gospel Song duet with Gladys Knight
. McDonald arranged the song with David Blumberg
and Randy Waldman
. The song appears on Ray Charles
’ last album, Genuis Loves Company.
In 2007, Erykah Badu
released “Honey,” a song created with “I’m In Love” originally recorded by Nancy Wilson (Music on My Mind), produced by McDonald and co-written by McDonald, Fritz Baskett and David Shields. In 2008 the song was part of Badu’s CD New Amerykah VOL. 1. The lead single, “Honey” reached #22 on the Billboard
R&B/Hip Hop Charts.
In 2008, McDonald filmed and recorded a multi-media performance at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. McDonald documents stories of Los Angeles’ rich recording history with music classics he’s associated with: “Sarah Smile”/ Hall & Oates
(recorded at Larrabee Studios), “Summer Breeze
”/Seals & Crofts (recorded at The Sound Factory), “Best Of My Love” / The Emotions
(recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders) and “How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)”/ James Taylor
(recorded at Warner Brothers Recording Studios).
In 2010, McDonald was co-writer and co-publisher of the #1 Billboard single “Everything To Me” recorded by Monica (Still Standing). The song remained at #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Charts for seven consecutive weeks.
In 2011, in response to Japan’s natural disaster, McDonald recorded 3 songs for the Jazz for Japan music project. All proceeds from the recording project go directly to Japanese relief funds. McDonald was joined by a long list of Jazz luminaries including George Duke
, Nathan East
, Herman Jackson, Boney James
, Ndugu Chancler, Billy Childs, Christian McBride
, Marcus Miller
, David T. Walker
and others.
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, Freddy Hubbard, Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson may refer to:* Nancy Wilson , American jazz singer and actress* Nancy Wilson , American singer and guitar player, member of the band Heart...
, Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
, Seals & Crofts, Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
, and The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
. McDonald is known for his musical diversity, enduring melodies and signature groove.
Biography
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Clarence McDonald started playing music at a very young age. McDonald’s first instrument was the soprano saxophone followed by the trombone, euphonium, sousaphone and piano. He chose the piano as his primary instrument because he found it to be the most challenging.By the age of 16 McDonald was playing at the local nightclub, Memory Lane, accompanying American jazz & gospel singer Lorez Alexandria
Lorez Alexandria
Lorez Alexandria was an American jazz and gospel singer....
. On the weekends, he was working with the Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton , is an American jazz drummer and bandleader.-Early life through 1960s:Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. He had a fast-track musical education in a band with Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette and Jack Kelso...
Quartet through an invitation from the Musical Director and saxophonist Charles Lloyd
Charles Lloyd
Charles Lloyd is an American jazz musician. Though he primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute, he has also occasionally recorded on alto saxophone and more exotic reed instruments which include the Hungarian tárogató. Lloyd's saxophone playing is often characterized as an individualized,...
. McDonald understood the guitar voicing’s required for the quartet and was able to play them on the piano.
In the early 1960s McDonald began working with the Los Angeles based vocal group, The Hi-Fi’s. He replaced Rex Middleton as the Musical Director. They changed their name to The Vocals and began working with American soul singer Lonnie Sattin. While touring, they were contacted to be the opening act for Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and traveled with Charles in 1964-65. The group later changed their name to The Fifth Dimension
The Fifth Dimension
The 5th Dimension is an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire also includes pop, R&B, soul, and jazz.Originally known as The Hi-Fi's, the 5th Dimension changed its name in late 1966, and was best-known during the late 1960s and early 1970s for popularizing the hits "Up, Up and Away",...
replacing some of the personnel.
In 1966 McDonald was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam. McDonald received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
, Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
, and Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...
.
McDonald returned to the music business contributing to thousands of songs as session player. Some of his first sessions were for Motown (Los Angeles) recording with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Jackson Five.
Notable music projects
In 1975, while working with Carole KingCarole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, McDonald met James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
. That meeting followed with an invitation from Warner Brothers Producers Lenny Waronker
Lenny Waronker
Lenny Waronker is a record producer for Warner Bros. Records.-Career:He produced recording sessions for Nancy Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, The Beau Brummels, Harpers Bizarre, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Arlo Guthrie, Maria Muldaur, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones, James Taylor, ...
and Russ Titleman who asked McDonald to record on Taylor’s album, “GORILLA.” McDonald ended up recording on three albums: “Gorilla” (1975), “In the Pocket” (1976) and “JT” (1977). McDonald toured with Taylor from 1975 to 1978.
McDonald’s produced The Emotions
The Emotions
The Emotions are an American all female soul and R&B singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago, Illinois originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson....
Platinum Album Rejoice with Maurice White
Maurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
. On the album was the #1 Hot 100 and R&B song, “The Best of My Love.” The song won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single.
In 2004, McDonald recorded keyboards with Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
on the song “Heaven Help Us All” for the Grammy Winning Best Gospel Song duet with Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
. McDonald arranged the song with David Blumberg
David Blumberg
Clarinetist David Blumberg is a Concert Artist - Clinician for the , a noted pedagogue of Woodwinds and a music producer. His Produced works include the written for Principal Clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Michele Zukovsky...
and Randy Waldman
Randy Waldman
Randy Waldman is a Grammy Award-winning American pianist, arranger, composer and conductor. He is also an airplane and helicopter pilot and holds a 2003 flight speed record in a Bell OH-58 helicopter.- Career :...
. The song appears on Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
’ last album, Genuis Loves Company.
In 2007, Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
released “Honey,” a song created with “I’m In Love” originally recorded by Nancy Wilson (Music on My Mind), produced by McDonald and co-written by McDonald, Fritz Baskett and David Shields. In 2008 the song was part of Badu’s CD New Amerykah VOL. 1. The lead single, “Honey” reached #22 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B/Hip Hop Charts.
In 2008, McDonald filmed and recorded a multi-media performance at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. McDonald documents stories of Los Angeles’ rich recording history with music classics he’s associated with: “Sarah Smile”/ Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
(recorded at Larrabee Studios), “Summer Breeze
Summer Breeze
Note: For the 1972 album of duo Seals and Crofts, see Summer Breeze For the eponymous song, see Summer Breeze .Summer Breeze is an annual event at the University of Chicago, produced by the University's Major Activities Board...
”/Seals & Crofts (recorded at The Sound Factory), “Best Of My Love” / The Emotions
The Emotions
The Emotions are an American all female soul and R&B singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago, Illinois originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson....
(recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders) and “How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)”/ James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
(recorded at Warner Brothers Recording Studios).
In 2010, McDonald was co-writer and co-publisher of the #1 Billboard single “Everything To Me” recorded by Monica (Still Standing). The song remained at #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Charts for seven consecutive weeks.
In 2011, in response to Japan’s natural disaster, McDonald recorded 3 songs for the Jazz for Japan music project. All proceeds from the recording project go directly to Japanese relief funds. McDonald was joined by a long list of Jazz luminaries including George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
, Nathan East
Nathan East
Nathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
, Herman Jackson, Boney James
Boney James
Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz...
, Ndugu Chancler, Billy Childs, Christian McBride
Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist. His father, Lee Smith, and his great uncle, Howard Cooper, are well known Philadelphia bassists who served as McBride's early mentors...
, Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
, David T. Walker
David T. Walker
David T. Walker is an American guitarist born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to numerous session musician duties since the early 1970s, Walker has issued over twelve albums in his own name.-Career:...
and others.
External links
- The Official Clarence McDonald Youtube page
- American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
- Billboard Magazine
- All Music
- Billboard
- Portal Performance: The Toluca Times, Wednesday August 6, 2008 page 18 “Night Lights” by Pat Taylor