Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers has reunited with a son he gave up for adoption nearly six decades ago. The story comes via NBC, which reported that McDonald made contact with Michael Goessling a year and a half ago.
Goessling, now 59, was adopted as a baby and never knew his biological parents until last year. He received a letter telling him that they wanted to meet him. His first conversation with McDonald was over the phone.
“I just said: ‘What a voice that guy has!’” Goessling recalled. “It just sounded so familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Finally, I just said: ‘Are you Michael McDonald?’ And he chuckled and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’”
The Phone Call That Made It Click
The recognition came slowly. Goessling heard McDonald’s voice on the phone and felt a connection he could not explain. He asked directly, and the answer confirmed what he suspected.
A quick Google search sealed the deal. McDonald told Goessling he was a musician with a gig that night at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. A search showed the Doobie Brothers were booked for that date.
“There are still days I wake up, and my first thought is I am coming out of the craziest dream, and it’s been a year and a half,” Goessling added. “I’m still trying to get my head around all of it.”
The Teenage Pregnancy That Changed Everything
Back when McDonald was 14, he had a child with his middle-school girlfriend. The pair put the child up for adoption, and McDonald went on to replace Tom Johnston as the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers.
McDonald has five Grammys to his name and helped the band score Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “What A Fool Believes,” as well as other top 10 hits such as “Real Love” and “The Doctor.” His career took off while Goessling grew up without knowing his biological family.
Goessling’s Response to the Reunion
Goessling told NBC that he never harbored resentment for his biological parents for putting him up for adoption. He says they are still good friends.
“I just wanted to thank them for the choices they made on my behalf and for giving me a shot in this world, and how grateful I was for that,” he said. “They were always heroes in my story.”
The Songs That Carried Him
McDonald’s career with the Doobie Brothers produced some of the band’s biggest hits. “What A Fool Believes” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Real Love” and “The Doctor” both cracked the top 10.
| Song | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| “What A Fool Believes” | No. 1 |
| “Real Love” | Top 10 |
| “The Doctor” | Top 10 |
The Grammys
McDonald has five Grammys to his name.
His voice was the first thing Goessling recognized. Even over the phone, before he knew who he was talking to, Goessling heard something familiar.
The Reunion’s Timeline
- Goessling was adopted as a baby.
- McDonald was 14 when he had a child with his middle-school girlfriend.
- The child was put up for adoption.
- McDonald became the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers after replacing Tom Johnston.
- Goessling received a letter from his biological parents last year.
- McDonald made contact with Goessling a year and a half ago.
- Goessling recognized McDonald’s voice over the phone.
- Goessling has been processing the reunion ever since.
The reunion has lasted a year and a half, and Goessling says the reality of it still surprises him daily. He wakes up and thinks he is coming out of a dream.
That moment changed everything.
Source material: “Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers Reconnects With Son He Put Up for Adoption at Age 14, Nearly 6 Decades Later,” Billboard.
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