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..good guy, saw him perform with his full band some years ago at a Jazz concert here..."Just the Two of us" was a classic with Robby Greenidge on steel drums...bought his first individual LP (lol)....bought a cd...
After stroke, battle with lung cancer...
By Keino Swamber keino.swamber@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Dec 18, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
Story Updated: Dec 18, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
GIFTED composer, producer and percussionist Ralph MacDonald, whose father was a Trinidadian calypsonian, has died.
MacDonald died yesterday morning in his hometown in Connecticut, USA, after ailing for some time, having suffered a stroke and battling lung cancer. He was 67.
He is probably best known for his composition of the 1980 Grover Washington Jr hit "Just the Two of Us", a song reputedly written in honour of Trinidad and Tobago.
MacDonald has composed for and played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Carole King, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Buffett, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Ashford and Simpson and Amy Winehouse.
He also collaborated with William Salter to write "Where is the Love?", which was sung by Flack and Donny Hathaway.
Locally, he has worked with pannist extraordinaire Robert "Robbie" Greenidge, Phase II Pan Groove, Witco Desperadoes (his favourite band), and jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles, among others. A regular visitor to Trinidad for Panorama, MacDonald last performed in this country in 2008 at the San Fernando Jazz Festival.
His father performed under the sobriquet MacBeth the Great and achieved wide acclaim.
MacDonald began performing as a small boy, when his father would have him dance on the drums.
He secured a job with Harry Belafonte's steel band at the age of 17, and wrote an album of songs Calypso Carnival for Belafonte in 1966.
He went on to launch Antisia Music, his own publishing company, with friends Bill Salter and William Eaton, during which time "Where is the Love?" was written.
The single went on to sell millions.
MacDonald won Grammy Awards as a performer and producer for "Calypso Breakdown", which appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever.
On July 27, 2011, Stamford, Connecticut, Mayor Michael Pavia declared the day Ralph MacDonald Day.
After stroke, battle with lung cancer...
By Keino Swamber keino.swamber@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Dec 18, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
Story Updated: Dec 18, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
GIFTED composer, producer and percussionist Ralph MacDonald, whose father was a Trinidadian calypsonian, has died.
MacDonald died yesterday morning in his hometown in Connecticut, USA, after ailing for some time, having suffered a stroke and battling lung cancer. He was 67.
He is probably best known for his composition of the 1980 Grover Washington Jr hit "Just the Two of Us", a song reputedly written in honour of Trinidad and Tobago.
MacDonald has composed for and played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Carole King, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Buffett, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Ashford and Simpson and Amy Winehouse.
He also collaborated with William Salter to write "Where is the Love?", which was sung by Flack and Donny Hathaway.
Locally, he has worked with pannist extraordinaire Robert "Robbie" Greenidge, Phase II Pan Groove, Witco Desperadoes (his favourite band), and jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles, among others. A regular visitor to Trinidad for Panorama, MacDonald last performed in this country in 2008 at the San Fernando Jazz Festival.
His father performed under the sobriquet MacBeth the Great and achieved wide acclaim.
MacDonald began performing as a small boy, when his father would have him dance on the drums.
He secured a job with Harry Belafonte's steel band at the age of 17, and wrote an album of songs Calypso Carnival for Belafonte in 1966.
He went on to launch Antisia Music, his own publishing company, with friends Bill Salter and William Eaton, during which time "Where is the Love?" was written.
The single went on to sell millions.
MacDonald won Grammy Awards as a performer and producer for "Calypso Breakdown", which appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever.
On July 27, 2011, Stamford, Connecticut, Mayor Michael Pavia declared the day Ralph MacDonald Day.
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