Harris Center To Welcome Michael McDonald

One of the world's most distinctive singing voices, Michael McDonald is often imitated but never duplicated. He's had enough humility over the years to blend his voice with others, whether as a member of Steely Dan, a Doobie Brother, and as a highly successful solo artist and songwriter. More recently, his collaborations have included being a member of the supergroup the Dukes of September, as well as reaching the Coachella generation as a celebrated co-star on Thundercat's indie hit "Show You the Way."

Michael McDonald comes to the Harris Center on Monday, April 15, 2019 at 7:30 pm and Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $53-$88; Premium $98. A VIP Meet-Greet upgrade is available. Tickets and upgrades are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 12 noon to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

With a career that includes five Grammy Awards, a successful string of hits on the Billboard charts, as well as collaborations with some of the world's most prominent artists, Michael McDonald remains an enduring force in popular music.

Hailing from St. Louis, McDonald arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, honing his talents as a studio musician before becoming an integral part of Steely Dan. In the mid-'70s McDonald was invited to join the Doobie Brothers as the band redefined their sound with McDonald serving as singer, keyboardist and songwriter on such Top 40 singles as "Takin' It To The Streets," "It Keeps You Runnin'," "Minute By Minute" and "What A Fool Believes."

Beginning in the 1980s and continuing into the '90s, McDonald's solo career took off with a string of hits including "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," "Sweet Freedom," "On My Own" (with Patti LaBelle) and the Grammy-winning James Ingram duet "Yah Mo B There." He co-wrote the Van Halen hit "I'll Wait" and he has performed with a who's-who of critically acclaimed artists across a number of genres, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Vince Gill and Grizzly Bear.

McDonald's most recent album, entitled Wide Open (BMG), finds him collaborating with a number of special guests, including Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Marcus Miller and Branford Marsalis. McDonald's first album of original material in 17 years, Wide Open is comprised largely of material written over a number of years and recorded in McDonald's Nashville studio with drummer Shannon Forrest (Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Tim McGRaw, Toto) and an extensive cast of Nashville session musicians. The record follows a trio of albums of R&B and soul covers McDonald recorded for the fabled Motown label, the most recent being 2008's Soul Speak.

McDonald's other recent collaborations include his work on the critically acclaimed track "Show You The Way" with multi-genre bassist, singer and producer Thundercat and Kenny Loggins; McDonald performed the song with Thundercat during a surprise guest appearance at Coachella in April. This past spring, McDonald was joined by Solange Knowles, Allen Stone, Lawrence and members of Snarky Puppy and Vulfpeck at the Okeechobee Music Fest. McDonald continues to tour extensively as a solo artist, with a lengthy run of summer and fall tour dates planned with Loggins and Boz Scaggs.

The Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College brings the community together to share in cultural experiences featuring the work of artists from throughout the region and around the world. Built and operated by the Los Rios Community College District, the $50 million, state-of-the-art regional performing arts center boasts three intimate venues with outstanding acoustics, an art gallery, a recording studio, elegant teaching spaces, plenty of safe parking and all the other amenities of a world-class performing arts venue. Each year the Center hosts over 400 events attracting more than 150,000 annually.

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