Music legend Michael McDonald helps launch Ferguson’s Wall of Fame

by Beth von Behren

Grammy-winning vocalist and Ferguson native Michael McDonald recently got a first look at his star on the Ferguson Wall of Fame from Peggy McDonald (no relation) of the Ferguson Historical Society.

Members of the Ferguson Historical Society and Ferguson Special Business District (FSBD) got a special treat Thursday night, July 22, when favorite son Michael McDonald stopped by for a quick photo shoot in Caboose Park, home of the under-construction Ferguson Wall of Fame.  McDonald is one of the first 10 inductees into the Wall of Fame, which is the brainchild of Peggy McDonald, a Ferguson resident who came up with the idea during her time as president of the Ferguson Historical Society.

McDonald was in town to give a concert Friday night at the Touhill – a fundraiser for the local chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NCADA).  McDonald’s lifelong friend and Ferguson native Dan Duncan is director of community services for NCADA’s St. Louis chapter, and this is the second time McDonald has stepped in to donate his time and talent to raise money for the agency.

He has a busy tour schedule and is not expected to be available to participate in the actual dedication, so he stopped by to have his photo taken with his plaque and then graciously stuck around to have quite a few more pictures taken, despite the heat.

The Historical Society and FSBD are joint sponsors of the Wall of Fame, which will  honor individuals who have contributed significantly to American culture or history and were either born in Ferguson or lived in the city for a significant period of time.  McDonald was born in 1952, grew up in Ferguson and attended McCluer High School.  He performed locally with the Majestics and Jerry Jay and the Sheratons before moving to Los Angeles in 1970.

Known for performing with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers in the 1970s as well as his solo work, he was also a major songwriter in the 1980s for Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, and Van Halen, among others, and has reunited in recent years with both the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.  He is the recipient of five Grammy awards.

McDonald poses with members of the Ferguson Historical Society and Ferguson Special Business District

In addition to McDonald, the other Ferguson Wall of Fame inductees for this inaugural round are:

Mary Jo Bang, poet

Joanie Lum, broadcast reporter

Louis Maull, businessman, creator of Maull’s barbecue sauce

Susan Notorangelo, bicyclist

Dan O’Bannon, writer/director

Antoine Predock, architect

Mike Shannon, baseball player

Enos Slaughter, baseball player

Jeanne Trevor, singer

Construction on the Wall of Fame, which will be located at 220 S. Florissant Road, began last week. A dedication ceremony is in the planning stages.

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Beth von Behren is the Public Information Officer for the City of Kirkwood. She grew up in North County and is a Normandy HS alum. She is writing her Great American Novel and invites you to read her blog at http://bethstake.blogspot.com.

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