Artist Michael McDonald

The closest that Michael McDonald has come to cool in the past 20 years was via a sample: Elements of his lite-rock hit “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” showed up on Warren G’s hip-hop crossover “Regulate.” But the former Doobie Brothers member has an impressive back catalog of smooth songs to choose from, including “Sweet Freedom” and “What A Fool Believes,” though judging by his last few albums—including 2008’s Soul Speak—even McDonald has tired of those, preferring at this age to cover other people’s material.

Updated 06/11/2009