Ralph MacDonald
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Ralph MacDonald is a Grammy-award winning American percussionist and song-writer born in Harlem, New York, in 1944. He joined Harry Belafonte's band at age 17. He wrote the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway hit song "Where is the Love" with songwriting partner William Salter. Probably his best-known composition is the Grover Washington, Jr. - Bill Withers hit "Just the Two of Us", which has since been covered by many artists, including Will Smith.
His recording credits are legendary, and number in the hundreds. A short list would include George Benson, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, and Jimmy Buffett, whose Coral Reefer Band has featured MacDonald as member since the late 1990s.
He is featured on percussion on George Benson's 1976 album, Breezin'; on percussion on Carole King's 1975 album, Thoroughbred.
His song "Jam on the Groove" was featured on the breakbeat compilation "Ultimate Breaks and Beats". His "Calypso Breakdown" is on the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack. MacDonald also appears on Amy Lee's CD Use Me.
