I love Michael McDonald and I always liked the fact he was a homey, St. Louis born and raised.

In his new biography, the first 60 pages have him in St. Louis growing up and becoming a musician.

I usually skip through the early years in the music bio’s, and I read a lot of them, because they don’t interest me. Not this time with the St. Louis angle.

My eyes got huge when he casually mentions he got a girlfriend pregnant when they were both 14, and she had an abortion. He talks about thinking maybe he should have “manned” up as a father. He was 14!

On a much, much lighter note, he of course has his hometown hero Chuck Berry story.

Michael was in a pickup band. I know the drill by now. Chuck paid in advance by cash. He uses a pickup band to save money.

The twist this time is he motioned them off the stage one at a time during the show so he wouldn’t have to pay them. At end, all that was left was Chuck and drummer for him to finish with his only horrible song “My Dingaling”.

By the way, Michael tells this with affection for a great Chuck show and being on stage with him.