Ralph MacDonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph MacDonald
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ralph Anthony MacDonald |
| Born | March 15, 1944 Harlem, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 2011 (aged 67) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, arranger, pannist |
| Instruments | Steelpan, Percussion, Keyboards |
Ralph Anthony MacDonald (born March 15, 1944 – died December 18, 2011) was an amazing musician from Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. He was a talented percussionist, songwriter, musical arranger, and record producer. Ralph was also a master of the steelpan and a kind philanthropist.
He wrote many famous songs. These include "Where Is the Love", which won a Grammy Award for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. He also wrote "Just the Two of Us", sung by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.. Another hit was "Mister Magic" by Grover Washington Jr.
Contents
His Musical Journey
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Ralph grew up in Harlem, New York. His father, Patrick MacDonald, was a calypsonian and bandleader from Trinidad and Tobago. He taught Ralph a lot about music. Ralph started showing his musical gifts, especially with the steelpan. When he was just 17, he began playing the steelpan for the famous Harry Belafonte show.
He played with Belafonte's band for ten years. Then, Ralph decided to start his own path. In 1967, he teamed up with Bill Eaton and William Salter. Together, they created Antisia Music Incorporated, a music company based in Stamford, Connecticut.
In 1971, the singer Roberta Flack recorded "Where Is the Love". Ralph and William Salter had written this song. The duet with Donny Hathaway won a Grammy Award. The song sold over a million copies and became a "gold" record. Ralph himself played on this recording.
One of Ralph's most well-known songs is "Just the Two of Us". Bill Withers sang this song, and Grover Washington Jr. played the saxophone. It became a huge hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Many artists, including Will Smith, have covered or used parts of this song since then.
As a solo artist, Ralph MacDonald also had a big disco hit called "Calypso Breakdown". This song was even featured on the famous "Saturday Night Fever" movie soundtrack.
Later Years and Legacy
Ralph often went back to Trinidad and Tobago. There, he continued his work with the steelpan. He especially loved playing with the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra in Laventille. He would attend their shows and play with them whenever he could. He enjoyed "beating iron" in their "Engine Room," which is what they call the rhythm section of a steelband.
Calypso and the steelpan were very important to Ralph. They were his musical roots. He even recorded a song called "You Need More Calypso." William Eaton wrote this song to show how Ralph felt the music world could benefit more from the music of his homeland.
Ralph MacDonald passed away on December 18, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Grace, and their four children: Jovonni, Anthony, Atiba, and Nefra-Ann.
Musical Works
Ralph MacDonald played on hundreds of recordings throughout his career. He worked with many famous musicians. Some of these include Burt Bacharach, George Benson, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, and Amy Winehouse. He was also a long-time member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.
He played percussion on George Benson's 1976 album, Breezin'. He also played on Carole King's 1975 album, Thoroughbred. His song "Jam on the Groove" was featured on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats collection. His song "Calypso Breakdown" is on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Albums as a Leader
- Sound of a Drum (1976)
- The Path (1978)
- Counterpoint (1979)
- Universal Rhythm (1984)
- Surprize (1985)
- Port Pleasure (1998)
- Trippin' (2000)
- Home Grown (2003)
- Just the Two of Us (2004)
- Mixty Motions (2008)
Albums as a Sideman (Selected)
Ralph MacDonald played on many albums for other artists. Here are some of the well-known musicians he worked with:
- Patti Austin
- George Benson
- David Bowie
- Ron Carter
- Judy Collins
- Roberta Flack
- Aretha Franklin
- Art Garfunkel
- Bee Gees
- Hall & Oates
- Donny Hathaway
- Bob James
- Billy Joel
- Carole King
- Julian Lennon
- Bette Midler
- The Neville Brothers
- Teddy Pendergrass
- Diana Ross
- David Sanborn
- Carly Simon
- Paul Simon
- Steely Dan
- James Taylor
- Grover Washington Jr.
- Bill Withers
See also
In Spanish: Ralph MacDonald para niños
