American Michael Goessling had always wondered who his biological parents were. The manager was given up for adoption by a teenage couple shortly after his birth 59 years ago. When he imagined his biological father, he thought more of a plumber or a retired accountant.
His surprise was therefore immense when he discovered that his father was none other than Michael McDonald, singer and songwriter awarded with five Grammy Awards and former member of the Doobie Brothers.
Michael told First Alert 4 that he had a “wonderful childhood” with his adoptive parents, Paul and Kay Goessling, in St. Louis. Curiosity about his origins, however, never left him, even if he says that he “could not have dreamed of better people to raise him”.
“Are you Michael McDonald?”
Some time ago, Michael discovered the existence of a half-brother he knew nothing about. Both had sent a saliva sample to US genetics company 23andMe and were informed that their profiles matched.
“Within 36 hours, my half-brother Dylan McDonald received an email: Michael Goessling, half-brother, St. Louis. And that’s how it all began,” Michael told the American channel.
On his 58th birthday, he met his biological mother for the first time. The meeting was organized by his half-brother Dylan. Shortly after, Michael got on the phone with his father. He simply explained to him that he was a musician and was preparing a tour which would notably pass through St. Louis.
“I then asked, ‘Are you Michael McDonald?’” Michael told the Washington Post. “And he said, ‘Yes, unfortunately.’”
Father was 14 when Michael was born
McDonald had remained close to Michael’s biological mother over the years. He says he “always carried this feeling of guilt”, because he did not know what had become of his son after the young couple gave him up for adoption at the age of 14.
The musician and his former partner had often spoken about Michael. “Ultimately, our biggest concern was: how has life treated him?” confided the septuagenarian.
59 years after being adopted, Michael Goessling reunites with his biological father: Michael McDonald, the famous singer of the Doobie Brothers.
YouTube/The Doobie Brothers“Knowing that he was okay and had a good life – one that I certainly couldn’t have given him at the time – was a wonderful reward,” McDonald said. “The real rockstars of this story are his adoptive parents.”
A proud grandfather
The fact that father and son have the same first name is purely coincidental. The two men then met in person. “When he first saw me, he opened his arms, hugged me tight and told me he loved me – and I told him the same thing,” Michael said.
McDonald has been married to singer Amy Holland since 1983 and has two adult children with her. He explains that he still has to “realize” that he is also a grandfather, since Michael Goessling is himself the father of two children.
“My daughter-in-law is exactly the daughter-in-law you want,” the singer said of Michael’s wife. “And the kids are the greatest kids you could imagine. I’m just so proud of them.”
