Michael Goessling, a 59-year-old resident of St. Louis, recently discovered that his biological father is Michael McDonald, the renowned musician and lead vocalist of the Doobie Brothers. The revelation came nearly six decades after Mr. Goessling was adopted as an infant.

The first contact between Mr. Goessling and Mr. McDonald occurred in May 2025. During their initial phone conversation, Mr. Goessling asked his biological father about his profession. When Mr. McDonald identified himself simply as “Mike” and mentioned he was on tour, Mr. Goessling quickly recognized the name and voice, prompting him to ask directly, “Are you Michael McDonald?” The musician confirmed the connection.

Mr. McDonald, 74, has had a prolific career in music, including his time with the Doobie Brothers, a band he joined after stints with other groups such as Steely Dan. He is also known for his solo work, notably the 1982 hit “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).” In his memoir, Mr. McDonald revealed that he was in eighth grade when his girlfriend became pregnant, a situation that led to the couple deciding to place their child for adoption. Following the birth, Mr. McDonald pursued a music career, foregoing traditional schooling.

Mr. Goessling, who makes a living by supplying windows and doors for construction projects, expressed mixed feelings about the discovery. Having long wondered about his birth parents, he said he never anticipated that his biological father was a celebrated musician. “I was certainly more prepared for perhaps, you know, Mike the retired schoolteacher or accountant or truck driver,” he said. The surprise was compounded by the fact that Mr. Goessling is also a music enthusiast who has enjoyed playing guitar and writing songs privately.

The reunion between father and son was preceded by years of searching on the part of Mr. McDonald and his former girlfriend, who remained in contact over the years. The connection was ultimately made through an ancestry test taken by Mr. McDonald’s younger son, which identified Mr. Goessling as a sibling residing in St. Louis. On May 6, 2025, Mr. Goessling received a letter from a lawyer representing his birth parents, offering to facilitate contact.

Following the letter, Mr. Goessling spoke with his birth mother but was told that details about Mr. McDonald were his to share. The two men spoke only after Mr. Goessling and his birth mother met in person. Mr. Goessling refers to Mr. McDonald as “Mike,” and they arrange meetings when the musician tours in St. Louis. Mr. McDonald has also developed a close relationship with Mr. Goessling’s teenage children.

Mr. Goessling hopes that his story will bring greater attention to adoption narratives. “What might come from this story and the attention it’s getting all of a sudden is that the adoption narrative gets elevated in this country a little bit more and gets celebrated,” he said.

Despite their late reunion, the connection has grown steadily. Mr. Goessling, a longtime fan of the Doobie Brothers, had attended concerts and admired Mr. McDonald’s work for years, never knowing they were related. Now, the discovery adds a new dimension to both their lives.