Takin’ It To Artpark: Michael McDonald’s Back!

(Lewiston, NY)  Michael McDonald, the five-time Grammy Award winning baritone behind The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and more recent platinum-selling Motown-inspired albums, is the featured attraction of the July 22 edition of the "First Niagara Tuesday in the Park" free outdoor concert series at Artpark.  All of Artpark's free concert events begin at 6:30pm and include hands-on art workshops for children.

McDonald last appeared at Artpark on July 19, 2005 to a crowd of over 16,000 concertgoers.

The creator of such hits as "I Keep Forgettin'," the Grammy-winning "Yah Mo B There," and the Number One pop single "On My Own," McDonald, 56, has been a fixture in American pop music for over three decades. After emerging out of the local scene in his hometown of St. Louis, he first came into the spotlight as part of Steely Dan's touring band in the early 1970s. He contributed vocals and keyboards to the band's classic albums Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja, and Gaucho. While working with Steely Dan, McDonald also joined the Doobie Brothers, where his voice became the group's focal point on such songs as "Takin' It to the Streets," "Minute by Minute," and, unforgettably, the Number One single "What a Fool Believes," which won the 1980 Grammy as "Song of the Year."

Since then, he has delivered chart-topping tunes such as "On My Own" (with Patti LaBelle) and "Sweet Freedom," his theme for the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines comedy Running Scared.  His most recent release, Soul Speak, is the natural follow-up to McDonald's two smash explorations of the Motown Records songbook-the platinum-selling Motown from 2003, which was nominated for two Grammy awards, and the next year's gold-selling Motown Two.

The evening's opening act is the Jamie Holka Trio.

Like all of Artpark's free concert events, each evening includes a wide variety of free family-friendly hands-on art workshops, including drawing, face-painting, dress-up, self portraits and more.

Artpark's July 22 concert with Michael McDonald is sponsored by The Reid Group.

All "First Niagara Tuesday in the Park" events are also sponsored by Certo Brothers Distributing Company, Sevenson Environmental Services, Modern Corporation, S&S Lawn Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, Mark Cerrone, Inc., Tim Horton's (Niagara Falls), DiMino's Lewiston Tops, Pine Pharmacy, Frey Electric Construction Company, Bison Construction Corp., Empire Dismantlement Corp., Lawley Insurance, Time Warner Cable, and The Talking Phone Book.

Artpark's Outdoor Amphitheater opens to the public at 2pm on event nights, and can be accessed via the Upper Park's Portage Road entrance off of Center Street or through South 4^th Street nearest the Mainstage Theater.

Carry-ins (food and beverages) are prohibited at all of Artpark's free concert events while on-site parking is .

For a full schedule of 2008 events, call the Artpark Box Office at (716) 754-4375 or visit artpark.net.

The Earl W. Brydges Artpark is being operated by Artpark & Company, Inc. for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation under a license agreement.

###