Everything's challenging for me, singing-wise. I'm like an old truck with one gear left on it. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I have friends who write all the time, and I envy them terribly. — Michael McDonald Envy Copy Share Image
I hope to capture the public's imagination, but I can't live in the anxiety of that. — Michael McDonald Anxiety Copy Share Image
I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. — Michael McDonald Biggest influence Copy Share Image
For me, one of the best things of having been a Doobie Brother is that the people involved always were great people. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I remember one of my favorite all-time records was by Edwin Starr: 'Stop Her on Sight.' — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
Hey, I'd love to have a hit single, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to complain. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I know that things change and markets change. Those are the realities of the business. — Michael McDonald Business Copy Share Image
For me, a lot of my fondest memories of being in the music business were being in the studio with The Doobs… — Michael McDonald Business Copy Share Image
I've felt the noose tightening for me for years at the major labels, where you're allowed to do less and less of… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
No matter what anyone else thinks, if someone appreciates what you do, whether it's 10 people or a million people, it's all… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I wish I wrote songs like Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Don Henley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, so many of the songwriters I… — Michael McDonald Ability Copy Share Image
When I was younger, I was pretty cavalier about my voice - I don't know that I even thought about it that… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I think when you're not prepared for something, success can be as crippling a thing as failure to people. I think it… — Michael McDonald Failure Copy Share Image
While making any record, you look for the opportunity to bring someone who will help generate something special in the music environments… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I grew up with this idea that songwriters had a great job. My family was Irish Catholic, so if you became a… — Michael McDonald Family Copy Share Image
There were certain Ray Charles albums and a couple of early Marvin Gaye records that I used to listen to with a… — Michael McDonald Beatles Copy Share Image
I'd like to do something with Frank Ocean, you know, and I love working with Thundercat, and I'd love to do more… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I've never felt that I was doing anything more worthwhile musically than when I was with Steely Dan. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
In order for life to be more than a frustrating game of one-upsmanship, one has to remain emotionally open and vulnerable. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I'm a very slow songwriter; it takes me sometimes years to write one song, if I ever finish. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
Probably some of the most miserable years of my life were grappling with some definition of what success was. — Michael McDonald Life Copy Share Image
When I listen to songs, to this day, I listen to the chords and the groove and the melody. — Michael McDonald Day Copy Share Image
I like to celebrate the holiday season - not so much in a religious way, per se, but in a unifying way. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I truly cherish the time and experience with friends that I have been making music with for so many years, even decades… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I've always felt like the Forrest Gump of the music business. I've been fortunate to work with a lot of great people. — Michael McDonald Business Copy Share Image
Being in the studio, for me, can be a miserable experience - I can really psych myself out. — Michael McDonald Being Copy Share Image
When I get in a bad mood about anything, I realize, 'Hey, I'm still working. It could always be a lot worse.' — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
Most times, lyrics are the last thing I listen to, being a musician. — Michael McDonald Being Copy Share Image
I love Hank Williams songs, but I love hearing Ray Charles sing them much more. — Michael McDonald Country Copy Share Image
Whether artists know it or not, I think we're all a little influenced by what came before. — Michael McDonald Art Copy Share Image
Most of my life is taken up with family. It takes me awhile to get a record together that I feel is… — Michael McDonald Family Copy Share Image
I think it takes longer for me to make a record than most artists. — Michael McDonald Art Copy Share Image
It's funny how, as we get older, what become our fondest memories are not necessarily the happiest times of our lives but… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around… — Michael McDonald College Copy Share Image
We try to promote the Christmas season and remind people that it is a season of peace. That's what the season's real… — Michael McDonald Christmas Copy Share Image
There have been albums I've recorded in the past that have had success, and then there have been ones I've had extreme… — Michael McDonald Failure Copy Share Image
I'm a big country fan. I remember, as a kid, when Ray Charles did the 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music'… — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
My friendship with The Doobie Brothers never really changed. We're all still good friends, and I really admire those guys a lot. — Michael McDonald Copy Share Image
The 'Motown' detour for me was almost like it wasn't work. It was more fun than work, and that's all it takes… — Michael McDonald Attention Copy Share Image
