Hallmark announced today that multiple Grammy Award-winner Michael McDonald will be the featured artist on its 2005 Hallmark Music Holiday CD. Michael McDonald’s Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album includes 10 seasonal songs selected and recorded by Michael for this special album. The title track is a new holiday classic written by Michael and his wife, Amy Holland, for this CD. Produced by Michael McDonald, Shannon Forrest and Grady Walker, the album will be available throughout November and December 2005 exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. The announcement was made by Ann Herrick, integrated marketing manager at Hallmark.

Michael McDonald’s distinctive voice and unique singing style helped launch him into international fame soon after he joined the Doobie Brothers in the late 1970s. Among their many Grammy Award-winning, Platinum and Gold hits are McDonald’s “What A Fool Believes,” “Taking It To The Streets,” and “Minute By Minute.” During his decades-long career with the Doobie Brothers, as a solo artist, in live performances and recordings with other noted artists including James Ingram and Patti LaBelle, McDonald earned a stellar reputation for what is often called his “Blue-Eyed Soul” delivery of new and classic songs. His renditions of Motown hits recently earned him his first Platinum record as a solo artist and yet another Grammy nomination. His new endeavor, Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album, includes a unique and diverse selection of songs, capturing the special ways in which people around the world celebrate the holiday season.

Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album is priced at $7.95 with each purchase of three Hallmark cards. Consumers can visit Hallmark.com or call 1-800-HALLMARK (800-425-5627) to find a Hallmark Gold Crown store in their area.

McDonald’s signing to record this new holiday CD reflects Hallmark’s ongoing commitment to partnering with world-renowned artists in the music industry. Teri Brown, president of T.B.A. Network, Inc., was instrumental in crafting the partnership between Hallmark and McDonald.

Hallmark has offered holiday music since the mid-1980s with such recording artists as Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett, among others. Last year’s James Taylor: A Christmas Album, was the only CD of the holiday season to be certified Platinum. Hallmark’s first Valentine’s Day CD, featuring newly arranged songs by Martina McBride, went Gold one week following its release on Jan. 24, 2005. Hallmark is synonymous with quality entertainment, producing and sponsoring the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame television series for more than 50 years.