MusiCares not only throws an amazing gala every year to honor musicians, but helps people struggling in the industry through a variety of ways like offering free group therapy, replacing instruments lost in natural disasters and paying rent or buying groceries for musicians who need assistance.
By Heather Newgen
Every year MusiCares kicks off GRAMMY weekend with an unforgettable night of A-list performances that honor a legendary band or musician. But the organization does much more than pay tribute to the industry’s best. MusiCares helps musicians get back on their feet and nobody knows that former Dave Matthews Band tour manager Michael McDonald.
Two decades ago he was on the road with the group, touring nonstop, but his dream job led the way to some of his darkest times. He was a cocaine addict and alcoholic, and credits MusiCares for getting him back on track.
“MusiCares is a huge part of my story, as is Aerosmith. It was 20 years ago I reached out to their manager because I was an alcoholic and I needed help. He was the one who connected me to MusiCares who were providing free group counseling in New York City twice a week. It was those meetings twice a week in the first couple years of my sobriety that really saved my life,” McDonald told The Voluntourist.
He added, “I would be dead without them. It’s really that simple. They were such an important part of me staying sober at a time when I wouldn’t been able to afford group therapy that saved my life.”
It was after a bad bender that McDonald realized he needed help.
“I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had been lying to myself and everyone around me about what was going on. I reached that breaking point and finally overcame myself and reached out for help.”
While he liked his gig, he knew it was time to move on.
[DMB] are the hardest working band out there. What better way to learn than from them. I had an amazing education on the road and really genuinely loved every minute of it. But, I also recognized that I wanted to do different things and being on the road that often wasn’t going to afford that.
In 2000 McDonald founded Mick Management that reps artists like Mandy Moore, David Gray, Leon Bridges, Ray Lamontagne and more.
In addition, McDonald has served as Board Chair for MusiCares for the last three years, focusing on ways to raise more awareness for their programs and services.