Richie McDonald

Born February 6, 1962, in Lubbock, Texas, Richie McDonald, a Christian country singer and songwriter, entered the world in the same city that produced Buddy Holly and several other notable musicians, an apt setting for his abilities on guitar, bass, and piano. Between 1992 and 2007 he fronted Lonestar as lead vocalist, guiding the band to nearly 30 country-chart singles, many of which he wrote or co-wrote. He supplied additional songs to fellow acts, among them “She’s Always Right” for Clay Walker, “Let Them Be Little” for Billy Dean, “Coalmine” for Sara Evans, and “Once a Woman Gets a Hold of Your Heart” for Heartland. McDonald exited Lonestar in 2007 to pursue solo work, issuing the holiday album If Every Day Could Be Christmas that same year and the faith-based follow-up I Turn to You on Lucid Records in 2008.