Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979)
was an American soul musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic
Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The
Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked
him as a major new force in soul music."
His collaborations with Roberta Flack scored high on the charts
and won him the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or
Group with Vocal for the duet, "Where Is the Love" in 1973.
Six years later, his body was found outside the luxury hotel Essex
House in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.
Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born in Chicago. He lived
with his grandmother, Martha Pitts, also known as Martha Crumwell,
in the Carr Square housing project, in St Louis. Hathaway began singing
in a church choir with his grandmother, a professional gospel singer,
at the age of three. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1963.
He studied music on a fine arts scholarship at Howard University
in Washington, D.C. He also formed a jazz trio to work around the
local area with drummer Ric Powell while there, but during 1967 left
Howard without a degree, after receiving job offers in the music
business.
[edit] Career
At first, Hathaway worked as songwriter, session musician and producer.
Working first at Chicago's Twinight Records, he later did the arrangements
for hits by The Unifics ("Court of Love" and "The
Beginning Of My End") and took part in projects by The Staple
Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Franklin, The Impressions and Curtis
Mayfield. After becoming a "house producer" for Mayfield's
label, Curtom Records, he started recording there as a member of
The Mayfield Singers. He recorded his first single under his own
name in 1969, a duet with singer June Conquest called "I Thank
You Baby". They also recorded the duet "Just Another Reason",
released as the b-side. Former Cleveland Browns president Bill Futterer,
a college student who promoted Curtom in the southeast in 1968 and
1969, was befriended by Hathaway and has cited Hathaway's influence
on his later projects.
That year, Hathaway signed to Atco Records after being spotted for
the label by producer/musician King Curtis at a trade convention.
He released his first single of note, "The Ghetto, Pt. 1",
which he co-wrote with former Howard roommate Leroy Hutson, who became
a performer, writer and producer with Curtom. The track appeared
the following year on his critically acclaimed debut LP, Everything
Is Everything, which he co-produced with Ric Powell while also arranging
all the cuts.
His second LP, Donny Hathaway, was also a success, but it was an
album of duets with former Howard University classmate and label
mate Roberta Flack that established him, especially on the pop charts.
The album was both a critical and commercial success, including the
Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is The Love", which
proved to be not only an R&B success, but also scored Top Five
on the pop Hot 100.[2] The album also included a number of other
covers, including versions of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend", "Baby
I Love You", originally a hit for Aretha Franklin and "You've
Lost That Loving Feeling".
Donny Hathaway is also known as the co-composer and performer of
the Christmas standard, “This Christmas.” The song, released
in 1970, has become a holiday staple and is often used in movies,
television and in advertising. “This Christmas” has been
covered by numerous artists across diverse musical genres, including
The Whispers, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four
Tops, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Harry Connick, Jr., Dru Hill, *NSYNC,
Gloria Estefan, Boney James,The Cheetah Girls, Chris Brown, and Anthony
Arnett (First Baptist Bracktown's Christmas Celebration-2007).
Hathaway followed this flurry of work with some contributions to
soundtracks, along with his recording of the theme song to the TV
series Maude. He also composed and conducted music for the 1972 soundtrack
of the movie Come Back Charleston Blue.[3] In the mid-1970s, he also
produced albums for other artists including Cold Blood, where he
expanded the musical range of lead singer Lydia Pense.
His final studio album, "Extension Of A Man" came out
in 1973 with two tracks, "Love Love Love" and "I Love
You More Than You'll Ever Know" reaching both the pop and R&B
charts. However, it was probably best noted for his classic ballad, "Someday
We'll All Be Free" and a six-minute symphonic-styled instrumental
piece called " I Love The Lord, He Heard My Cry". He told
UK music journalist David Nathan in 1973, “I always liked pretty
music and I’ve always wanted to write it.” Added the
writer, "He declined to give one particular influence or inspiration
but said that Ravel, Debussy and Stravinsky were amongst whom he
studied." [4]
He returned to the charts in 1978 after again teaming up with Roberta
Flack for a duet, "The Closer I Get To You" on her album, "Blue
Lights In The Basement". The song topped the R&B chart and
just missed the number 1 spot on the Hot 100 (reaching #2). Atlantic
then put out another solo single, "You Were Meant For Me" shortly
before his sudden death.
Liner notes for later releases of his final solo album explain: "Donny
is no longer here, but the song [Someday We'll All Be Free] gathers
momentum as part of his legacy... Donny literally sat in the studio
and cried when he heard the playback of his final mix. It's pretty
special when an artist can create something that wipes them out." Edward
Howard, lyricist of the song, adds, "It was a spiritual thing
for me... What was going through my mind at the time was Donny, because
Donny was a very troubled person. I hoped that at some point he would
be released from all that he was going through. There was nothing
I could do but write something that might be encouraging for him.
He's a good leader for young black men"
[edit] Personal life
Hathaway met his wife, Eulaulah, at Howard University. They had
two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah Hathaway) and Kenya. Lalah
has enjoyed a successful solo career, while Kenya is one of the three
backing vocalists on the hit TV program American Idol.
While separated from Eulaulah, Hathaway had another daughter (not
with Eulaulah) named Donnita Hathaway.
[edit] Health challenges
During the best part of his career, Hathaway began to suffer from
severe bouts of depression. It was found that he was suffering from
paranoid schizophrenia and was known to take strong medication daily
to try to control the illness. However, Eulaulah Hathaway has said
that her husband was frequently less than diligent about following
his prescription regimen.[5] Donnita Hathaway has said that her mother
gave her similar information about her father, saying that when he
took his medication, he was generally fine, but that when he did
not, it was impossible for her to deal with him.[5]
Over the course of the 1970s, Hathaway's mental instability wreaked
havoc on his life and required several hospitalizations. The effects
of his melancholia also drove a wedge in Flack and Hathaway's friendship;
they did not reconcile for several years, and did not release additional
music until the successful release of "The Closer I Get To You" in
1978. Flack and Hathaway then resumed studio recording to compose
a second album of duets.
[edit] Death
Sessions for a second album of duets were underway in 1979. On January
13 of that year, Hathaway began a recording session at which Eric
Mercury and James Mtume were present. Mercury and Mtume each reported
that although Hathaway's voice sounded good, he began behaving irrationally,
seeming to be paranoid and delusional. According to Mtume, Hathaway
said that "white people" were trying to kill him and had
connected his brain to a machine, for the purpose of stealing his
music.[5] Given Hathaway's behavior, Mercury said that he decided
the recording session could not continue, so he aborted it and all
of the musicians went home.[5]
Hours later, Hathaway was found dead on the sidewalk below the window
of his 15th-floor room in New York's Essex House hotel. He had jumped
from his balcony.[6] The glass had been neatly removed from the window
and there were no signs of struggle, leading investigators to rule
Hathaway's death a suicide. His friends were mystified, considering
that his career had just started to pick up again, and Flack was
devastated. Spurred by his death, she included the few duet tracks
they had finished on her next album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny
Hathaway.
Hathaway's funeral was conducted by the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
[edit] Legacy
Donny Hathaway Live, which featured noted R&B musicians Willie
Weeks (bass guitar), Richard Tee (organ), Cody Clayton and Cornell
Dupree (guitar), has been cited as an influence by numerous artists
including Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé, George Benson,
India.Arie, Jon Gibson,[1] Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Anthony
Hamilton, Usher, and Frank McComb are among the contemporary artists
whose work echoes Hathaway's. His use of the Rhodes Piano on his
early Atco R&B recordings has also influenced many Neo Soul artists & producers.
A second live album called In Performance was released in 1980 following
his death and also included tracks recorded at venues in Los Angeles
and New York between 1971 and 1973, showing Hathaway to be a fine
stage performer. Later, in 2004, selected tracks from these two albums
were added to previously unreleased live recordings for "These
Songs For You, Live!!"
[edit] In Popular culture
Several anecdotes about Hathaway are contained in Jerry Wexler's
book Rhythm and The Blues.
On soul group The Whispers' 1980 self-titled album, the group paid homage with "Song
for Donny," written by fellow soul singer Carrie Lucas. The song was set
to the melody of Hathaway's "This Christmas."
On Jim Jones's song "Certified Gangstas", rapper The Game refers
to Donny Hathaway with the lines "Blowin in the crowd like Don Hathaway"
In 2005, neo-soul singer songwriter guitarist, Raul Midón (Blue Note)
worked with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin (known for collaborations
with The Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Norah Jones, and Aretha Franklin)
and created a tribute song to Hathaway called "Sittin' in the Middle."
Amy Winehouse refers to "Mr. Hathaway" in her song "Rehab" about
depression and alcoholism.
On New York artist Nas's album Hip Hop Is Dead on the song "Blunt Ashes",
he tells a story that includes reportedly claiming Donny Hathaway "freefell" from
his balcony.
Hathaway's name is mentioned multiple times in rapper Common's lyrics (i.e.: "What
could get me halfway calm, was this Donny Hathaway song") in "Stolen
Moments Pt. II". Also, Common's duet with Lauryn Hill entitled "Retrospect
for Life" contains a sample from Hathaway's "Song for You".
In the 2001 hit by Jay-Z "Girls, Girls, Girls" Donny Hathaway's song "Love,
Love, Love" is sampled. A 1999 song called "This Life Forever",
Jay-Z mentions listening to his music with the lyrics saying "bumping
Donny Hathaway".
In 1999 Aaron Hall recorded a brief tribute version of "Someday We'll
All Be Free" on the third album for his group Guy titled Guy III, with
Teddy Riley and Damion Hall.
In September 2001, Alicia Keys performed "Someday We'll All Be Free" on
the 9/11 televised tribute concert America: A Tribute to Heroes.
Teena Marie does a brief tribute version of "Someday We'll All Be Free" on
a bonus track on the reissue of her It Must Be Magic album.
Rhymesayers artist Brother Ali mentions Donny Hathaway in his song, "Room
with a View."
Soul Position mentions Hathaway in their song, "Hand-Me-Downs."
Talib Kweli mentions Hathaway in his songs "The Beautiful Struggle" and "Hold
It Down" with Buckshot and 9th Wonder.
In 2007, Deniece Williams covered "Someday We'll All be Free" for
her Love, Niecy Style album. Williams later shared that she broke down in tears
in the studio while recording.
In 2008, Ed Pavlic published Winners Have Yet To Be Announced (University of
Georgia Press), poems re-imagining the life of Donny Hathaway.
Bizzy Bone's song entitled “A Song For You,” is a track that includes
an interpolation of Donny Hathaways’s original recording of the same
name.
The song "What a Catch, Donnie", from Fall Out Boy's fifth studio
album, Folie à Deux, is named for Hathaway and mentions Roberta Flack,
his writing partner.
In November 2008, Dutch singer Gordon Heuckeroth released the album, A Song
For You, with several songs by Hathaway.
Rapper Scarface mentions Hathaway in his song "Still Here" off of
the 2008 album, Emeritus.
Prince mentions Hathaway's "Song For You" in his song, "Here" from
the album titled MPLSound; part of a 2009 three CD release titled Lotusflower
("Donny Hathaway's 'Song 4 U' ain't the same without you here".)
Kanye West mentions Hathaway in his 2010 song "Power" ("All
my old girls know that I'm the one that got away. I think about 'em on Christmas
and play some Donny Hathaway").
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
Year Album Chart positions[7] US
certifications
[8] Record label
US US
R&B UK[9]
1970 Everything Is Everything 73 33 — — Atco
1971 Donny Hathaway 89 6 — —
1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway 3 2 31 Gold Atlantic
1973 Extension of a Man 69 18 — — Atco
1980 Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway 25 4 — Gold Atlantic
"—"
denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
[edit] Live albums
Year Album Chart positions[7] US
certifications
[8] Record label
US US
R&B UK
1972 Live 18 4 — Gold Atco
1980 In Performance 201 68 — — Atlantic
2004 These Songs for You, Live! — 78 — —
"—"
denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
[edit] Soundtrack albums
Year Album Chart positions[7] US
certifications Record label
US US
R&B UK
1972 Come Back Charleston Blue 198 — — — Atco
"—"
denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
[edit] Compilation albums
Year Album Chart positions[7] US
certifications Record labelb
US US
R&B UK
1978 The Best of Donny Hathaway — 51 — — Atco
1990 A Donny Hathaway Collection — — — — Atlantic
2000 Free Soul: The Classic of Donny Hathaway — — — — WEA
Int'l
2010 Someday We'll All Be Free — — — — Warner
Music France
"—"
denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
[edit] Singles
Year Single Chart Positions[10]
US US
R&B US
A/C UK[9]
1969 "I Thank You Baby" (with June Conquest) — 45 — —
1970 "The Ghetto - Part 1" 87 23 — —
"
This Christmas" — — — —
1971 "You've Got a Friend" (with Roberta Flack) 29 8 36 —
"
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (with Roberta Flack) 71 30 — —
1972 "Little Ghetto Boy" 109 25 — —
"
Giving Up" 81 21 — —
"
I Thank You" (with June Conquest) 94 41 — —
"
Where Is the Love" (with Roberta Flack) 5 1 1 29
"
Come Back Charleston Blue" (with Margie Joseph) 102 — — —
"
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" 60 20 — —
1973 "Love, Love, Love" 44 16 — —
"
Come Little Childern" — 67 — —
1978 "The Closer I Get to You" (with Roberta Flack) 2 1
3 42
"
You Were Meant for Me" — 17 — —
1980 "You Are My Heaven" (with Roberta Flack) 47 8 46 —
"
Back Together Again"