Mike "Milton" McDonald is a renowned session guitarist with an impressive career spanning over three decades. Born in Milton Keynes, he adopted the nickname "Milton" due to his hometown.
Early in his career, McDonald was a member of The Boomerang Gang, a band that gained popularity on the London scene in 1984. He left the band in 1986 and went on to join Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a supergroup formed by former Yes members, as their second guitarist. He toured with the band and appeared on their studio album, showcasing his exceptional skills.
After leaving Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, McDonald embarked on a successful career as a session guitarist, working with various UK pop producers, including Absolute. His extensive client list includes Patricia Kaas, Spice Girls, S Club 7, Ray Davies, Take That, Robert Palmer, M People, Louise, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Mylène Farmer, and Girls Aloud, among many others.
McDonald's impressive resume includes touring with British pop act Take That between 1992 and 1996, as well as playing for a variety of British, European, and Japanese artists. He reconnected with Take That for their sell-out Ultimate Tour in 2006 and subsequent tours. In 2009, he collaborated with Ray Davies on his album The Kinks Choral Collection and performed at Children In Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall, backing Shirley Bassey, Dizzee Rascal, Annie Lennox, Paolo Nutini, Take That, Leona Lewis, and Robbie Williams.
In 2012, McDonald replaced Rob Harris, the guitarist for Jamiroquai, for a concert in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He also played guitar for the finale of the Radio 2 "Festival in a day" concert in 2014, alongside Jeff Lynne's ELO, Richard Tandy, Mike Stevens, and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Currently, McDonald is a touring member of Jeff Lynne's ELO, performing as both a guitarist and backing vocalist alongside his wife, Melanie Lewis-McDonald. Throughout his illustrious career, McDonald has solidified his reputation as one of the most sought-after session guitarists in the music industry.
