Michael McDonald recently kicked off the Dukes of September tour in St. Louis, Missouri alongside Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Bozz Scaggs. While in his hometown, the singer talked to local radio station Fresh 102.5 about the musical connection him and Fagen have had for forty years. 

It’s been nearly two decades since the two musicians toured together as The New York Rock & Soul Revue, but McDonald said the guys always planned to reunite. Unfortunately, things always seemed to get in the way.

“We would have probably done it every year since then,” he said. “But for everybody having their respective careers to tend and families and stuff, it’s hard to do something like this for the joy of it as much as you want. Other things take precedent.”

This is the fourth time the three musicians have toured together—the original tour also featured the late blues artist Charles Brown and the folk singer Phoebe Snow, who died last year.

Though it’s been awhile since they’ve played together, McDonald says he’s had a musical connection with Fagen since the ’70s, thanks to their respective bands.

“I think a lot of it was we were coming up at the same time,” he said.

The band’s first toured together in 1972, something Michael is still surprised about: “To think that I’m on the same stage as Donald Fagen after all these years…is really kind of a neat thought.”

Go here to listen to hear more of Fresh 102.5’s interview with McDonald. Check out a full list of tour dates for the Dukes of September tour here. 

-Shannon Carlin, CBS Local