Forrest And Kaylon McDonald
Forrest And Kaylon McDonald
Genres: female vocalist, blues, blues rock
Sari Schorr And The Engine Room
About Forrest And Kaylon McDonald
The Blues Rocker Forrest McDonald has been performing and recording earthshaking, soul-stirring music distilled in the blues for nearly six decades. His insightful song writing skills embrace the journey of an adventurous explorer who plunges head first into every twist of fate life throws his way. He started playing guitar in 1964 after meeting Muddy Waters at the Café Midnight in Harlem. His father gave him a copy of Two Bones and a Pick by T-Bone walker that same year. He was hooked on the blues. Forrest released his 15th CD “Blues in a Bucket” February 7, 2020. Producing his video book is Forrest’s current focus. Watch The Old Time Rock and Roller Forrest Howie McDonald’s video book on YouTube. The Early Years: Award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist Forrest McDonald was seven years old when he first heard blues man Josh White perform. As he puts it, “I was hooked!” This experience was augmented by the extensive record collection at the McDonald home, Jimmy Witherspoon and T-Bone Walker albums were favorites. Mrs. McDonald received a Martin D18 guitar for Christmas one year, and young Forrest began learning chords. In the summer of 1964 he hitchhiked to NYC where he met and was influenced by Muddy Waters. Forrest McDonald played his first live gig with a group called the Seagram’s 7 on New Year’s Eve 1964. Four members of the Seagram’s 7 group, including McDonald, later became the Oxbow Incidents. The OBI was a New England regional favorite in high schools, churches and colleges for five years. McDonald’s group, Pale Ryder, was formed with previous Oxbow Incidents band members, and included bass player Dave Hayes. Dave went on later to perform with Van Morrison for over 25 years. The McDonald home was in close proximity to the location of the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, where the musical talent on display consumed Forrest—he saw Ray Charles and Leadbelly perform and caught Bob Dylan’s controversial switch from acoustic guitar to electric. Backstage at Newport in 1969, Forrest played Jimmy Page’s Les Paul, trading licks with Page and Jeff Beck” it was incredible,” McDonald recalls. Playing music full time: Forrest McDonald joined the Boston Rock Symphony an 11-piece rock group backed by Arthur Fiedler’s 30-piece Boston Symphony Orchestra that year. McDonald met up with harp player James Montgomery, who played with McDonald in the 1969 Boston Rock Symphony. McDonald also played and toured with the Wadsworth Mansion. The Wadsworth Mansion had a Top-20 hit with “Sweet Mary I’m Coming Home.” The group toured with Alice Cooper and Edgar Winter and appeared on “American Bandstand” and “The Dating Game.” The Hollywood years: In the early 70’s, McDonald relocated to former Mansion Vocalist Steve Jablecki’s house in North Hollywood. The reformed Wadsworth Mansion now called Slingshot performed regularly at The Whiskey, The Starwood, and the Hollywood Paladium. Slingshot performed in Hollywood for two years. They often played at Gazzarri’s on the Sunset Strip Van Halen. During this time, McDonald met and recorded with Steve Perry (pre-Journey). McDonald met current band pianist Raymond Victor while touring supporting cutting the Kathi McDonald Insane Aslyum album for Capitol, and the two formed a fast friendship on a USO tour of Asia. Back on the west coast, McDonald stayed busy with studio sessions. He recorded with former members of Ike and Tina Turner, played with Jimmy Reed and Bonnie Bramlett. The Muscle Shoals Experience: The blues rocker contributed the guitar solo to Bob Seger’s mega-hit “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The Seger track actually recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio brought McDonald south. As Forrest tells it, he was visiting his father in Alabama, and suggested they drive to Muscle Shoals to “see what’s going on.” So they made their way to the studio. “When I walked in and met [producer] Jimmy Johnson, he asked me if I had my guitar with me. So I put on the headphones, plugged in my guitar, and gave him a solo.” McDonald must have impressed the crew at Muscle Shoals: two months later, the studio called to tell him that Bob Seger purchased the track for his Stranger in Town album! Forrest met and formed The Force with Bobby Zinner. Members included Tony Carey, Ariel Daily, and Ty Grimes. Their final performance was at the Hollywood Palladium where the Oscars were held. Forrest McDonald and Raymond Victor played together for 35 years — according to one fan, “the result is what a partnership like theirs can produce against all the impediments us blues lovers know exist. Listening to Forrest and Raymond is like watching a perfectly executed pas de deux!” To duo have toured the world over, performing and recording with such luminaries as Bob Seger, Roy Gaines, Bobby Womack, and other artists. Moving On: Blues Rocker Forrest McDonald moved to Atlanta in 1991. He started his own label World Talent Records. World Talent provides a haven for the group, which was voted “Best Southern Blues Band” by Real Blues Magazine in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Southwest Blues magazine calls McDonald’s “glowing guitar” teamed with Victor’s “whiskey drenched gutter voice” a “winning combination.” McDonald credits his band mates for the remarkable sound on Finger Lickin’ Blues. “Drummer John McKnight takes the lead on ‘Who’s Been Talking,’ while Dave Parnell’s vocals really make the track ‘Blues in the Basement’ come alive. With his explosive horn solos and Raymond’s piano playing, it’s a pleasure to preserve some of those feelings with such authenticity!” Awards: Forrest McDonald received the Just Plain Folks Music Award for Best Blues Album of 1999 for the Spirit of the Blues CD. Penned by vocalist Raymond Victor, the song “Work, Work,” appearing on What’s It Gonna Take? was voted Best Blues Song for 2000 by Just Plain Folks. Two of Forrest’s good friends Roy Gaines and James Montgomery appear on What’s It Gonna Take. Website: Forrest McDonald Amazon: Forrest And Kaylon McDonald - Theres Nothing Wrong With Dreaming
Taken from Last.fm
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