Clarence Kermit "Mac" McDonald (February 24, 1945 – July 21, 2021) was a Los Angeles-based American pianist, composer, arranger, and producer.
[2] He worked with a long list of entertainment icons including Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Carole King, Taral Hicks, Freddy Hubbard, Nancy Wilson, Boz Scaggs, Seals & Crofts, Bill Withers, and the Jackson 5.
Born in Los Angeles, California, on February 24, 1945 to Curtis and Ocie Brooks McDonald, Clarence showed an early interest in music, and started playing at a very young age.
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 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.
After college, he was introduced to the art and business of session recording, immediately contributing to some all-time favorite pop tunes.
In the early 1960s, McDonald replaced Rex Middleton as musical director of The Hi-Fi's, a Los Angeles-based vocal group.
In 1966, when his rise in the music world seemed limitless, 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 the Tet Offensive.
An invitation followed from Warner Brothers Producers Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman, who asked McDonald to record on Taylor's album, Gorilla.
[7] McDonald was joined by notable jazz musicians including George Duke, Nathan East, Herman Jackson, Boney James, Ndugu Chancler, Billy Childs, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller and David T.