St. Louis man learns his father is Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesA St. Louis man who spent decades wondering about his biological roots has discovered that his father is Michael McDonald, the five-time Grammy-winning singer of the Doobie Brothers.
Michael Goessling, 59, was placed for adoption as an infant after his birth parents, both 14 at the time, conceived him, KMOV reported. Paul and Kay Goessling adopted and raised him in St. Louis. He said he always knew he was adopted and had a wonderful childhood.
The mystery began to unravel when a half-brother he never knew he had took a 23andMe DNA test. Within 36 hours, Mr. Goessling said, his half-brother received an email identifying Mr. Goessling as a DNA match.
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He met his birth mother in person on his 58th birthday and later spoke with his birth father by phone. Asked what he did for a living, the man said he was a musician about to tour through St. Louis. Mr. Goessling then asked whether he was Michael McDonald. The singer replied, “Yeah, I’m afraid so.”
The two share a first name by coincidence. Mrs. Goessling named him after he was placed with the family.
Mr. McDonald, 74, wrote in his memoir that he was “a clueless eighth grader” when the pregnancy happened. He and the birth mother, who remained friends, spent years wondering what became of their son. Mr. McDonald told KMOV that guilt stayed with him but that learning his son had a good life was a great reward. He said the real heroes of the story are the adoptive parents.
When father and son first met in person, Mr. Goessling said, Mr. McDonald hugged him and told him he loved him. The reunion also made the musician a grandfather. Mr. Goessling has two children, ages 16 and 13, according to The New York Times, which also reported that he sells windows and doors for construction projects. He told the Times he hopes the attention helps elevate the adoption narrative in the country.
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