By Garo (192.234.106.2) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 03:38 pm:

Ralph McDonald has played percussion on hits for Roberta Flack, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and Phoebe Snow. Recently, I saw him on the Today Show playing with Jimmy Buffet.
He really demonstrated the art of subtle percussion on those records, and how it can be very effective!
Anyone have any other credits, stories, or info on Ralph???

By einnod23 (208.27.111.121) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 04:49 pm:

Did I miss Ralph MacDonald????? This guy played for EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

CALYPSO BREAKDOWN!!!!!!!

By bigdaddyg2k4 (205.138.54.205) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 06:09 pm:

I think Ralph released a solo album on Marlin (then a subsiduary of T.K. records which is now controlled by Rhino) records in 1976 whose title escapes me now. It is a painting or drawing of Ralph McDonald playing the congas in a background of a landscape or a tropical forest. Can't tell you the songs, 'cause I haven't heard the record in years. One of the great percussionists alongside legends like Paulihno DaCosta and "Crusher" Bennett to name a few.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.39) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 06:28 pm:

What's up BigDaddy? The Ralph MacDonald Lp that you're talking about is "Sound OF A Drum". The big hit from the LP was the funky Disco Calypso flavored Jam On The Groove. Here in NY, if you wanted to see your crowd go nuts, you threw on that break. The other hits from that LP were: Where Is The Love, Calypso Breakdown (the B-side of Where Is The Love). Of course, Calypso Breakdown was included in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

His next LP, The Path came out in 1978 & the title cut was the main track that I remember. I only remember one more LP, Universal Rhythm from 1984. The main song on this LP was In The Name Of Love & featured Bill Withers on vocals.

Juice

By Kev-Lo (205.184.167.105) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 06:33 pm:

HI this is Kev-Lo Ralph McDonald also on the first Average White Band LP as well.I also got to meet him back in 1977 and he was a nice person

By Des (217.42.228.232) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 08:02 pm:

Ralph McDonald had talent and contributed to some great cuts.
Many,many McDonald/Salter cuts are/were undervalued.I wish other artists had such a fine 'curriculum vitae' as Mr.McDonald.
Des

By Garo (192.234.106.2) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 11:06 pm:

On Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly, there's about four different percussion goodies goin'...and it's all Ralph. Nice and soft.
He did the same on several of those 70's hits.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.72) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:42 am:

Garo:
Thanks for bringing up the name of a great writer and one of the greatest session percussionists ever ! His discography is far more extensive than could be listed here. Check his website (www.ralphmacdonald.com) for the complete listing and to purchase any of his (7) solo albums.

Hey Juice...how u gonna forget his version of "Mr. Magic" (which he wrote as well) on "Sound Of A Drum" ?? Grover's may have been released 1st and become a huge hit....but Ralph's version just had a whole new flava !!

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.39) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 02:58 am:

Hey 1Wicked, I haven't played the LP in years, it's stored away. I completely forgot about it. That's most definitely my bad!

Juice