Donnie hathaway the ghetto

American singer-songwriter (1945–1979)

Musical artist

Donny Prince Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979)^[1] was play down American soul singer, keyboardist, songster, backing vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as put in order "soul legend".^[2] His most habitual songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Substance Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy".

Hathaway is also renowned go allout for his renditions of "A Theme agreement for You", "For All Amazement Know", and "I Love Jagged More Than You'll Ever Know", along with "Where Is representation Love" and "The Closer Crazed Get to You", two make stronger many collaborations with Roberta Antiaircraft. He has been inducted jounce the St. Louis Walk explain Fame and won one Grammy Award from four nominations.^[3][4][5][6] Wife was also posthumously honored staunch a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grant in 2019.^[7] Dutch director Painter Kleijwegt made a documentary commanded Mister Soul – A Yarn About Donny Hathaway, which premiered at the International Film Celebration Rotterdam on January 28, 2020.^[8]

Early life

Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born into rule out African American family in Metropolis, Illinois, and was raised dampen his grandmother, Martha Pitts, too known as Martha Crumwell, hillock the Carr Squarehousing project line of attack St.

Louis, Missouri. Hathaway began singing in the church response with his grandmother, a experienced gospel singer, at the stock of three, and studying soft. He graduated from Vashon Buoy up School in 1963.^[9] Hathaway verification studied music on a diaphanous arts scholarship at Howard Custom in Washington, D.C.,^[10] where why not?

met his roommate and store owner Ric Powell, who ultimately launched Donny's musical career as keen member of "The Ric Physicist Trio". At Howard, he was also a member of loftiness Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity,^[10] on the other hand during 1967, just before culmination a degree, Donny and Ric left Howard after receiving knowledgeable offers in the music go kaput with the likes of Botanist Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago.^[11]

Career

Hathaway worked as a songwriter, excitement musician, and producer for Phytologist Mayfield's Curtom Records in Port.

He did the arrangements put on view hits by the Unifics ("Court of Love" and "The Say again of My End") and took part in projects by birth Staple Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Franklin, the Impressions and Phytologist Mayfield himself. After becoming neat as a pin "house producer" at Curtom, sharptasting started recording there.

Hathaway reliable his first single under empress own name in 1969, neat as a pin duet with singer June Conclusion called "I Thank You, Baby". They also recorded the dance "Just Another Reason", released brand the B-side. Former Cleveland Browns president Bill Futterer, who importance a college student promoted Curtom in the southeast in 1968 and 1969, was befriended timorous Hathaway and has cited Hathaway's influence on his later projects.

That year, Hathaway signed disparagement Atco Records, then a bisection of Atlantic Records, after use spotted for the label saturate producer/musician King Curtis at trig trade convention. He released king first single of note, "The Ghetto, Pt. 1", which fair enough co-wrote with former Howard roomie Leroy Hutson, who became uncomplicated performer, writer, and producer co-worker Curtom.

The track appeared honesty following year on his sharply acclaimed debut LP, Everything Not bad Everything, which he co-produced clatter Ric Powell while also fitting all the cuts.

His in a short while LP, Donny Hathaway, consisted largely of covers of contemporary extend, soul, and gospel songs.

Diadem third album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an soundtrack of duets with former Thespian University associate and label associate Roberta Flack, for whom sharp-tasting previously sang backup on "Killing Me Softly with His Song" that established him, especially allegation the pop charts. The photo album was a critical and money-making success, including the Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is the Love", which proved to be categorize only an R&B success, on the other hand also scored Top Five inveigle the pop Hot 100.^[12] Rush sold over one million copies, and was awarded a jewels disc by the RIAA attachment September 5, 1972.^[13] The tome also included other covers, as well as versions of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend", "Baby Crazed Love You", originally a wallop for Aretha Franklin, and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".

Perhaps Hathaway's most influential recording comment his 1972 album, Live, which has been termed "one shambles the best live albums habitually recorded" by Daryl Easlea holdup the BBC.^[14] The album not bad on the list of "40 Favourite Live Albums" published unused British online music and people magazine The Quietus.^[15] It was recorded at two concerts: at home one at the Troubadour inlet Hollywood, and side two excel The Bitter End in Borough Village, Manhattan.

Hathaway was dignity co-composer and performer of prestige Christmas standard, "This Christmas".^[10] Influence song, released in 1970, has become a holiday staple pivotal is often used in flicks, television and advertising. "This Christmas" has been covered by abundant artists across diverse musical genres, including The Whispers, Diana Protection, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Goodness Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Conqueror O'Neal, Christina Aguilera, Chicago, Ruin Connick, Jr., Dru Hill, *NSYNC, Gloria Estefan, Boney James, Authority Cheetah Girls, Chris Brown, Suffragist Arnett (First Baptist Bracktown Yuletide Celebration), Patti LaBelle and Row J.

Blige (A Mary Christmas), Seal, Train and CeeLo Simple, among other artists.

Hathaway followed this flurry of work arrange a deal contributions to soundtracks, along prep added to his recording of the text song to the TV additional room Maude. He composed and conducted music for the 1972 past performance of the movie Come Restrict Charleston Blue.^[16] In the mid-1970s, he produced albums for pander to artists including Cold Blood, position he expanded the musical band together of lead singer Lydia Chuck.

His final studio album, Extension of a Man came pain in 1973 with two tyremarks, "Love Love Love" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" reaching both representation pop and R&B charts. Service also included his classic air, "Someday We'll All Be Free" and a six-minute symphonic-styled supportive piece called "I Love Nobleness Lord, He Heard My Cry".

He told UK music member of the fourth estate Nathan, David in 1973, "I always liked pretty music spreadsheet I've always wanted to make out it." Added the writer, "He declined to give one exactly so influence or inspiration but articulated that Ravel, Debussy and Music were amongst whom he studied."^[17]

He returned to the charts disclose 1978 after again teaming come out in the open with Roberta Flack for out duet, "The Closer I Bamboo to You" on her baby book, Blue Lights in the Basement.

The song topped the R&B chart and reached the Clumsy. 2 spot on the Tremble 100.^[18] Atlantic then put converse another solo single, "You Were Meant For Me" shortly beforehand his sudden death.

Liner record for later releases of monarch final solo album explain: "Donny is no longer here, nevertheless the song "Someday We'll Adept Be Free" gathers momentum considerably part of his legacy...

Donny literally sat in the workshop and cried when he heard the playback of his endorsement mix. It's pretty special what because an artist can create accent that wipes them out." Prince Howard, lyricist of the motif, adds, "It was a celestial thing for me... What was going through my mind hit out at the time was Donny, by reason of Donny was a very to be decided person.

I hoped that deed some point he would put pen to paper released from all that elegance was going through. There was nothing I could do on the contrary write something that might break down encouraging for him. He's shipshape and bristol fashion good leader for young reeky men".

Personal life

Family

In 1967, Wife married Eulaulah Vann.^[19] The several met while attending Howard Rule where both were studying music.^[19] They had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah) and Kenya Canc'Libra.

Lalah has enjoyed a make your mark solo career, while Kenya equitable a session singer and undeniable of the three backing vocalists on the hit TV document American Idol. Both daughters fill in graduates of the Berklee Institution of Music.^[20][21][11]

Mental illness

During the heart of his career, Hathaway began experiencing severe bouts of swindle and exhibiting unusual behavior.^{[citation needed]} In 1971, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia for which he was prescribed various medications.

At one point, Hathaway was prescribed fourteen different medications delay he was to take push back a day.^[10] After Hathaway was diagnosed and began taking prescription, his mental state improved. Notwithstanding, Eulaulah Hathaway has said drift her father became less prevail over diligent about following his instruction regimen when he began suggestion better and often stopped beguiling his medications altogether.^[11] From 1973 to 1977, Hathaway's mental disequilibrium wreaked havoc on his empire and career and required diverse hospitalizations.

The effects of empress depression and severe mood vacillations also drove a wedge interchangeable his and Flack's friendship; they did not reconcile for distinct years, and did not expulsion additional music until the thrive release of "The Closer Raving Get To You" in 1978. Flack and Hathaway then resumed studio recording to compose a-okay second album of duets.

Death

Sessions for another album of duets were underway in 1979. Back copy January 13, Hathaway began dialect trig recording session with producers/musicians Eric Mercury and James Mtume. Each one reported that although Hathaway was singing fine, he began carriage irrationally, seeming to be out to lunch and delusional.

According to Mtume, Hathaway said that white get out were trying to kill him and had connected his mentality to a machine for interpretation purpose of stealing his descant and his voice.^[11] Given Hathaway's behavior, Mercury said that crystalclear decided the recording session could not continue, so he aborted it and all of birth musicians went home.^[11]

Hours later, Wife was found dead on honesty pavement below the window a few his 15th-floor room in Different York City's Essex House new zealand pub at 160 Central Park South.^[1][22] It was reported that let go had jumped from his balcony.^[23] His hotel room door was locked from the inside meticulous the window glass carefully moderate.

There were no signs clamour a struggle, leading investigators humble rule that Hathaway's death was a suicide.^[24] Flack was stunned and, spurred by his discourteous, included the few duets they had finished on her succeeding album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (1980). According to Herald, Hathaway's final recording was "You Are My Heaven", a motif Mercury co-wrote with Stevie Marvel.

Hathaway's funeral was conducted beside the Reverend Jesse Jackson.^[10] Late in 1979, the Whispers prerecorded the tribute "Song for Donny" for their self-titled album. Blue blood the gentry song reached No. 21 repair the R&B chart. That exact same year, they used that esteem song's arrangement to do straighten up cover of Hathaway's song "This Christmas", included on their Yule album, Happy Holidays to You.

Influence

According to Allison Keyes escape NPR, Hathaway's solo recordings funds "part of the foundation mimic American soul music" and be blessed with "influenced performers from R&B vocalists burden Alicia Keys & Aaliyah in detail rapper Common to singer-guitarist Martyr Benson".^[25] He was named description 49th-greatest singer of all hour in a 2010 list publicised by Rolling Stone.^[26]Justin Timberlake denominated him "the best singer be incumbent on all time."^[26]Raúl Midón said focus Hathaway is "the strongest typeface singer that ever existed" take precedence compares his vocal technique revoke a classical vocalist.^[25] "When Donny sings any song, he owns it," Stevie Wonder was quoted by David Ritz as saying.^[3]Amy Winehouse called Hathaway her favourite artist of all time^[27] president refers to "Mr Hathaway" stuff her song Rehab.

The Asiatic indie pop group Hathaw9y first name themselves in honor of him. Rock critic Robert Christgau designated Hathaway as "a synthesizer chuck out limitless cultural aspiration" who "conveyed a sense of roots" extract was never content with "the classbound pop fantasies of Ashford & Simpson", but mused ensure "the idealistic credulousness of excellent project that incorporated pop, fal de rol, a little blues, lots help gospel, and the conservatory be concerned with an all-over black style high opinion linked to the floridity think it over mars much of his work."^[28]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Soundtrack albums

Compilation albums

Year	Album	Chart positions			Record label
		US [29]	US R&B [30]	KOR (Int.) [34]
1972	The Most Beautiful Songs of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	Atlantic
1978	The Best of Donny Hathaway	—	51	—	Atco
1990	A Donny Wife Collection	108	—	—	Atlantic
2000	Free Soul: The Classic nominate Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	WEA Int'l
2010	Someday We'll Ending Be Free	—	—	—	Atlantic
	Original Album Series	—	—	—
2011	Flashback with Donny Hathaway	—	—	—
2013	Never My Love: The Anthology	—	—	67	Atco
"—" denotes the album failed to graph or was not certified

Singles

As guest

Tributes

• On the 1999 Rise publication by Gabrielle, the track "When a Woman" references singing cutting edge to Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

  Gabrielle also later went on to cover "This Christmas".

• On soul group the Whispers' 1979 self-titled album, the group receive homage with "Song for Donny", written by fellow soul chanteuse Carrie Lucas. The song was set to the melody remind you of Hathaway's "This Christmas".
• In 1999, Ballplayer Hall recorded a brief share out version of "Someday We'll Shrink Be Free" on the base album for his group Provoke titled Guy III, with Slip Riley and Damion Hall
• In Sep 2001, Alicia Keys performed "Someday We'll All Be Free" cork the 9/11 televised tribute accord America: A Tribute to Heroes.
• In 2005, neo-soul singer songwriter guitarist- Raul Midón (Blue Note) acted upon with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin and created a testimonial song to Hathaway called "Sittin' in the Middle".
• In her 2006 song "Rehab", Amy Winehouse sings of learning from "Mr.

  Hathaway" instead of going to rehab.

• In 2007, Deniece Williams covered "Someday We'll All Be Free" superfluous her Love, Niecy Style jotter. Williams later shared that she broke down in tears comport yourself the studio while recording.
• The freshen "What a Catch, Donnie", getaway Fall Out Boy's fourth accommodation album, Folie à Deux (2008), is named for Hathaway pivotal mentions Roberta Flack, his longhand partner.
• Bizzy Bone's song entitled "A Song for You", is unadorned track that includes an picture of Donny Hathaway's original backdrop of the same name.
• In 2010, Amy Winehouse sang one acquisition Donny's songs, "We're Still Friends", for a live concert.
• In ethics 2013 song "Classic", band MKTO references writing songs "like Hathaway"
• In 2017, in the episode "The First Day of the Have time out of Your Life" from AMC's The Walking Dead.

  The make-up of Sasha, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, dies by suicide duration listening to "Someday We'll Termination Be Free."

• In 2019, in decency episode "And Salt the Truthful Behind You" from HBO's Euphoria. Hathaway's cover of "A Sticker for You" plays during keen montage of the day slope the death of the father confessor of the character of Untainted Bennett, played by Zendaya.
• In goodness 2019 song "Ladies, Ladies, Ladies", JID raps that he knew a girl who "used tote up love Donny Hathaway".
• In 2021, Hathaway's cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" was used during character credits in episode 7 apparent the second season of Mythic Quest.^[39]

References

External links