ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 73

in the KATHI MCDONALD BAND when EDDIE MONEY opened for them at THE KEYSTONE CORNER in Berkley, CA,
in 1975. MICKEY HEART, drummer for THE GRATEFUL DEAL and NICK GRAVENITES sat in with the band at THE
LION’S SHARE in San Anselmo, CA, the following night.
In 1974, Forrest’s band SLINGSHOT played at BILL GAZRRI’S club on The Sunset Strip every Friday Sat and Sunday
night with VAN HALEN. Forrest and lead vocalist STEVE JABLECKI were formerly in WADSWORTH MANSION known
for the top 10 hit “Sweet Mary I’m Coming Home”.
Forrest McDonald was voted “Best Southern Blues Guitarist” (Modern) by REAL BLUES MAGAZINE July 2002.
FORREST MCDONALD AND THE 3D BLUES BAND were voted “Best Southern Blues Band” by REAL BLUES
MAGAZINE for 1999, 2000 and 2001. Forrest’s 6th CD, “Finger Lickin' Blues” was also voted the “Best Southern
Blues Release” for 2001 by Real Blues Magazine. He additionally received the “Just Plain Folks Music Award” for
“Best Blues Album of 1999” for the “Spirit of the Blues” CD. The song Work, Work appearing on “What’s It Gonna
Take?” was voted “Best Blues Song” for 2000 by the “Just Plain Folks” music awards”.
Forrest has appeared or headlined many
popular outdoor festivals such as The Atlanta
Blues Festival, The Gasparilla Festival, Spring
Fest, The River Place Arts Festival, Bay Fest,
The Vallejo Jazz & Blues Fest, Sun Fest, The
Carolina Blues & Seafood Festival,
Bluesapalooza, The Montreaux Atlanta
Festival, The Jacksonville Beach Annual
Festival, The Melbourne Art Festival, The Hi-Fi
Buys Amphitheater, the King Biscuit Blues
Festival and many others.
The “Certified Blue” CD features his wife and
vocalist KAYLON MCDONALD. Kaylon started
singing and playing the guitar when she was
10 years old. She won the “Atlanta Female
Entertainer of the Year” award in 1991.
Forrest has 12 CD's at present, some with
songs he's held in his back pocket since the
70's. I get a lot of mp3's submitted to me, but
few artists take the time or effort to actually send me a CD. I couldn't wait to hear it, but was leaving for the evening,
so I stuck it in the player of the car. It hasn't been taken out after about a month…it's that good! Everyone that hears
it will unconsciously start tapping their foot and grooving to the music. And they ALL say, "That band is really good!"
It's cool because I know they are going to say it when the first song ends.
(Editor’s note: I’ve been riding in that same car with Mr. Bridges. And I can give testimony that my toe was indeed atappin’! Bravo, Forrest! You most certainly have paid your dues to play the Blues!)