Doobie Brothers singer and keyboard player Michael McDonald was reunited with the son he gave up for adoption nearly 60 years ago.
In the process, the Grammy Award-winning Yah Mo B There vocalist learned he’s a grandfather to a pair of kids in the Midwest.
St. Louis man Michael Goessling told local station KMOV he grew up knowing he was adopted, but was unnamed by his birth parents, whom he believes were 14 years old when he was conceived. It wasn’t until Dylan McDonald — the half brother he didn’t know he had — took a 23andMe test that his origin story came to light.
On his 58th birthday, Goessling met his birth mother. He was then put in touch with his 74-year-old father, who said by phone that he’s a musician who would soon be performing in St. Louis. Goessling said he deduced the man he was talking to was McDonald and asked if that’s correct.
“Yeah, I’m afraid so,” he said his biological father confirmed.
After the pair met, Goessling introduced McDonald to his own family. That included his two sons.
“That’s still sinking in to me, what a gift,” McDonald said about suddenly learning he’s a grandfather.
He gushed to KMOV that his daughter-in-law and grandsons are people he really likes and appreciates.
Goessling was raised in St. Louis by his adoptive dad Paul and mum Kay, who unwittingly gave him the same first name as his biological father.
“The real rock stars in this story for us are his adoptive parents, who … really gave Michael everything a child needs in terms of love and security,” McDonald said.
He believes the Goesslings gave their son a better life than an aspiring teenage musician could’ve provided.
McDonald’s son is expected to talk about his newfound family when he speaks at the Reach Reproductive Health Gala in Missouri on Oct 22. – New York Daily News/TNS
