Bio
Born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Bob MacDonald has always had a love for mountains and nature. He grew up listening to local radio, which played a wide range of music including Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, the Beatles, Smokey Robinson, Jefferson Airplane, and the Byrds. These themes and genres, along with stories of love and heartbreak, inspire his original songs which range in style from blues to acoustic rock to bluegrass – Americana.
The son of a Presbyterian minister who played clarinet in several community orchestras, Bob grew up singing church hymns, later joining church choirs and then the Boulder (CO) Chorale and the Laurel (MD) Oratorio variously as bass, baritone, and tenor as needed. Bob also played acoustic guitar in several church praise bands.
Bob and his wife followed their hearts, moving to the mountains and music in Asheville, NC in 2022. After playing covers at open mics for a several years, Bob was encouraged by fellow musician Rob Appleblatt to start writing his own songs. A steady stream of well-loved originals started in 2025 – ten within his first year – and the recording of his first EP, Mountain Magic, in 2026. These have earned praise for their heart-felt lyrics, musical composition, and sophisticated acoustic guitar work. Audiences applaud Bob as he entertains them with these songs, along with covers from a variety of genres, at venues across the Asheville area.