Michael McDonald

One of the most popular purveyors of "blue-eyed soul" in the 1970s and 1980s (as well as the face of the smooth soft-pop sound that was later retroactively dubbed "yacht rock"), singer Michael McDonald enjoyed success with the popular rock band the Doobie Brothers before launching a solo career that kicked into high gear with the 1982 single "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)." His dusky baritone and heartfelt delivery, which earned equal parts artists' respect and comic parody, kept him at the top of the Billboard charts for much of the 1980s before his signature brand of polished soft rock fell out of favor with listeners. McDonald kept active as a guest vocalist and live performer until rebounding in 2002 with two collections of Motown covers that sparked considerable interest among baby boomer audiences and those who grew up with his solo work. McDonald's subsequent efforts, which included a 2010 joint tour with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs and a collaboration with innovative R&B musician Thundercat, walked a careful line between nostalgia and homage to great music of the past, which did much to preserve his status as a relevant and respected R&B artist.