Ralph MacDonald was born in Harlem, New York, USA in 1944. As the son of Trinidad-immigrant and Calypso performer Macbeth The Great, Ralph grew up amidst the rise of Calypsonian revolution in New York City. The young boy was often placed playfully on his father's drums for a moment or two and, when he got older, MacDonald dreamed of someday achieving the regional success of his father.
At 17, Ralph helped a friend carry his steel drums into an audition for legendary performer Harry Belafonte. The friend got the gig, and MacDonald became a regular at rehearsals. When one of the players in Belafonte's Steel Band was late for a rehearsal, Ralph brashly declared his ability to play, and wound up getting the job.
Thus began a 10 year stint with Belafonte that schooled MacDonald in the music business. It also introduced him to songwriter Bill Salter, and the two began writing together to fill time on the road.
At one point, young MacDonald had the nerve to tell Harry Belafonte that despite all the gold records on the wall, Belafonte didn't really know what Calypso was. Belafonte said "Fine kid - if you know so much because your father was a Calypso singer, then you write me a song."
MacDonald delivered an album of songs: 1966's critically-acclaimed Calypso Carnival.
At 27, MacDonald, Bill Salter and William Eaton started their own publishing company, Antisia Music. Everyone told him he was crazy, but Ralph was determined to do it on his own. The partners opened a modest office in New York City and kept the door locked. When asked why, MacDonald explained that it was a publishing company, and that songs were meant to go out the door, not in. He gave himself two years to get the company going.
One year and eleven months later and wondering if Antisia Music would survive, Ralph happened to begin working with Roberta Flack. He and Salter had written a song called "Where Is The Love," and in a studio session, he pitched it to Roberta. She recorded it, and it went on to sell 10 million copies, earning Roberta and Donny Hathaway Grammys and firmly establishing Antisia Music.
From there the success kept on coming. Ralph began recording with legends like James Taylor, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Diana Ross and Paul Simon. He and his partners wrote the Grover Washington, Jr. hit "Mr. Magic" and Antisia Music placed a song called "Calypso Breakdown" on the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. That album went on to sell 47 million copies and earned MacDonald two Grammys of his own, as a performer and a producer. Riding high on the disco craze, Ralph released two albums of his own, gaining commercial success and international recognition.
In 1980, Ralph wrote and produced Grover Washington, Jr.'s classic album Winelight. Among the MacDonald compositions were hits like "Winelight," "In The Name Of Love," and a song destined to become an American standard: "Just The Two Of Us." That song alone has been recorded by hundreds of artists worldwide, including Will Smith's 1999 adaptation of the song.
In recent years MacDonald spent his time writing and recording for Antisia Publishing when he wasn't out on the road touring with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band. He also released albums of smooth, percussive jazz and pop. Firmly established as a successful songwriter, a legendary percussion player, and an international star, it would seem that the kid from Harlem who dreamed of nothing more than achieving what his father had succeeded in a big way.
At 12:50 AM on Sunday, December 18, 2011, MacDonald died of lung cancer. His wife, Grace and their daughter, Nefra-Ann survive him.
Where Is the Love
Ralph MacDonald Lyrics
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Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
You said you'd give to me
Will it ever be?
Where is the love?
You told me that you didn't love him
cnd you were gonna say, goodbye
But if you really didn't mean it
Why did you have to lie?
Where is the love?
You said, was mine, all mine
'Til the end of time
Was it just a lie?
Where is the love?
If you had, had a sudden change of heart
I wish that you would tell me so
Don't leave me hangin' on the promises
You've got to let me know
Oh, how I wish, I never met you
I guess, it must have been my fate
To fall in love with someone else's love
cll I can do is wait
That's all I can do, yeah, yeah
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
The lyrics of Ralph MacDonald's song "Where is the Love" convey a sense of longing, disappointment, and betrayal in a relationship. The singer questions where the love promised to them has gone, as they were led to believe that it would be given as soon as the other person became available. There is a feeling of anticipation and hope, but also frustration and confusion as the promised love never materializes. The singer reflects on being deceived, as the other person claimed not to love someone else and promised their love to the singer, but their actions proved otherwise.
The lyrics also reveal the singer's desire for honesty and communication. They express a wish for the other person to communicate honestly if they have had a change of heart, instead of leaving the singer hanging onto unfulfilled promises. The singer admits their own vulnerability and regrets falling in love with someone else's love, feeling helpless in the face of these circumstances.
Overall, the lyrics evoke a sense of sadness, disillusionment, and questioning of the authenticity of love. It explores the pain of unfulfilled promises and the longing for clarity and honesty in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is the love?
What has happened to the love that was once here?
You said you'd give to me
You promised to offer me love
cs soon as you were free
As soon as you were available
Will it ever be?
Will that promise ever be fulfilled?
You told me that you didn't love him
You stated that you didn't have feelings for him
cnd you were gonna say, goodbye
And you were going to end your relationship
But if you really didn't mean it
Yet, if you truly didn't intend to do so
Why did you have to lie?
Why did you have to deceive me?
You said, was mine, all mine
You assured me that the love belonged to me, and only me
'Til the end of time
Until eternity
Was it just a lie?
Was it simply a falsehood?
If you had, had a sudden change of heart
If you had experienced an unexpected change in your feelings
I wish that you would tell me so
I desire for you to inform me about it
Don't leave me hangin' on the promises
Don't leave me uncertain about the commitments
You've got to let me know
You must inform me
Oh, how I wish, I never met you
Oh, how I regret ever encountering you
I guess, it must have been my fate
I suppose it was destined to happen to me
To fall in love with someone else's love
To develop feelings for love that already belongs to someone else
cll I can do is wait
All I am able to do is be patient
That's all I can do, yeah, yeah
That is the sole action available to me
Where is the love?
What has happened to the love that was once here?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
THE CLARENCES
Great one!!!
xoxo The Clarences
roberto zambelli
molto bella
坂巻洋
😀🍀💙🌸
Marlon Levin
who is on harmonica?
Hisashi Toshima
Toots Thielemans
Tony Wijaya
Don't know it was one of Happy Feet Song
Iñaki Jano
Chunkyyy