Merrimack Records, LLC is dedicated to providing listeners with the very heart and soul of American roots music: everything from the backcountry sounds of Blues, Folk, and Country, to the city-inspired vitality of Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll, showcasing some of the most exciting musical artists today. In honor and celebration of the late, legendary singer Kathi McDonald comes Yardbird, the newest album from Merrimack Records LLC. Bringing together recordings made live and in the studio between 1997 and 2000, this collection of rare and unreleased tracks presents a seasoned artist at the height of her abilities as she delivers rollicking, barn-burning performances of the Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll favorites that came to shape her vibrant life and career. Kathi McDonald is the very stuff of Rock ‘n’ Roll myth. A long-time backup singer for such classic performers as Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Long John Baldry, and Ike & Tina Turner, Kathi contributed to some of the most thrilling, iconic music of the 60s and 70s, lending her bold, stirring vocals to songs that have shaped and rocked generations. Now, these recordings capture the soul and rapture of Kathi’s voice like never before, featuring alongside her the talents of such unforgettable, astounding musicians as bassist Nathan East, guitarist Robben Ford, drummer Ralph Penland, keyboardist Brian Auger, and harmonica player Lee Oskar.