American Idol Standout Paul McDonald To Release Song That Benefits Japanese Survivors

TAMPA, FL, April 03, 2011 (Press-News.org) After his rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man", America voted Paul McDonald into American Idol's final nine. Idol judge Stephen Tyler has praised Paul's voice throughout his time on the show quoting "Like (Bob) Dylan, like Willy Nelson, your voice is that different - and it's beautiful in that sense".

Paul McDonald and The Grand Magnolias' newest song release, "New Orleans", stands to help citizens of Japan. All proceeds from their song "New Orleans" will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. McDonald and his band, The Grand Magnolias, paired with Nashville producer Ken Coomer ( Former drummer of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo) to record "New Orleans" in 2010. The song will be released exclusively on http://www.theGrandMagnolias.com

With McDonald's star rising, the time seems right for such an endeavor to truly add to the recovery efforts in Japan. McDonald's American Idol twitter account @PMcDonaldAl10 has accrued more than 40,000 followers in less than a month, and his personal twitter account @thePaulMcdonald boasts more than 12,000. The Grand Magnolias' YouTube channel has reached over 830,000 views, and their "American Dreams" video hit 365,000 views this week. Last week, The Grand Magnolias' debut self-titled album peaked at #8 on the iTunes rock charts. While the song hopefully reaps needed funds for those in need, McDonald will continue his path on American Idol.

Paul's American Idol journey began in Nashville, TN where the singer/songwriter auditioned and received a "golden ticket" from judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson. Despite sudden national attention, he has been writing songs and performing nationwide for years. He began touring the country in 2005 and recently formed the group The Grand Magnolias, releasing their debut album in November 2010. During his career, McDonald has performed with a variety of musicians, including The Zac Brown Band, Sara Bareilles and JJ Grey while also playing festivals such as SXSW and Bonnaroo.

For more information on Paul McDonald and The Grand Magnolias, visit http://www.thegrandmagnolias.com and http://www.thepaulmcdonald.com. Video of McDonald and the band can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrandMagnolias.