‘Just The Two Of Us’ songwriter and percussionist Ralph MacDonald dies aged 67

He worked with David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Paul Simon and Harry Belafonte

Ralph MacDonald, songwriter and virtuoso session musician, has died at the age of 67 from lung cancer.

He wrote Grover Washington Jr and Bill Withers‘ 1981 Hit ‘Just The Two Of Us’ – which was later covered by Will Smith – as well as the Grammy Award winning ‘Where Is The Love’ with William Salter and William Eaton, a song which was made famous by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

As a session percussionist, he worked with Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin, and played afro-cuban percussion on David Bowie‘s 1975 single ‘Young Americans’ and Jimmy Buffett‘s 1977 single ‘Margaritaville’.

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Raised in Harlem, New York, MacDonald started off his career at 17 by playing steel drums in Harry Belafonte‘s band, reports Spinner.

He won two Grammys the song ‘Calypso Breakdown’ which was featured on the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack.

Ralph MacDonald died on December 18 in Stamford, Connecticut.

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