Doobie Brothers/Steely Dan singer Michael McDonald is featured on "Life on the Patio," the new single by Los Angeles-based band Tino Drima.
The band is led by singer/pianist/guitarist Greg DiMartino (full disclosure: Greg's father, Dave DiMartino is my longtimefriend and former boss). Tino Drima has been releasing music under that moniker since 2016, but with the release of "Life on the Patio," the band is poised to reach a new audience.
"The song is modeled after the soft rock of the late '70s and early '80s," Greg DiMartino said in a statement. "I wanted it to sound like something Michael McDonald would have sung on, with the Porcaros as his studio band. And then, due to unbelievably great fortune, that just came to be."
The Porcaros DiMartino is referring to are the late Mike and Jeff Porcaro of Toto. Mike Porcaro's son Sam is DiMartino's childhood friend, and he plays bass on "Life on the Patio." Chris Porcaro is Jeff's son, and he runs Memory Swoon, the Seattle based label that's releasing the song. It will also be released as a 7-inch vinyl single in summer/early fall with a live version of the song "Girl Who Can Fly."
"I had the great pleasure of working with a new young artist who I believe is destined to stake his claim on the landscape of new and innovative music emerging on the horizon this year!" McDonald said. "Greg DiMartino's latest recording, 'Life on the Patio,' could be one of the great summertime anthems, melodically infectious and lyrically thought provoking. That combination always hits the mark for me!"
"I feel so deeply honored to have had this once in a lifetime experience with Mike," DiMartino added. "It's even more special I was able to do it with bassist Sam Porcaro, my childhood friend and have it released by Chris Porcaro, whose respective dads helped define an era of some of the greatest pop music ever made."
In other Michael McDonald news, What a Fool Believes: A Memoir, has just been published by Day Street Books. Co-written with actor/comedian Paul Reiser, the book covers the five-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's career with the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and as a solo artist.
Also, according to British magazine Mojo, the Doobie Brothers are wrapping up their first album in 40 years featuring McDonald on vocals.
