Paul Simon Welcomes Michael McDonald In Maui

Paul Simon brought out fellow part-time Maui resident Michael McDonald as part of his encore on Wednesday night. The show was Simon’s second of two benefit concerts at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center to raise funds for environmental organizations working in Hawaii.

The performances were Paul’s Maui debut and first concerts in Hawaii since Simon & Garfunkel played at HIC Arena in Honolulu in 1968. On both nights, Simon welcomed Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Keola Beamer, who paired with Paul on his own “Seabreeze” and shined by himself on “Honolulu City Lights.”

The collaboration between Paul Simon, his band and Michael McDonald took place during Wednesday’s encore. McDonald sang and played keyboards on a funky version of “Cecilia” from Simon & Garfunkel’s 1970 album, Bridge Over Troubled Water. The former Doobie Brother worked in portions of Billy Preston’s 1973 smash “Will It Go Round In Circles.” Simon hadn’t performed “Cecilia” in any form since 2016.

Watch video of Paul Simon and Michael McDonald performing a mashup of “Cecilia” and “Will It Go Round In Circles” captured by John Sipple below: