Wadsworth Mansion

Originally from Los Angeles, scored a hit in 1971 with "Sweet Mary". *Update: Wadsworth Mansion formed in Providence RI, and took their name from a landmark building in Middletown, CT. In reality, there were two Wadsworth Mansion groups. The first recorded "Sweet Mary" and their eponymous LP for Sussex Records in late 1970. On board were the Jablecki brothers: Steve (who wrote the song) and Mike, along with John Pool and Wayne Gagnon. John played bass, Mike was the drummer, while Wayne and Steve provided guitar work and vocals. After the surprise Top 10 success of "Sweet Mary" (their only Top 100 hit), Steve and John hit the road to tour, with new drummer Charlie Flannery and lead guitarist Howie "Forrest" McDonald (both formerly with the group Pale Ryder). Together, they toured 35 states, opening for acts like Alice Cooper and Edgar Winter, and appearing on American Bandstand and The Dating Game. Of all the members, blues guitarist Forrest McDonald has had the most post-Wadsworth success. His musical career predates and eclipses their one-hit wonder status. Early on, at age 19, he was a member of the Boston Rock Symphony. Later in LA, he worked with Van Halen and Steve Perry of Journey. That association led to his first CD release in the '90s: I Need You. Recording as the band Forrest, he released Under The Gun in 1998, on the strength of great and continuous reviews of his On Fire from the previous year. Along with his long-time partner and pianist Raymond Victor, he has played with John Lee Hooker, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Reed, Bobby "Blue" Bland and many other blues greats. Perhaps his most well known appearance is on Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll". McDonald supplied the guitar solo, which had been recorded previously at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and later purchased by Seger to use in the song. McDonald then stayed in the South, forming World Talent Records in Atlanta. His latest release was 2004's Colorblind.