Album Notes

Biography


Kelly McDonald was born September 4th, 1978 to father Mac McDonald and mother Sandy. Kelly’s family had very little in the way of money but they had more than enough love to go around.

His musical career started in the 3rd grade where he took up playing the Alto sax. Kelly’s father had played the Alto sax for years in the Tournament of Roses Parade and gave Kelly his old Saxophone to learn on. Kelly accelled at the saxophone with help from his father at night and his teacher at school during the day.

Soon, Kelly decided it was time for a change. He attended a Chris LeDoux concert while taking part in rodeos and saw Mark Sissel (LeDoux’s lead guitarist) going to town. He was awestruck and decided he would learn to play the guitar. Within a few months Kelly had taught himself how to play and sing a number of Buck Owens and Chris LeDoux songs. Within a year he had taught himself about 80 different cover songs from Buck Owens to The Steve Miller Band.

Kelly wrote his first song after seeing the grizzly scene of domestic violence at his friend’s house one night. His first song was called “The Rusty Windchime Cries”. As soon as he had 6 songs written, Kelly went into the recording studio for the first time and cut his first demo cd entitled “No Angel in Heaven”. The cd spread like wildfire through his highschool and soon it was blasting all through the parking lot.

His first show was played when he was 16 years old at an old tavern which will remain nameless. He was allowed in to sit in with the band and was not allowed to loiter inside the bar. He was only allowed to go from the door to the stage and back out. He learned there how to work his crowd, and get fans and friends fired up. By the time he was eighteen, he was playing four nights a week as a house band there.

Since then, Kelly has had the opportunity to play all over the U.S. He’s played everything from state fairs to rodeos and weddings. He has been featured in several newspaper articles in California. He is a master at his craft which has gotten him airplay on 34 FM radio stations, 8 AM stations and he has landed endorsement deals with Godin Guitar Co., Panhandle Slim Shirt Co., Wolverine Boot Co., Traditional Medicinals Teas, Madison Amps, and Knucklhead Strings.
Kelly would like to thank you for taking the time to read through this short biography.

Sincerely,


Kelly McDonald