Forrest Mcdonald With Raymond Victor & The 3d Blues Band

Forrest McDonald Forrest McDonald Was Seven Years Old When He First Heard Blues Man Josh White Perform And As He Puts It “I Was Hooked!” This Experience Was Augmented By The Extensive Record Collection At The McDonald Home Jimmy Witherspoon And T-Bone Walker Albums Were Favorites. Mrs. McDonald Received A Martin D18 Guitar For Christmas One Year And Young Forrest Began Learning Chords. In The Summer Of 1964 He Hitchiked To NYC Where He Met And Was Influenced By Muddy Waters. By New Year’s Eve 1964 Forrest McDonald Played His First Live Gig With A Group Called The Seagrams 7. Four Members Of The Seagrams 7 Group Including McDonald Later Became The Oxbow Incidents Which Was A New England Regional Favorite In High Schools Churches And Colleges For Five Years. McDonald’s Group Pale Ryder Was Formed With Previous Oxbow Incidents Band Members And Included Bass Player Dave Hayes Who Went On Later To Join And Is Still With Van Morrison. The McDonald Home Was In Close Proximity To The Location Of The Newport Jazz And Folk Festivals Where The Musical Talent On Display Consumed Forrest—he Saw Ray Charles And Leadbelly Perform And Caught Bob Dylan’s Controversial Switch From Acoustic Guitar To Electric. Backstage At Newport In 1969 Forrest Played Jimmy Page’s Les Paul Trading Licks With Page And Jeff Beck” It Was Incredible ” McDonald Recalls. McDonald Joined The Boston Rock Symphony An 11-Piece Rock Group Backed By Arthur Fiedler’s 30-Piece Boston Symphony Orchestra That Year. While Playing In The Boston Rock Symphony McDonald Met Up With Harp Player James Montgomery Who Played With McDonald In The Boston Rock Symphony. McDonald Also Played And Toured With The Wadsworth Mansion Who Had A Top-20 Hit With “Sweet Mary I’m Coming Home.” The Group Toured With Alice Cooper And Edgar Winter And Appeared On “American Bandstand” And “The Dating Game.” In The Early 70’s McDonald Relocated To Hollywood Where He Met And Formed The Force With Tony Carey And Bob Zinner. The Force And The Reformed Wadsworth Mansion Now Called Slingshot Performed Regularly At The Whiskey The Starwood And The Hollywood Paladium And For A Two-Year Period McDonald Jammed On The Sunset Strip With Van Halen. During This Time McDonald Met And Recorded With Steve Perry Pre-Journey . McDonald Met Current Band Pianist Raymond Victor While Touring Supporting Cutting The Kathi McDonald Insane Aslyum Album For Capitol And The Two Formed A Fast Friendship On A USO Tour Of Asia. Back On The West Coast McDonald Stayed Busy With Studio Sessions. He Recorded With Former Members Of Ike And Tina Turner Played With Jimmy Reed And Bonnie Bramlett And Contributed The Guitar Solo To Bob Seger’s Mega-Hit “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The Seger Track Actually Recorded At The Legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Brought McDonald South. As Forrest Tells It He Was Visiting His Father In Alabama And Suggested They Drive To Muscle Shoals To “see What’s Going On.” So They Made Their Way To The Studio. “When I Walked In And Met Producer Jimmy Johnson He Asked Me If I Had My Guitar With Me. So I Put On The Headphones Plugged In My Guitar And Gave Him A Solo.” McDonald Must Have Impressed The Crew At Muscle Shoals Two Months Later The Studio Called To Tell Him That Bob Seger Purchased The Track For His Stranger In Town Album! Forrest McDonald And Raymond Victor Played Together For 35 Years — According To One Fan “the Result Is What A Partnership Like Theirs Can Produce Against All The Impediments Us Blues Lovers Know Exist. Listening To Forrest And Raymond Is Like Watching A Perfectly Executed Pas De Deux!” To Duo Have Toured The World Over Performing And Recording With Such Luminaries As John Lee Hooker Charlie Musselwhite Bobby “Blue” Bland Roy Gaines Bobby Womack Luther Tucker Silver Platinum And Gold Roger Dollarhide Marie Franklin Jerry Lee Lewis And Other Artists. McDonald Moved To Atlanta In 1991. His Own Label ~ World Talent Records ~Provides A Haven For The Group Which Was Voted “Best Southern Blues Band” By Real Blues Magazine In 1999 2000 And 2001. Southwest Blues Magazine Calls McDonald’s “glowing Guitar” Teamed With Victor’s “whiskey Drenched Gutter Voice” A “winning Combination.” McDonald Credits His Band Mates For The Remarkable Sound On Finger Lickin’ Blues. “Drummer John McKnight Takes The Lead On ‘Who’s Been Talking ’ While Dave Parnell’s Vocals Really Make The Track ‘Blues In The Basement’ Come Alive. With His Explosive Horn Solos And Raymond’s Piano Playing It’s A Pleasure To Preserve Some Of Those Feelings With Such Authenticity!” He Also Received The Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Blues Album Of 1999 For The Spirit Of The Blues CD. Penned By Vocalist Raymond Victor The Song “Work Work ” Appearing On What’s It Gonna Take? Was Voted Best Blues Song For 2000 By Just Plain Folks. Two Of Forrest's Good Friends Roy Gaines And James Montgomery Appear On What’s It Gonna Take. Following Hot On The Heels Of What’s It Gonna Take? 2000’s Critically Acclaimed Release Finger Lickin’ Blues Released In July 2001 Has Increased The Band’s Appeal To An Even Wider Range Of Blues Fans. Finger Licking Blues Reatures A Great Remake Of The Classic "Ode To Billy Joe" With A Great Slide Solo By Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin. As One Reviewer Stated Forrest's Version Give Me Goose Bumps On My Goose Bumps. In 2004 A Chance Meeting Occurred In 2003 Between Then Kaylon Ward And Forrest While Recording Fiona Boyes Live In Atlanta. The Two Became Good Friends And Soon Were Playing Regularly Together. Kaylon Won The 1991 Atlanta Female Entertainer Of The Year Award. Their First CD Together Was Nothing Wrong With Dreaming Released In 2007. Their New Release "Certified Blue” April 2010 Is The Culmination Of 3 Years Roadwork And It Is Fantastic. In 2007 Forrest & Kaylon Released Her First CD Together Titled “There’s Nothing Wrong With Dreaming” On The World Talent Label. In 2010 Forrest & Kaylon Released "Certified Blue" The CD Garnered Great Reviews In Living Blues And Blues Revue. In 2014 Forrest And Kaylon Went In Seperate Artistis Directions. Kaylon Persued Her First Love Country Music And Forrest Returned To His Atlanta/Texas Roots. On February 20 2014 Forrest Recorded A New CD With His Old Atlanta Band Adding His Lifelong Friend Tony Carey On The Keyboards. The New CD Titled "Turnaround Blues" Was Released June 1 And Received Rave Reviews. With McDonald On Guitar Andrew Black On Vocals John McKnight On Drums Jon Liebman On Harp & Vocals Lee Gammon On Bass The Band Is As Strong As Bands Get And Then Some. In 2015 Forrest Formed A New Band That Won The River City Blues Challenge Two Years In A Row And Advanced To The Semi-Finals. In February 2017 The Band Returned To The Studio Recording Their Latest CD "Stand My Ground". June 1 2017 Stand My Ground Is Released To Rave Reviews. The Forrest McDonald Band Puts On A Live Show That Is Not To Be Missed. The New CD's Are Selling Out At Every Performance. Singer Songwriter And Instrumentalist Forrest McDonald Is A Journeyman In The Blues Rock Music World. He Defies Any Easy Pigeonhole. His Guitar Work On Bob Seger's Old Time Rock & Roll And Bobby Womack’s Roads Of Life Is Instantly Recognizable. He Picks A Great Guitar And Sings Well-Crafted Upbeat Songs About Modern Life. Lead Vocalist Becky Wright Started Singing At 6 Years Of Age. She Began With The Band Singing Backup On Forrest’s CD Turnaround Blues. Her Distinct Vocal Style Is Certified Blue. Forrest Often Says You Can’t Go Wrong With Becky Wright. She Is Truly A Rising Star On The Blues Horizon. Keeping The Driving Beat Is Drummer John Hanes. He Is Also The Most Recent Band Member. On Harmonica Is Veteran Harp Master Pix Ensign An Ohio And FL State Harmonica Champion. On Bass Is The Groove Master Lee Gammon Who Studied Bass With Ellis Marsalis. Forrest’s Finger Licking Blues Spirit Of The Blues And Colorblind Won The Just Plain Folks Blues CD Awards. Their Last CD Turnaround Blues Is Nominated By JPF For Best Blues CD. Find Us On Facebook Twitter Instagram And Pandora Radio. QUOTES
Stand My Ground The New CD From The Forrest McDonald Band Does Exactly That . . . And It’s Supported By More Than A Half Century Of Forrest’s Passion For Creating Real Music. It’s Obvious From The First Note The Forrest McDonald Band Featuring Becky Wright On Vocals Has Produced Another Flawless Gem Of A Blues Album. Black Jack Ketchum/WRFG-Atlanta 89.3 FM/wrfg.Org I Fell In Love With Stand My Ground In The First 12 Bars. I Listened To This CD Several Times Over. It Has Great Grooves. Forrest And His Band Are As Tight As Ever. Why Forrest McDonald's Music Isn't At The Top Of Every Blues Chart Is A Mystery. If You Get The Opportunity To See Them Live Don't Pass It Up! This Entire Cd Is Excellent! Forrest’s Guitar Playing Has Always Been Second To None. I Do Love Becky's Voice. A Sensual Balance Of Emotion With Just Enough Grit To Believe She Means What's She's Singing. Mary4Music.Com Turnaround Blues - This Is Blues/rock As It Should Be. A Great Mix That Brings Primarily Original Tunes Together With Some Of The Greatest Classics Ever Written This One Shows Not Only McDonald’s Songwriting Skins But The Band’s Ability To Take A Cover Tune Break It Down And Make It Their Own. Bottom Line This Is As Good As It Gets With Your Clothes On. This Is McDonald’s 12th Release On World Talent Records And In This Old Man’s Humble Opinion Worthy Of A Blues Music Award Handy This Is Blues Top-Notch And Worthy Of A Spot Among The Greats. I Recommend It Highly To One And All With No Exceptions.
Bill Wilson – Reflections In Blue McDonald’s Fiery Guitar Licks Showcase His Vast Experience In Blues-Based Rock ‘n’ Roll And R&B. Raymond Victor’s Gut-Wrenching Blues-Drenched Vocals Soar Above Around And Through Each Tune Building To A Choke-Hold That Won’t Loosen Its Grip Until You Jump Up And Boogie!
Black Jack Ketchum Atlanta Blues Society/ WRFG 89.3 What’s It Gonna Take? Is The Group’s Best Effort Yet And Will Hopefully Deliver The Respect And Recognition In The Industry That They Deserve. I Can’t Take It Out Of My CD Player!
The Blues Stalker Suncoast Blues Society McDonald Is A Versatile Guitarist Who Shows His Best Licks On The Jimmy Witherspoon Jump Tune “Call My Baby.” He Also Shows The Ability To Play In More Of A Santana Jazzy-Style And To Get Down With A Slow Blues. What’s It Gonna Take? Surpasses Most Independent Releases In Both Quality Of Musicianship And Production. Bill Mitchell Blues Bytes The Latest Musical Outing Finger Lickin Blues From Atlanta's Very Own Forrest McDonald Ups The Ante At The Blues Poker Table. Even Skeptical Blues Purists Cannot Scorn This 13-Song Disc. McDonald Plants Seeds Of Old Chicago And Texas Traditions In Fields Of Slow Blues Fast Blues Jazz And Good Time Rock N Roll.
Forrest Himself Said In The CD's Liner Notes This Was Recorded In One Take. What A Good Move. Finger Lickin Blues Thrives On Spontaneity. Put Them Ribs On. Butter Them Biscuits. Grab Yourself A Cold One. This Is One Mean Mother Living Up To Its Name. Gary Weeks May 2002 Southwest Blues Forrest McDonald - What's It Gonna Take? Firey Guitar Player Forrest McDonald Was Born Into The Musical Hotbed Of Austin Texas. He Now Calls Atlanta Home. From There And Between He Pushed His Playing With Vocalist/keyboardist Raymond Victor. For More Than Three Decades The Pair Has Worked For John Lee Hooker Bobby Bland Charlie Musselwhite And The Two Special Guests On This Work Ax Man And Vocalist Roy Gaines And Harp Wizard James Montgomery. You'll Find No Bad Music On This Disc All The Songs Fit The Ensemble Like Good Tight Gloves. Relax Kick Back Throw On The McDonald And Victor And Let The Good Times Roll! Solid Through And Through You Just Wont Be Able To Keep Up With The Onslaught! Mark A. Cole January 2001 Big City Blues. ORIGINAL DISCOGRAPHY Stand My Ground 2017 Turnaround Blues 2014 World Talent Records
Certified Blue 2010 World Talent Records
A Decade Of Blues 2008 World Talent Records
There's Nothing Wrong With Dreaming 2007 World Talent Records
Colorblind 2004 World Talent Records
Finger Lickin’ Blues 2002 World Talent Records
Finger Lickin’ Blues 2001 World Talent Records
What’s It Gonna Take? 2000 World Talent Records
Spirit Of The Blues 1999 World Talent Records
Under The Gun 1998 World Talent Records
On Fire 1997 World Talent Records
I Need You 1995 World Talent Records Website The Forrest McDonald Band
Also On Last Fm Forrest McDonald Raymond Victor Born In Chicago Raymond Victor Is A 20-Year Resident Of The Bay Area. Music Was Part Of His Life Growing Up As His Father Was A Guitar Player And His Mother A Singer And Dancer. Raymond Started Playing Piano At The Age Of 5 And Hasn’t Stopped Since. He Worked As A Studio Musician In Los Angeles For 10 Years And Was A Staff Writer For CBS. Raymond Recorded With Sly Stone Stevie Wonder Bobby Womack Larry Graham And The BG. He Has Performed With Bobby “Blue” Bland Big Momma Thornton Elvin Bishop Kathi McDonald And Luther Tucker And Has Opened For Buddy Miles Canned Heat Lou Rawls Garth Brooks Buddy Guy And Edgar Winter. With 6 CDs To His Credit Raymond’s Latest Effort Is “Living With The Blues”. The Hit Single From This Latest CD “Spirit Of The Blues” Was Picked Up By A Syndicated Blues Show With A Listenership Of Over 6 000 000.
Raymond’s CD “Spirit Of The Blues” Won The Just Plain Folks Blues CD Of The Year Award. His’s Song “Work Work” Won The JPF Blues Song Of The Year Award And His Recording Of "Finger Lickin' Blues" Was Nominated By JPF For Blues CD Of The Year. Raymond Is Accompanied By Diane Dutra On Bass. Her Credit Includes Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin And Luther Tucker Amongst Others. Marcus David Is Their Well- Traveled Drummer. He Spent 15 Years In California Touring & Recording With The Likes Of Clover W/Huey Lewis Albert King Nick Gravenites And Guitar Legend John Cipollina. Marcus Has Also Played Gigs With Sunnyland Slim Magic Slim And Was In The House Band At Buddy Guy’s Legends In Chicago. Website Raymond Victor Band read less