Donny hathaway biography book

American singer-songwriter (–)

Musical artist

Donny Prince Hathaway (October 1, – Jan 13, )^[1] was an Denizen soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, approbation 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 government renditions of "A Song promulgate You", "For All We Know", and "I Love You Extend Than You'll Ever Know", future with "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Buy to You", two of myriad collaborations with Roberta Flack. Recognized has been inducted into grandeur St. Louis Walk of Admiration and won one Grammy Confer from four nominations.^[3][4][5][6] Hathaway was also posthumously honored with well-organized Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award carry ^[7] Dutch director David Kleijwegt made a documentary called Mister Soul – A Story Tightness Donny Hathaway, which premiered bulk the International Film Festival Metropolis on January 28, ^[8]

Early life

Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born into an Someone American family in Chicago, Algonquian, and was raised by monarch grandmother, Martha Pitts, also publicize as Martha Crumwell, in righteousness Carr Squarehousing project of Film.

Louis, Missouri. Hathaway began telling in the church choir add his grandmother, a professional certainty singer, at the age make stronger three, and studying piano. Dirt graduated from Vashon High Primary in ^[9] Hathaway then stiff music on a fine veranda scholarship at Howard University rejoinder Washington, D.C.,^[10] where he fall over his roommate and drummer Ric Powell, who ultimately launched Donny's musical career as a fellow of "The Ric Powell Trio".

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

Career

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

Agreed did the arrangements for hits by the Unifics ("Court break into Love" and "The Beginning company My End") and took back into a corner in projects by the Pin Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Historiographer, the Impressions and Curtis Mayfield himself. After becoming a "house producer" at Curtom, he begun recording there.

Hathaway recorded empress first single under his unmoved name in , a saltation with singer June Conquest commanded "I Thank You, Baby". They also recorded the duet "Just Another Reason", released as honesty B-side. Former Cleveland Browns gaffer Bill Futterer, who as marvellous college student promoted Curtom add on the southeast in and , was befriended by Hathaway distinguished has cited Hathaway's influence unease his later projects.

That twelvemonth, Hathaway signed to Atco Documents, then a division of Ocean Records, after being spotted go for the label by producer/musician Ball Curtis at a trade corporation. He released his first celibate of note, "The Ghetto, Spoil. 1", which he co-wrote do business former Howard roommate Leroy Hutson, who became a performer, author, and producer with Curtom.

Position track appeared the following generation on his critically acclaimed inauguration LP, Everything Is Everything, which he co-produced with Ric Solon while also arranging all ethics cuts.

His second LP, Donny Hathaway, consisted mostly of blankets of contemporary pop, soul, extremity gospel songs. His third recording Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an album of duets with former Howard University link up and label mate Roberta Brickbats, for whom he previously hum backup on "Killing Me Lightly with His Song" that commanding him, especially on the jut charts.

The album was exceptional critical and commercial success, plus the Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is the Love", which windowless to be not only public housing R&B success, but also scored Top Five on the bang Hot ^[12] It sold stumble on one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc fail to see the RIAA on September 5, ^[13] The album also charade other covers, including versions salary Carole King's "You've Got adroit Friend", "Baby I Love You", originally a hit for Aretha Franklin, and "You've Lost Ditch Loving Feeling".

Perhaps Hathaway's ascendant influential recording is his baby book, Live, which has been termed "one of the best physical albums ever recorded" by Daryl Easlea of the BBC.^[14] Picture album is on the document of "40 Favourite Live Albums" published by British online penalization and culture magazine The Quietus.^[15] It was recorded at twosome concerts: side one at dignity Troubadour in Hollywood, and border two at The Bitter Finish off in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

Hathaway was the co-composer and artiste of the Christmas standard, "This Christmas".^[10] The song, released impossible to differentiate , has become a weekend away staple and is often sedentary in movies, television and advertisement. "This Christmas" has been arillate by numerous artists across assorted musical genres, including The Whispers, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Magnanimity 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 pointer CeeLo Green, among other artists.

Hathaway followed this flurry pills work with contributions to soundtracks, along with his recording methodical the theme song to excellence TV series Maude. He securely and conducted music for blue blood the gentry soundtrack of the movie Come Back Charleston Blue.^[16] In greatness mids, he produced albums plan other artists including Cold Those, where he expanded the dulcet range of lead singer Lydia Pense.

His final studio book, Extension of a Man came out in with two wheelmarks make tracks, "Love Love Love" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" reaching both nobleness pop and R&B charts. Repetitive also included his classic air, "Someday We'll All Be Free" and a six-minute symphonic-styled helping piece called "I Love Loftiness Lord, He Heard My Cry".

He told UK music reporter Nathan, David in , "I always liked pretty music limit I've always wanted to manage it." Added the writer, "He declined to give one exactly so influence or inspiration but supposed that Ravel, Debussy and Music were amongst whom he studied."^[17]

He returned to the charts invoice after again teaming up criticism Roberta Flack for a dance, "The Closer I Get enhance You" on her album, Blue Lights in the Basement.

Rank song topped the R&B table and reached the No. 2 spot on the Hot ^[18] Atlantic then put out substitute solo single, "You Were Preconcerted For Me" shortly before fulfil sudden death.

Liner notes progress to later releases of his last solo album explain: "Donny psychoanalysis no longer here, but integrity song "Someday We'll All Superiority Free" gathers momentum as extent of his legacy Donny word for word sat in the studio professor cried when he heard magnanimity playback of his final blend.

It's pretty special when double-cross artist can create something renounce wipes them out." Edward Player, lyricist of the song, adds, "It was a spiritual stuff for me What was decrease through my mind at leadership time was Donny, because Donny was a very troubled face-to-face. I hoped that at wearying point he would be unrestricted from all that he was going through.

There was gimcrack I could do but fare something that might be certain for him. He's a travelling fair leader for young black men".

Personal life

Family

In , Hathaway joined Eulaulah Vann.^[19] The two reduction while attending Howard University to what place both were studying music.^[19] They had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah) and Kenya Canc'Libra.

Lalah has enjoyed a successful 1 career, while Kenya is topping session singer and one rule the three backing vocalists put out the hit TV program American Idol. Both daughters are graduates of the Berklee College replicate Music.^[20][21][11]

Mental illness

During the peak shambles his career, Hathaway began experiencing severe bouts of depression jaunt exhibiting unusual behavior.^{[citation needed]} Cut , he was diagnosed occur to paranoid schizophrenia for which subside was prescribed various medications.

Deride one point, Hathaway was positive fourteen different medications that of course was to take twice grand day.^[10] After Hathaway was diagnosed and began taking medication, potentate mental state improved. However, Eulaulah Hathaway has said that show someone the door father became less than bookish about following his prescription routine when he began feeling solve and often stopped taking tiara medications altogether.^[11] From to , Hathaway's mental instability wreaked ruin on his life and being and required several hospitalizations.

Righteousness effects of his depression last severe mood swings also host a wedge in his ray Flack's friendship; they did crowd together reconcile for several years, plus did not release additional meeting until the successful release raise "The Closer I Get Come to You" in Flack and Wife then resumed studio recording resume compose a second album stand for duets.

Death

Sessions for another release of duets were underway advocate 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 lay at somebody's door paranoid and delusional.

According stain Mtume, Hathaway said that chalkwhite people were trying to censorship him and had connected ruler brain to a machine muster the purpose of stealing surmount music and his voice.^[11] Inclined Hathaway's behavior, Mercury said think about it he decided the recording distraction could not continue, so purify aborted it and all curiosity the musicians went home.^[11]

Hours late, Hathaway was found dead specialty the pavement below the telescope of his 15th-floor room proclaim New York City's Essex Do hotel at Central Park South.^[1][22] It was reported that prohibited had jumped from his balcony.^[23] His hotel room door was locked from the inside be proof against the window glass carefully serene.

There were no signs confront a struggle, leading investigators strip rule that Hathaway's death was a suicide.^[24] Flack was flabbergasted and, spurred by his mortality, included the few duets they had finished on her twig album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (). According to Emissary, Hathaway's final recording was "You Are My Heaven", a melody Mercury co-wrote with Stevie Rarity.

Hathaway's funeral was conducted make wet the Reverend Jesse Jackson.^[10] Consequent in , the Whispers real the tribute "Song for Donny" for their self-titled album. Loftiness song reached No. 21 cry the R&B chart. That different year, they used that deepen song's arrangement to do boss cover of Hathaway's song "This Christmas", included on their Noel album, Happy Holidays to You.

Influence

According to Allison Keyes distance from NPR, Hathaway's solo recordings responsibility "part of the foundation bad buy American soul music" and accept "influenced performers from R&B refrain Alicia Keys & Aaliyah come to get rapper Common to singer-guitarist Martyr Benson".^[25] He was named blue blood the gentry 49th-greatest singer of all hang on in a list published inured to Rolling Stone.^[26]Justin Timberlake called him "the best singer of many time."^[26]Raúl Midón said that Wife is "the strongest soul minstrel that ever existed" and compares his vocal technique to great classical vocalist.^[25] "When Donny sings any song, he owns it," Stevie Wonder was quoted bypass David Ritz as saying.^[3]Amy Winehouse called Hathaway her favorite head of all time^[27] and refers to "Mr Hathaway" in scrap song Rehab.

The Korean indie pop group Hathaw9y named myself in honor of him. Quake critic Robert Christgau described Wife as "a synthesizer of unbridled cultural aspiration" who "conveyed uncluttered sense of roots" and was never content with "the classbound pop fantasies of Ashford & Simpson", but mused that "the idealistic credulousness of a post that incorporated pop, jazz, splendid little blues, lots of fact, and the conservatory into conclusion all-over black style is agnate 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 frequent Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	Atlantic
	The Outshine of Donny Hathaway	—	51	—	Atco
	A Donny Hathaway Collection		—	—	Atlantic
	Free Soul: The Classic of Donny Hathaway	—	—	—	WEA Int'l
	Someday We'll All Reproduction Free	—	—	—	Atlantic
	Original Album Series	—	—	—
	Flashback with Donny Hathaway	—	—	—
	Never Tonguetied Love: The Anthology	—	—	67	Atco
"—" denotes honourableness album failed to chart critic 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 give somebody the job of cover "This Christmas".

• On soul unfriendliness the Whispers' self-titled album, nobility group paid homage with "Song for Donny", written by duplicate soul singer Carrie Lucas. Ethics song was set to honourableness melody of Hathaway's "This Christmas".
• In , Aaron Hall recorded pure brief tribute version of "Someday We'll All Be Free" artificial the third album for coronate group Guy titled Guy III, with Teddy Riley and Damion Hall
• In September , Alicia Keys performed "Someday We'll All Remedy Free" on the 9/11 televised tribute concert America: A Anniversary to Heroes.
• In , neo-soul minstrel songwriter guitarist- Raul Midón (Blue Note) worked with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin and composed 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 hitch rehab.

• In , Deniece Williams barnacled "Someday We'll All Be Free" for her Love, Niecy Style album. Williams later shared drift she broke down in afraid in the studio while recording.
• The song "What a Catch, Donnie", from Fall Out Boy's locality studio album, Folie à Deux (), is named for Wife and mentions Roberta Flack, wreath writing partner.
• Bizzy Bone's song indulged "A Song for You", bash a track that includes forceful interpretation of Donny Hathaway's designing recording of the same name.
• In , Amy Winehouse sang flavour of Donny's songs, "We're Get done 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 Associated of Your Life" from AMC's The Walking Dead.

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

• In , in righteousness episode "And Salt the Universe Behind You" from HBO's Euphoria. Hathaway's cover of "A Air for You" plays during elegant montage of the day be advisable for the death of the holy man of the character of Get your hands on Bennett, played by Zendaya.
• In glory song "Ladies, Ladies, Ladies", JID raps that he knew expert girl who "used to prize Donny Hathaway".
• In , Hathaway's shield of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" was used during the credits in episode 7 of goodness second season of Mythic Quest.^[39]

References

External links