Singer Songwriter Extraordinaire Rod MacDonald Performing In Los Angeles



June 23, 2005 -- Rod MacDonald has been regarded as one of the finest singer/songwriters of contemporary folk music performing in North America since the early days of his career.

Rod became a pivotal figure in the late 70s and early 80s folk renaissance in Greenwich Village, with his unique brand of eclectic music that transcended the typical folk genre, prolific songwriting and his willingness to take chances and get political that earned him the recognition of being one of the most popular entertainers in New York and beyond.

Influenced by songwriters Phil Ochs, Richard Farina and Bob Dylan, and his own background in law and journalism, Rod has been entertaining audiences worldwide for almost three decades with his timeless ballads, modern folk songs, engaging delivery and musical versatility.

Seamlessly weaving standout romantic ballads in between his trademark humorously satirical and sometimes reckless, politically-charged commentaries, Rod's music is a tapestry of journalistically insightful lyrics and poetic imagery. As distinctive an entertainer as he is a songwriter, he is at his wittiest when targeting "political chicanery".

Called by All Music Guide " one of the most politically and socially aware lyricists of our time", the Boston Herald writes that Rod's performances are "vital and vibrant affairs".

Audiences respond quickly to Rod's wry humor, and his warm, expressive voice, especially in songs like the ever-popular "The Governator", a laugh-out-loud spoof of one of our more well-publicized state governors, and "Ray and Ron", a humorous, light-hearted parody of former President Ronald Reagan and musician and national treature Ray Charles, who both passed away in the same week. In "Smoke" (While You Were Outside Having A Smoke), Rod regales the probable and improbable events that smokers miss when they leave a room for a 20-minute smoke.

Rod has released 9 solo albums in the U.S. and Europe, and with 27 songs, he is one of the most heavily represented artists in the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings re-mastered collections from Fast Folk Music, with his classic "American Jerusalem" the lead-off track in the subsequent anniversary Deluxe CD Collection. His latest CD, "A Tale of Two Americas" (Wind River Records)which features Rod's vocal, harmonica and guitar, includes 17 well-crafted, acoustic-based original songs, and Bob Dylan's "With God On Our Side."

"MacDonald approaches the genre differently from most contemporary singer-songwriters. His 'protest' songs are narratives that invite you to draw your own conclusionstakes listeners on previously untrod paths in his unique stores." (Sing Out! Fall 2003)

Rod's music can be heard on many radio stations in the U.S. and abroad.

Rod's CDs are available at www.folkera.com/windriver, www.rodmacdonald.net and other Internet sites.

Rod's electronic press kit is available at www.SonicBids.com/RodMacDonald and includes MP3s.





Singer Songwriter Extraordinaire Rod MacDonald Performing In Los Angeles