Clarence McDonald facts for kids
Clarence "Mac" McDonald (born 1944 or 1945 – died July 21, 2021) was a talented American musician from Los Angeles. He was a pianist, composer, arranger, and producer. Mac was known for his amazing musical range, memorable tunes, and unique style.
His most famous song is "Silly". Deniece Williams sang it in 1981, and Taral Hicks sang it again in 1997. In 2010, parts of "Silly" were used in Monica's hit song "Everything To Me". That song was number one on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks!
Mac worked with many famous artists. These include Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Carole King, Nancy Wilson, Bill Withers, and the Jackson 5. He also played on the special album Jazz For Japan in 2011, which helped people affected by natural disasters in Japan.
Biography
Clarence McDonald was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 24. His parents were Curtis and Ocie McDonald. Clarence loved music from a very young age. He started playing instruments when he was just a little kid.
He first played the soprano saxophone. Then he learned the trombone, euphonium, and sousaphone. But he chose the piano as his main instrument. He found the piano the most challenging and exciting to play. His parents really supported his early musical interests.
A famous music teacher named Alma Julia Hightower taught Clarence how to play the piano. This early support helped him become a great musician, songwriter, and producer. By the time he was 12, Clarence was already playing piano for the Angeles Funeral Home in Los Angeles.
When he was 16, Mac played at a local nightclub called Memory Lane. He performed with the American jazz and gospel singer Lorez Alexandria. On weekends, he also played with the Chico Hamilton Quintet. He was invited by the musical director, Charles Lloyd. Mac was so dedicated that he often played until dawn. Then he would go straight to school on Monday mornings!
After graduating from Dorsey High School, McDonald went to Cal State, Los Angeles. He finished college with honors in 1964. After college, he learned about session recording. This is when musicians play on other artists' songs in a studio. He quickly started playing on many popular songs that are still loved today.
In the early 1960s, Mac became the musical director for a group called the Hi-Fi's. They were a vocal group from Los Angeles. The group later changed its name to the Vocals. They worked with soul singer Lonnie Sattin. The Vocals then became the Versatiles, and finally, in 1966, they became the 5th Dimension. Clarence added his special musical touch to their classic songs, like "Up Up and Away." While touring, the group opened for Ray Charles in 1964-1965.
In 1966, when his music career was really taking off, McDonald joined the United States Army. He served for two years. He received an Honorable Discharge. He also earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After his army service, McDonald returned to the music business. He played on thousands of songs as a session musician. Some of his first studio sessions were for Motown Records in Los Angeles. He recorded with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and the Jackson 5. He played on many Motown recordings over the years, including the Jackson 5's first big hit, "I Want You Back".
Clarence "Mac" McDonald passed away on July 21, 2021, at the age of 76.
Notable music projects
In 1975, Mac McDonald met James Taylor while working with Carole King. Producers from Warner Bros. asked McDonald to record on Taylor's album, Gorilla. Mac played on three of James Taylor's albums: Gorilla (1975), In the Pocket (1976), and JT (1977). He also toured with James Taylor from 1975 to 1978.
In 1975, McDonald worked with Maurice White and Charles Stepney. They worked on Deniece Williams' album "This Is Niecy," released in 1976. This album became very popular and was certified gold.
In 1977, McDonald produced the Emotions' album Rejoice with Maurice White. This album sold millions of copies. It included the number one song "The Best of My Love". This song won a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.
In 2004, McDonald played keyboards with Ray Charles on the song "Heaven Help Us All." This song was a duet with Gladys Knight. McDonald helped arrange the song. It appeared on Ray Charles' last album, Genius Loves Company, which won a Grammy.
In 2007, Erykah Badu released her song "Honey." This song was created using parts of "I’m In Love," a song originally recorded by Nancy Wilson. McDonald produced and co-wrote the original "I'm In Love" song. "Honey" reached number 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts in 2008.
In 2008, McDonald filmed a special performance at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. In this show, he shared stories about Los Angeles' rich music history. He played classic songs he was involved with. These included "Sara Smile" by Hall & Oates and "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts. He also played "Best Of My Love" by The Emotions and "How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)" by James Taylor.
In 2010, McDonald was a co-writer and co-publisher of the number one Billboard song "Everything To Me". Monica recorded this song for her 2010 album Still Standing. The song stayed at number one on the R&B/Hip Hop Charts for seven weeks in a row.
In 2011, McDonald recorded three songs for the "Jazz for Japan" music project. This project helped raise money for people affected by natural disasters in Japan. Many famous jazz musicians joined him. These included George Duke, Nathan East, Boney James, Billy Childs, and Christian McBride.
Discography
With Blue Mitchell
- Stratosonic Nuances (RCA, 1975)
