Christian artist to perform tomorrow

David MacDonald, a multi-talented Christian artist from Ottawa, Canada, will perform at a Sunday Brunch benefit concert dubbed “Love at the Center” tomorrow, Sept. 12, from 11am to 2pm at AJ’s Restaurant.

MacDonald recently was a featured presenter at the Parish Liturgical Conference sponsored by the Merizo/Umatac, Guam, Catholic Pastoral Center, and talked on “There is only one Choice: Pro-Life.”

Aside from his music, MacDonald will also talk about his experiences that led him to become a sought-after Christian artist.

The youngest of four boys, he studied guitar, flute, vocal, and piano as a child. He did very well and even performed in classical music festivals. He made his first record in his teens and at 18, he went to Paradise Island in the Bahamas to be a soloist at a Club Med. From the Bahamas, he went to New York, right into Harlem World Rap Music, where MacDonald produced Jeckyl & Hide, the Harlem World Crew, Lady Smiley and others. He also did a song for a white rapper that was broadcasted on NBC. His “Prep Rap” on Nemperor/CBS records got a feature pick in Billboard.

He was cast in a Broadway show playing the roles of Mick Jagger, Sting, Alice Cooper, Procol Harem and the Crewcuts. He also played guitar, flute and trumpet in the show. He was only 21 and the youngest on Broadway.

He worked with Robert Downey Jr., Christopher Lloyd and Broadway star Liz Calloway, Jimmy Haslip of Yellow Jackets and Gary Katz of Steely Dan. MacDonald was the Rock & Roll Cat for the U.S. National tour of the Broadway Cats, acted off-Broadway, co-starred and was principle actor in films for Paramount, Columbia, ABC TV and did commercials for Nintendo and Levis.

At age 24, he lost his voice and quit playing his guitar and singing. For about three years, he was only able to talk for about 10 minutes a day.

Then in 1998, while at a Cursillo weekend retreat, one of the teachings was on “Love is at the center of a Christian life.” Participants were assigned to create an artistic expression of what they’ve learned. MacDonald happened to notice a guitar in the corner and somehow reached for the instrument and started strumming and singing the words the retreat leader had used in her talk. It was then that a beautiful song called “Love at the Center” was born and became the retreat theme.

With an impressive repertoire and heart-warming conversion, MacDonald’s performance on Saipan is in large part due to the support of Pale Mike Crisostimo of the Parishes of Merizo/Umatac, Guam, the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa Commission on Family Life, Father Manny Corcuerra, William Hunter and Aquarius Resort, Deanna Kelly and Microl Corp., Lisa Sablan and Topline Cleaners; Bob Hudkins, John Jones, Lita Cabigting, general manager; chef Joe Bayking and the staff of AJ’s Restaurant; Hansae (Saipan), Inc. and other anonymous individuals.