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Donny Hathaway

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For the politician from Louisiana, see Don Hathaway.

Donny Hathaway
Background information
Birth nameDonny Edward Hathaway
Also known asDonny Pitts
Born(1945-10-01)October 1, 1945
Chicago, Illinois, US
OriginSt. Louis, Missouri, US
DiedJanuary 13, 1979(1979-01-13) (aged 33)
New York, New York, US
GenresChicago soul, soul, jazz, gospel, R&B, blues
Occupation(s)Musician songwriter, arranger, conductor, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active1967–1979
LabelsCurtom, Atco

Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American jazz, blues, soul and gospel singer, songwriter, arranger and pianist. Hathaway signed with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto", in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."[1] His enduring songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Be Free", "Little Ghetto Boy", "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", signature versions of "A Song for You" and "For All We Know", and "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You", two of many collaborations with Roberta Flack. "Where Is the Love" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1973. At the height of his career Hathaway was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was known to not take his prescribed medication regularly enough to properly control his symptoms.[2] On January 13, 1979, Hathaway's body was found outside the luxury hotel Essex House in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.

Early life

Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born in Chicago but raised with his grandmother, Martha Pitts, also known as Martha Crumwell, in the Carr Square housing project of St. Louis. Hathaway began singing in a church choir with his grandmother, a professional gospel singer, at the age of three and studying piano. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1963.[3] Hathaway then studied music on a fine arts scholarship at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he met close friend Roberta Flack. At Howard, he was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Hathaway formed a jazz trio with drummer Ric Powell while there but during 1967 left Howard just before completing a degree, after receiving job offers in the music business.[2]

Career

Hathaway worked as songwriter, session musician and producer for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago. He 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 himself. After becoming a "house producer" at Curtom, he also started recording there. Hathaway 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, who as a college student 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, then a division of Atlantic 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, consisted mostly of covers of contemporary pop, soul, and gospel songs. His third album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an album of duets with former Howard University associate 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.[4] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on September 5, 1972.[5] 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".

Perhaps Hathaway's most influential recording is his 1972 album, Live, which has been termed "one of the best live albums ever recorded" by Daryl Easlea of the BBC.[6] The album can also be found on the British online music and culture magazine The Quietus' list of "40 Favourite Live Albums".[7] It was recorded at two concerts: side one at The Troubadour in Hollywood, and side two at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

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 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, Alexander O'Neal, Christina Aguilera, Chicago, Harry Connick, Jr., Dru Hill, *NSYNC, Gloria Estefan, Boney James, The Cheetah Girls, Chris Brown, Anthony Arnett (First Baptist Bracktown Christmas Celebration), Patti LaBelle and Mary J Blige (A Mary Christmas, album 2013).

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.[8] 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."[9]

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".

Personal life

Family

Hathaway met his wife, Eulaulah, at Howard University and they married in 1967.[2] They had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah) and Kenya. Lalah has enjoyed a successful solo career, while Kenya is a session singer and one of the three backing vocalists on the hit TV program American Idol. Both daughters are graduates of the Berklee College of Music. He also had another daughter, Donnita Hathaway.

Mental illness

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.[2] 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.[2] Over the course of the 1970s, Hathaway's mental instability wreaked havoc on his life and required several hospitalizations. The effects of his depression and melancholia also drove a wedge in his and Flack'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.

Death

Essex House hotel

Sessions for another album of duets were underway in 1979. On January 13 of that year, Hathaway began a recording session at which producers/musicians 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 and his sound.[2] 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.[2]

Hours later, Hathaway was found dead on the sidewalk below the window of his 15th-floor room in New York's Essex House hotel. It was reported that he had jumped from his balcony.[10] The glass had been neatly removed from the window and there were no signs of struggle, leading investigators to rule that Hathaway's death was a suicide. However, his friends were mystified, considering that his career had just entered a resurgence. Flack was devastated and, spurred by his death, included the few duet tracks they had finished on her next album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway. According to Mercury, Hathaway's final recording, included on that album, was "You Are My Heaven", a song Mercury co-wrote with Stevie Wonder.

Hathaway's funeral was conducted by the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Later in 1979, the Whispers recorded the tribute song, "Song for Donny", for their self-titled breakthrough album. The song reached #21 on the R&B chart.

Legacy and influence

Hathaway has been widely praised for his voice.[11][12] Justin Timberlake calls him "the best singer of all time."[11] Timberlake calls "(Another Song) All Over Again," from FutureSex/LoveSounds, "my homage to Donny Hathaway."[11] Raúl Midón said that Hathaway is "the strongest soul singer that ever existed" and compares his vocal technique to a classical singer.[12] "When Donny sings any song, he owns it," David Ritz quotes Stevie Wonder as having said.[13] Amy Winehouse called Hathaway her favorite artist of all time.[14] She mentioned him in her hit "Rehab” and covered several of his songs. Hathaway's work including Donny Hathaway Live, which featured noted R&B musicians Willie Weeks (bass), Fred White (drums), Mike Howard (guitar), Phil Upchurch (lead guitar side 1), Cornell Dupree (lead guitar side 2) and Earl DeRouen (percussion), has been cited as an influence by numerous other artists including John Legend, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, R. Kelly, Alicia Keys, Jon B., Chris Brown, Nas, Common, Beyoncé, George Benson, Victor Wooten, India.Arie, Jon Gibson, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Anthony Hamilton, Usher, John Mayer, Led Zeppelin, Freddie Jackson and Frank McComb. Hathaway's 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, released in 1980 following his death, 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!.

For Record Store Day 2014, Live at the Bitter End 1971 was released on 180g vinyl as a numbered, limited edition. This album marks the first time this 1971 performance at The Bitter End has been released on vinyl, previously appearing on the CD release of the 2013 career anthology, Never My Love. The 21-minute recording of "Everything is Everything" had never been released before on any format and was an exclusive track to this release.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Chart positions[15] US
certifications
[16] 		Record label
US US
R&B 		UK[17]
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

Live albums

Year Album Chart positions[15] US
certifications
[16] 		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 — —

Soundtrack albums

Year Album Chart positions[15] 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

Compilation albums

Year Album Chart positions[15] US
certifications 		Record label
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
2013 Never My Love: The Anthology — — — — Rhino

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions[18]
US US
R&B 		US
A/C 		UK[17]
1969 "Thank You" (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 — —
"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 Children" — 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" (with Roberta Flack) 56 8 — 3
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

With Phil Upchurch

Tributes

  • 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".
  • 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.
  • 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".
  • 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" 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.
  • The song "What a Catch, Donnie", from Fall Out Boy's fourth studio album, Folie à Deux (2008), is named for Hathaway and mentions Roberta Flack, his writing partner.
  • 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.
  • In the 2013 song "Classic", band MKTO references writing songs "like Hathaway".

References

  1. ^ Rolling Stone. March 8, 1979, p. 17.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Interview. UnSung, Episode 104, TV One
  3. ^ Cheers, D. Michael (April 1979). "The Mysterious Death of Donny Hathaway". Ebony. XXXIV (6): 61–66. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Steve Huey, Rovi. "Donny Hathaway". VH1. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 312/3. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ "Music - Review of Donny Hathaway - Live". BBC. November 17, 1989. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "Features | The Quietus Writers' 40 Favourite Live Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Come Back Charleston Blue". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  9. ^ David Nathan (January 1, 2009). "Donny Hathaway: Reassessing His Musical Life". Soulmusic.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  10. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 322. CN 5585.
  11. ^ a b c "100 Greatest Singers". Rolling Stone. December 2, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Allison Keys (June 21, 2010). "Donny Hathaway: Neglected Heart Of Soul". National Public Radio. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  13. ^ Lee Hildebrand (July 18, 2012). "Donny Hathaway: Live + In Performance". East Bay Express. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "Island Records to release new Amy Winehouse album". National Post. October 31, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d "Donny Hathaway US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  16. ^ a b "Donny Hathaway US certification history". riaa.com. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Donny Hathaway UK chart history". chartstats.com. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  18. ^ "Donny Hathaway US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
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