Clarence McDonald

Born in Los Angeles, California, on February 24, to Curtis and Ocie McDonald, Clarence showed an early interest in music.

Clarence McDonald started playing music at a very young age. His first instrument was the soprano saxophone, followed by the trombone, euphonium, sousaphone and piano. McDonald chose the piano as his primary instrument because he found it to be the most challenging. His parents encouraged his early instincts.

Prominent music teacher Alma Julia Hightower taught Clarence to play the piano. The combination of early exposure and unconditional support launched the young man on his journey to becoming a great musician, songwriter, and producer. By the age of 12, Clarence was playing the piano for Angeles Funeral Home, then located on Jefferson Boulevard and Central Avenue in Los Angeles.

By the age of 16 McDonald was playing at the local nightclub, Memory Lane, accompanying American jazz & gospel singer Lorez Alexandria. On weekends he played with the Chico Hamilton Quintet through an invitation from the Musical Director and jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd. McDonald understood the guitar voicings required for the quartet and was able to play them on the piano. He often worked til dawn, before heading straight to school on Monday mornings.

Upon graduation from Dorsey High School, McDonald attended Cal State, Los Angeles. He completed his college schooling, graduating with honors in 1964. After college, he was introduced to the art and business of session recording, immediately contributing to some of music's all-time favorite pop tunes, still played today.

In the early 1960s, McDonald replaced Rex Middleton as Musical Director of the Los Angeles-based vocal group The Hi-Fi's. The group changed its name to The Vocals and began working with American soul singer Lonnie Sattin. The Vocals evolved into The Versatiles, which became The 5th Dimension in 1966. Clarence lent his own special groove to classics like "Up Up and Away". While touring, the group was contracted to be the opening act for Ray Charles, traveling with him in 1964-65.

In 1966, when his ascent in the music world appeared to anticipate no limit, McDonald was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam, where he served for two years. His division was sent home on January 7, 1968, the day before the North Vietnamese overran and destroyed their base camp in a takeover known as the TET offensive. McDonald received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

McDonald returned to the music business, contributing to thousands of songs as a session player. Some of his first sessions were for Motown (Los Angeles) recording with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & the Pips and the Jackson 5, leading him to play on a number of Motown recordings throughout the years, including the Jackson 5's first hit, I Want You Back.[4]

In 1975, while working with Carole King, McDonald met James Taylor. An invitation followed from Warner Brothers Producers Lenny Waronker and Russ Titleman, who asked McDonald to record on Taylor's album, Gorilla. McDonald recorded on three James Taylor albums: Gorilla (1975), In the Pocket (1976) and JT (1977). McDonald toured with Taylor from 1975 to 1978.

In 1977, McDonald produced The Emotions Platinum Album Rejoice with Maurice White. On the album was the No. 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.[5]

In 2004, McDonald recorded keyboards with Ray Charles[6] 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, Genius 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 No. 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts.[7]

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: "Sara 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 No. 1 Billboard single "Everything To Me" recorded by Monica for her 2010 album Still Standing. The song remained at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Charts for seven consecutive weeks.

In 2011, in response to Japan's natural disasters, McDonald recorded three songs for the "Jazz for Japan" music project. All proceeds from the recording project were to go directly to Japanese relief funds. McDonald was joined by jazz luminaries including George Duke, Nathan East, Herman Jackson, Boney James, Ndugu Chancler, Billy Childs, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, David T. Walker and others.[8]

With Blue Mitchell

• Stratosonic Nuances (RCA, 1975)

• Official website
• Clarence McDonald on Twitter
• 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