Once performing on the television series American Idol, Long Beach City College student Marcio Donaldson combines business and music to succeed despite the challenges that have come his way.
“I’ve been trying out for the show since I was 16, but I didn’t get on the show until I was 28. So 12 years straight I tried out,” Donaldson said.
American Idol does not allow contestants over the age of 28 to compete on the show.
Donaldson had previously been on American Idol for season 15 but did not make it very far, however that didn’t stop him from auditioning for what was going to be his last opportunity.
As a child, Donaldson oscillated between Norwalk and Compton.
During that time, his mother was unable to care for him, so Donaldson was placed in his father’s care until reunification was possible.
According to his mother, Theresa Payne, Donaldson always had a talent for singing.
“I mean I had to recognize it, he was about one year old hitting high notes,” Payne said.
The career didn’t feel right, so he took a break from school.
“I opted out of college when I was 23. I did everything financially on my own and I was a server at the Cheesecake Factory. I paid for music videos out of my own pocket and played shows,” Donaldson said.
Then, Donaldson’s sister had a baby boy named Rashad that she was unable to care for due to drug addiction.
Donaldson’s sister has been on drugs since she was 21, so he became the caregiver to Rashad, who he calls his “nephew-son”.
“She brought this baby to me and I was at a loss for words, he really pushed me,” Donaldson said.
When his sister brought Rashad to Donaldson, he felt a sense of responsibility for the newborn.
“I had to speak up for this child, I need to feed him and the only thing I could do was sing,” Donaldson said.
American Idol does not allow contestants over the age of 28 to compete on the show, so this would be his last chance.
“American Idol was holding open calls via the internet (for season 16), so I sent in my audition tape. At the time (6-month-old Rashad) was crying and he would not be quiet unless I was singing to him,” Donaldson said.
The audition process was lengthy and included a four-month waiting time according to Donaldson.
During that time, he took the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas for an open audition to increase his chances.
“I called up my mom one night and asked her if she could watch Rashad while I try because there’s something I know I need to do as an entertainer,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson’s mother continued to support him from home.
“I just wanted everything to go well for him,” Payne said.
After a 17 hour layover in Colorado, Donaldson made it to the open audition and was rejected.
“They looked at me and said, ‘We just aren’t feeling it and you’re not what we’re looking for,’” Donaldson said.
As Donaldson came home feeling defeated, he heard his phone buzz.
His online audition from four months prior had been accepted.
“The email said, ‘We know who you are, we’ve seen you over the years auditioning, you’re going straight to the judges,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson took his nephew-son Rashad to his audition, and from that moment on he was featured on American Idol.
During his televised audition and the performances that followed, he sang for his nephew-son who was still under his care due to his sister’s ongoing drug addiction.
“Not only was I singing to this child, but there’s a million other children and there’s a billion people in this world that go through what Rashad was going through,” Donaldson said.
At 28 years old, Donaldson progressed to the top 14 on American Idol season 16 before being eliminated.
Donaldson believes he didn’t make it all the way because he got in his head.
“I had a dream that I was going to win, I saw myself winning, but I second-guessed myself under the pressure,” Donaldson said.
Naturally, both he and his family were disappointed.
“It was a heavy punch to the gut, but it’s a learning process and he came out better,” Payne said.
American Idol gave him opportunities Donaldson wouldn’t have had otherwise, fans even made a GoFundMe for $7,000 to help him with his bills after hearing his story.
Moving on from American Idol, Donaldson continued his music career and maintained care of Rashad.
Before becoming a student at LBCC, Donaldson released his single ‘Casualty of Love’ in 2021, which has become his favorite.
“‘Casualty of Love’ is universal. Love is tragic, it’s a casualty,” Donaldson said.
While ‘Casualty of Love’ expanded Donaldson’s career, he felt that he was missing what he needed to truly succeed in music.
Donaldson came back to college at LBCC, which has given him insight into aspects of business that are entwined with the music industry.
“I feel like people don’t respect you unless you learn all the facets of what you’re doing. I learned fairly early on in American Idol that there were a lot of business things I did not know,” Donaldson said.
More than that, he has made friends along the way.
Marcio Donaldson laughs in front of the Long Beach City College Welcome Center on Dec. 3 2024. Donaldson is going to school to further his career and prove to his children that they can too. (Sofia Hopkins).
“Marcio is such a genuine person, he’s been through a lot, but even through it he has so much love to give,” said Donaldson’s friend and classmate, Natalie Moumdjian.
Not only is he going to school for himself, but he’s also doing it for his children, which now include seven-year-old Rashad, a two-year-old, and a one-year-old.
“They need to know that through adversity you still need to work hard. I was always a scholar, I just needed to substantiate my place in the industry,” Donaldson explained.
Throughout his education, Donaldson has continued his love for music.
He will be performing in Las Vegas on Dec. 19 and Feb. 25 with Grammy and Emmy winner Diane Warren.
Donaldson learns from his experiences and hardships and turns them into music.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself because you’ve already accomplished so much more than what you thought you could, oftentimes we think too much about winning as opposed to the process alone of getting there, don’t miss that,” Donaldson said.