RIP: Grammy Award winning Trinbagonian Ralph MacDonald dead at 67.

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Grammy-award winning percussionist, songwriter and producer and Trinbagonian Ralph MacDonald has died.

MacDonald is best known as the songwriter of legendary hits “Where Is The Love” and “Just The Two Of Us.”

MacDonald died yesterday morning in his hometown in Connecticut, USA, after ailing for some time, having suffered a stroke and battling lung cancer. He was 67.

Ralph MacDonald was not only the son of  a Trinidadian calypsonian, Macbeth The Great, but a true son of the soil, never failing to spread the knowledge of his love for his country and the music derived there. He pan aficionado, having started playing at age 17.  He has worked with pannist extraordinaire Robert “Robbie” Greenidge, Phase II Pan Groove but the world-famous Deperadoes Steel Band was his favorite band.

It was also at the of age of 17 that he secured a job with Harry Belafonte‘s steel band went on to write an album of songs “Calypso Carnival” for Belafonte in 1966.

In his stellar career MacDonald had composed for and played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Carole King, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Buffett, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Ashford and Simpson and Amy Winehouse.

He went on to launch Antisia Music, his own publishing company, with friends Bill Salter and William Eaton, during which time “Where is the Love?” was written. To date, millions of that single has been sold!

MacDonald won Grammy Awards as a performer and producer for “Calypso Breakdown”, which appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever.

On July 27, 2011, Stamford, Connecticut, Mayor Michael Pavia declared the day Ralph MacDonald Day.

Ralph MacDonald’s – “Where Is The Love”

Ralph MacDonald’s – “Just The Two Of Us”

Read more on Ralph MacDonald HERE