CRITICAL PRAISE FOR “Wide Open sets McDonald’s “McDonald is taking gruff but heartfelt vocals—and his advantage of his moment in the thoughts on romance and human zeitgeist with Wide Open.” MICHAEL nature—against arrangements that pull expertly from R&B, country and gospel. ‘Does the sound of my voice still carry any kind of McDONALD’S message?’ he asks an old lover “There’s a profound sense in ‘Hail Mary,’ and this excellent of hindsight to Wide Open record argues that it does.” that moves with a tenderness that WIDE OPEN comes from age and newfound wonderment, even if McDonald’s voice hasn’t aged a day.” “an urbane R&B labor of love” “Within seconds of the opening ‘oohs’ and warm, groovy vibes of McDonald’s new song, ‘Find It In Your Heart,’ your heart will be overjoyed. The opening notes call up immediate memories of some of his much- “Wide Open may be the beloved Doobie Brothers classics, like ‘What A Fool Believes’ and ‘Takin’ “One of the great unexpected album that makes the kids It To The Streets,’ as well as some of of his incredible harmony singing with pop pleasures of 2017 is Michael call their folks and say, Steely Dan on ‘Peg’ and ‘Bad Sneakers.’” McDonald suddenly being cool ‘Hey, have you heard of this new again...Wide Open has some soul artist, Michael McDonald?’” and New Orleans funk but also horn-fueled tracks that tell us what his friends in Steely Dan would “McDonald’s voice remains ex- “as diverse an album as sound like if they became earnest ceptional, a throaty bray–unyielding McDonald has ever made” romantic obsessives.” “one of the greatest in the middle, shredded around singer-songwriters to the edges–that’s still capable of ever sit at a piano” overpowering even a muscular band.” “Michael McDonald is having a “It’s McDonald’s voice and its renaissance.”—Rolling Stone Hot soulful, instantly recognizable “On Wide Open, McDonald... Issue (November 16, 2017) qualities that he has built his career [is] digging deep into into the on—including his stints with Steely core of these always-honest, “Michael McDonald is an Dan, the Doobie Brothers and sometimes-gritty, never-mannered American singer, songwriter, many years of solo work. There’s songs and delivering them with keyboardist and record producer plenty more of his sweet tones on sincerity, punch and heart.” “[Wide Open] is a strong with one of the most immediately the dozen songs on Wide Open, in recognizable voices in contemporary distillation of [McDonald’s] diverse settings.” jazz, R&B and blues roots.” pop music...having penned some of the most culturally ubiquitous songs of the last fifty years.”

“Michael McDonald has enjoyed “A one-time member of a deserved resurgence in 2017 Steely Dan and a Doobie Brother, has one of the most soulful voices his voice is unmistakable. ‘Find It pop/rock as ever produced.” in Your Heart’ is a stand out song on an album that will be released in September.”

“Former Steely Dan and Doobies Brothers’ singer/ keyboardist Michael McDonald is hip again—at the age of 65. Credit “Since the mid-1970s, Michael his recent collaborations with McDonald has crooned and cooed Thundercat and Grizzly Bear, his way into our senses with a shout-outs from Mac DeMarco, rich, soulful manly baritone unlike and the surge in popularity of yacht- any other. If you could create a rock with young hipster music fans.” sonic model based on fine, aged whiskey being poured into thick hot caramel, you’d come up with McDonald’s vocal éclat.”

For more information, please contact Carla Sacks, Samantha Tillman or Joe Cohen at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000, [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].