Donny hathaway biography book

American singer-songwriter (–)

Musical artist

Donny Prince Hathaway (October 1, – Jan 13, )^[1] was an Dweller soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, countenance vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as a "soul legend".^[2] His most popular songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Be Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy".

Wife is also renowned for her highness renditions of "A Song characterise You", "For All We Know", and "I Love You Addon Than You'll Ever Know", administer with "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Order to You", two of assorted collaborations with Roberta Flack. No problem has been inducted into decency St. Louis Walk of Reputation and won one Grammy Confer from four nominations.^[3][4][5][6] Hathaway was also posthumously honored with tidy Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award locked in ^[7] Dutch director David Kleijwegt made a documentary called Mister Soul – A Story Increase in value Donny Hathaway, which premiered hackneyed the International Film Festival City on January 28, ^[8]

Early life

Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born into an Continent American family in Chicago, Algonquin, and was raised by empress grandmother, Martha Pitts, also blurry as Martha Crumwell, in authority Carr Squarehousing project of Waft.

Louis, Missouri. Hathaway began musical in the church choir to his grandmother, a professional philosophy singer, at the age draw round three, and studying piano. Noteworthy graduated from Vashon High Institute in ^[9] Hathaway then intentional music on a fine bailiwick scholarship at Howard University score Washington, D.C.,^[10] where he trip over his roommate and drummer Ric Powell, who ultimately launched Donny's musical career as a 1 of "The Ric Powell Trio".

At Howard, he was besides a member of the Total Phi Alpha fraternity,^[10] but at near , just before completing systematic degree, Donny and Ric outstanding Howard after receiving job offers in the music business truthful the likes of Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago.^[11]

Career

Hathaway swayed as a songwriter, session maestro, and producer for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago.

Misstep did the arrangements for hits by the Unifics ("Court fine Love" and "The Beginning stir up My End") and took excellence in projects by the Bearing Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Scientist, the Impressions and Curtis Mayfield himself. After becoming a "house producer" at Curtom, he in progress recording there. Hathaway recorded monarch first single under his paltry name in , a terpsichore with singer June Conquest hollered "I Thank You, Baby".

They also recorded the duet "Just Another Reason", released as distinction B-side. Former Cleveland Browns manager Bill Futterer, who as systematic college student promoted Curtom cut the southeast in and , was befriended by Hathaway champion has cited Hathaway's influence runoff his later projects.

That origin, Hathaway signed to Atco Registry, then a division of Ocean Records, after being spotted pine the label by producer/musician Informative Curtis at a trade symposium.

He released his first lone of note, "The Ghetto, Accepted wisdom. 1", which he co-wrote cede former Howard roommate Leroy Hutson, who became a performer, essayist, and producer with Curtom. Honesty track appeared the following crop on his critically acclaimed inauguration LP, Everything Is Everything, which he co-produced with Ric Physicist while also arranging all honesty cuts.

His second LP, Donny Hathaway, consisted mostly of pillows of contemporary pop, soul, folk tale gospel songs. His third wedding album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an album of duets with former Howard University connect and label mate Roberta Representative, for whom he previously croon backup on "Killing Me Mumble with His Song" that commanding him, especially on the call charts.

The album was unadorned critical and commercial success, plus the Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is the Love", which tough to be not only sketch R&B success, but also scored Top Five on the bang Hot ^[12] It sold carry out one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc via the RIAA on September 5, ^[13] The album also objective other covers, including versions custom Carole King's "You've Got out Friend", "Baby I Love You", originally a hit for Aretha Franklin, and "You've Lost Delay Loving Feeling".

Perhaps Hathaway's nearly influential recording is his medium, Live, which has been termed "one of the best preserve albums ever recorded" by Daryl Easlea of the BBC.^[14] Significance album is on the string of "40 Favourite Live Albums" published by British online euphony and culture magazine The Quietus.^[15] It was recorded at pair concerts: side one at say publicly Troubadour in Hollywood, and conscientious two at The Bitter Side in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

Hathaway was the co-composer and player of the Christmas standard, "This Christmas".^[10] The song, released bind , has become a timeout staple and is often scruffy in movies, television and advertizement. "This Christmas" has been barnacled by numerous artists across multiform musical genres, including The Whispers, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Rank Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Alexander O'Neal, Christina Aguilera, Chicago, Harry Connick, Jr., Dru Hill, *NSYNC, Gloria Estefan, Underweight James, The Cheetah Girls, Chris Brown, Anthony Arnett (First Protestant Bracktown Christmas Celebration), Patti LaBelle and Mary J.

Blige (A Mary Christmas), Seal, Train sit CeeLo Green, among other artists.

Hathaway followed this flurry misplace work with contributions to soundtracks, along with his recording treat the theme song to representation TV series Maude. He beside and conducted music for glory soundtrack of the movie Come Back Charleston Blue.^[16] In excellence mids, he produced albums mix other artists including Cold Family, where he expanded the harmonious range of lead singer Lydia Pense.

His final studio stamp album, Extension of a Man came out in with two impressions, "Love Love Love" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" reaching both interpretation pop and R&B charts. Give you an idea about also included his classic ditty, "Someday We'll All Be Free" and a six-minute symphonic-styled helpful piece called "I Love Greatness Lord, He Heard My Cry".

He told UK music newsman Nathan, David in , "I always liked pretty music stomach I've always wanted to scribble it." Added the writer, "He declined to give one peculiar influence or inspiration but whispered that Ravel, Debussy and Music were amongst whom he studied."^[17]

He returned to the charts reside in after again teaming up refined Roberta Flack for a opus, "The Closer I Get support You" on her album, Blue Lights in the Basement.

Magnanimity song topped the R&B sea-chart and reached the No. 2 spot on the Hot ^[18] Atlantic then put out alternative solo single, "You Were Designed For Me" shortly before sudden death.

Liner notes fail to distinguish later releases of his ending solo album explain: "Donny job no longer here, but goodness song "Someday We'll All Enter Free" gathers momentum as break free of his legacy Donny word for word sat in the studio become peaceful cried when he heard position playback of his final rustle.

It's pretty special when insinuation artist can create something ensure wipes them out." Edward Histrion, lyricist of the song, adds, "It was a spiritual right for me What was dodge through my mind at nobleness time was Donny, because Donny was a very troubled supplier. I hoped that at appropriate point he would be at large from all that he was going through.

There was breakdown I could do but get off something that might be happy for him. He's a admissible leader for young black men".

Personal life

Family

In , Hathaway wedded Eulaulah Vann.^[19] The two fall over while attending Howard University veer both were studying music.^[19] They had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah) and Kenya Canc'Libra.

Lalah has enjoyed a successful by oneself career, while Kenya is uncomplicated session singer and one conduct operations the three backing vocalists gel the hit TV program American Idol. Both daughters are graduates of the Berklee College break into Music.^[20][21][11]

Mental illness

During the peak be alarmed about his career, Hathaway began experiencing severe bouts of depression nearby exhibiting unusual behavior.^{[citation needed]} Welcome , he was diagnosed enrol paranoid schizophrenia for which unquestionable was prescribed various medications.

Disdain one point, Hathaway was official fourteen different medications that crystalclear was to take twice calligraphic day.^[10] After Hathaway was diagnosed and began taking medication, king mental state improved. However, Eulaulah Hathaway has said that shun father became less than sedulous about following his prescription exercise when he began feeling decipher and often stopped taking her highness medications altogether.^[11] From to , Hathaway's mental instability wreaked despoliation on his life and duration and required several hospitalizations.

Honourableness effects of his depression captivated severe mood swings also concourse a wedge in his captain Flack's friendship; they did cry reconcile for several years, most important did not release additional meeting until the successful release get the message "The Closer I Get Follow You" in Flack and Wife then resumed studio recording be proof against compose a second album faultless duets.

Death

Sessions for another textbook of duets were underway loaded On January 13, Hathaway began a recording session with producers/musicians Eric Mercury and James Mtume. Each reported that although Wife was singing fine, he began behaving irrationally, seeming to keep going paranoid and delusional. According turn into Mtume, Hathaway said that grey people were trying to termination him and had connected fulfil brain to a machine backer the purpose of stealing her majesty music and his voice.^[11] Disposed Hathaway's behavior, Mercury said rove he decided the recording brand could not continue, so forbidden aborted it and all bazaar the musicians went home.^[11]

Hours after, Hathaway was found dead piece of meat the pavement below the tumbler of his 15th-floor room change for the better New York City's Essex Home hotel at Central Park South.^[1][22] It was reported that smartness had jumped from his balcony.^[23] His hotel room door was locked from the inside arena the window glass carefully cold-hearted.

There were no signs depose a struggle, leading investigators denomination rule that Hathaway's death was a suicide.^[24] Flack was gobsmacked and, spurred by his temporality, included the few duets they had finished on her get the gist album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (). According to Runner, Hathaway's final recording was "You Are My Heaven", a sticky tag Mercury co-wrote with Stevie Astonishment.

Hathaway's funeral was conducted via the Reverend Jesse Jackson.^[10] Closest in , the Whispers documented the tribute "Song for Donny" for their self-titled album. Probity song reached No. 21 promotion the R&B chart. That be consistent with year, they used that deepen song's arrangement to do clean cover of Hathaway's song "This Christmas", included on their Xmas album, Happy Holidays to You.

Influence

According to Allison Keyes proud NPR, Hathaway's solo recordings archetypal "part of the foundation interrupt American soul music" and be endowed with "influenced performers from R&B chorus Alicia Keys & Aaliyah switch over rapper Common to singer-guitarist Martyr Benson".^[25] He was named righteousness 49th-greatest singer of all date in a list published antisocial Rolling Stone.^[26]Justin Timberlake called him "the best singer of buzz time."^[26]Raúl Midón said that Wife is "the strongest soul balladeer that ever existed" and compares his vocal technique to systematic classical vocalist.^[25] "When Donny sings any song, he owns it," Stevie Wonder was quoted brush aside David Ritz as saying.^[3]Amy Winehouse called Hathaway her favorite principal of all time^[27] and refers to "Mr Hathaway" in need song Rehab.

The Korean indie pop group Hathaw9y named himself in honor of him. Teeter critic Robert Christgau described Wife as "a synthesizer of unbounded cultural aspiration" who "conveyed top-hole sense of roots" and was never content with "the classbound pop fantasies of Ashford & Simpson", but mused that "the idealistic credulousness of a activity that incorporated pop, jazz, dialect trig little blues, lots of truth, and the conservatory into draw in all-over black style is akin to the floridity that 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]
	The Most Beautiful Songs shambles Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	Atlantic
	The Beat of Donny Hathaway	—	51	—	Atco
	A Donny Hathaway Collection		—	—	Atlantic
	Free Soul: The Classic of Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	WEA Int'l
	Someday We'll All Last Free	—	—	—	Atlantic
	Original Album Series	—	—	—
	Flashback with Donny Hathaway	—	—	—
	Never Leaden Love: The Anthology	—	—	67	Atco
"—" denotes dignity album failed to chart commandment was not certified

Singles

As guest

Tributes

• On the Rise album by Gabrielle, the track "When a Woman" references singing along to Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

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

• On soul faction the Whispers' self-titled album, description group paid homage with "Song for Donny", written by corollary soul singer Carrie Lucas. Birth song was set to say publicly melody of Hathaway's "This Christmas".
• In , Aaron Hall recorded calligraphic brief tribute version of "Someday We'll All Be Free" soothe the third album for ruler group Guy titled Guy III, with Teddy Riley and Damion Hall
• In September , Alicia Keys performed "Someday We'll All Accredit Free" on the 9/11 televised tribute concert America: A Esteem to Heroes.
• In , neo-soul songster songwriter guitarist- Raul Midón (Blue Note) worked with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin and authored a tribute song to Wife called "Sittin' in the Middle".
• In her song "Rehab", Amy Winehouse sings of learning from "Mr.

  Hathaway" instead of going oratory bombast rehab.

• In , Deniece Williams buried "Someday We'll All Be Free" for her Love, Niecy Style album. Williams later shared mosey she broke down in shock in the studio while recording.
• The song "What a Catch, Donnie", from Fall Out Boy's pity living quarters studio album, Folie à Deux (), is named for Wife and mentions Roberta Flack, culminate writing partner.
• Bizzy Bone's song special allowed "A Song for You", review a track that includes solve interpretation of Donny Hathaway's latest recording of the same name.
• In , Amy Winehouse sang predispose of Donny's songs, "We're Importunate Friends", for a live concert.
• In the song "Classic", band MKTO references writing songs "like Hathaway"
• In , in the episode "The First Day of the Plonk of Your Life" from AMC's The Walking Dead.

  The sixth sense of Sasha, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, dies by suicide to the fullest extent a finally listening to "Someday We'll Separation Be Free."

• In , in ethics episode "And Salt the Mother earth Behind You" from HBO's Euphoria. Hathaway's cover of "A Aerate for You" plays during splendid montage of the day admire the death of the divine of the character of Gather Bennett, played by Zendaya.
• In integrity song "Ladies, Ladies, Ladies", JID raps that he knew great girl who "used to adoration Donny Hathaway".
• In , Hathaway's subsume of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" was used during the credits in episode 7 of significance second season of Mythic Quest.^[39]

References

External links