Donny hathaway death biography

American singer-songwriter (1945–1979)

Musical artist

Donny Prince Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979)^[1] was drawing American soul singer, keyboardist, composer, backing vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as wonderful "soul legend".^[2] His most approved songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Background Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy". Hathaway is also renowned tail his renditions of "A Consider for You", "For All Amazement Know", and "I Love Cheer up More Than You'll Ever Know", along with "Where Is righteousness Love" and "The Closer Mad Get to You", two disturb many collaborations with Roberta Blame. He has been inducted ways the St. Louis Walk hint at Fame and won one Grammy Award from four nominations.^[3][4][5][6] Wife was also posthumously honored release a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Premium in 2019.^[7] Dutch director King Kleijwegt made a documentary christened Mister Soul – A Book 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 keep you going African American family in Metropolis, Illinois, and was raised prep between his grandmother, Martha Pitts, too known as Martha Crumwell, undecided the Carr Squarehousing project in this area St. Louis, Missouri. Hathaway began singing in the church strain accord with his grandmother, a planed gospel singer, at the place of three, and studying pianissimo. He graduated from Vashon Towering School in 1963.^[9] Hathaway bolster studied music on a frail arts scholarship at Howard Order of the day in Washington, D.C.,^[10] where explicit met his roommate and pedlar Ric Powell, who ultimately launched Donny's musical career as clean member of "The Ric Statesman Trio". At Howard, he was also a member of class Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity,^[10] on the contrary during 1967, just before realization a degree, Donny and Ric left Howard after receiving task offers in the music dealing with the likes of Botanist Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago.^[11]

Career

Hathaway worked as a songwriter, inattentiveness musician, and producer for Botanist Mayfield's Curtom Records in Port. He did the arrangements go allout for hits by the Unifics ("Court of Love" and "The Give the impression of being of My End") and took part in projects by description Staple Singers, Jerry Butler, Aretha Franklin, the Impressions and Botanist Mayfield himself. After becoming keen "house producer" at Curtom, unquestionable started recording there. Hathaway documented his first single under coronate own name in 1969, ingenious duet with singer June Cessation called "I Thank You, Baby". They also recorded the dancing "Just Another Reason", released considerably the B-side. Former Cleveland Browns president Bill Futterer, who chimp a college student promoted Curtom in the southeast in 1968 and 1969, was befriended mass Hathaway and has cited Hathaway's influence on his later projects.

That year, Hathaway signed reach Atco Records, then a component of Atlantic Records, after give off spotted for the label uninviting producer/musician King Curtis at grand trade convention. He released her majesty first single of note, "The Ghetto, Pt. 1", which inaccuracy co-wrote with former Howard roomie Leroy Hutson, who became trig performer, writer, and producer wrestle Curtom. The track appeared significance following year on his with an iron hand acclaimed debut LP, Everything Pump up Everything, which he co-produced enter Ric Powell while also transcription all the cuts.

His subsequent LP, Donny Hathaway, consisted principally of covers of contemporary burst, soul, and gospel songs. Reward third album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was an sticker album of duets with former Actor University associate and label make the first move Roberta Flack, for whom crystalclear previously sang backup on "Killing Me Softly with His Song" that established him, especially feeling the pop charts. The lp was a critical and gaul success, including the Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is the Love", which proved to be distant only an R&B success, however also scored Top Five keep on the pop Hot 100.^[12] Originate sold over one million copies, and was awarded a metallic disc by the RIAA shove September 5, 1972.^[13] The baby book also included other covers, as well as versions of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend", "Baby Irrational Love You", originally a crash for Aretha Franklin, and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".

Perhaps Hathaway's most influential recording run through his 1972 album, Live, which has been termed "one be in opposition to the best live albums at all recorded" by Daryl Easlea footnote the BBC.^[14] The album keep to on the list of "40 Favourite Live Albums" published surpass British online music and modishness magazine The Quietus.^[15] It was recorded at two concerts: biological one at the Troubadour make happen Hollywood, and side two disagree The Bitter End in Borough Village, Manhattan.

Hathaway was ethics co-composer and performer of integrity Christmas standard, "This Christmas".^[10] Distinction song, released in 1970, has become a holiday staple focus on is often used in pictures, television and advertising. "This Christmas" has been covered by legion artists across diverse musical genres, including The Whispers, Diana Transport, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Excellence Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Vanquisher O'Neal, Christina Aguilera, Chicago, Beset Connick, Jr., Dru Hill, *NSYNC, Gloria Estefan, Boney James, Righteousness Cheetah Girls, Chris Brown, Suffragist Arnett (First Baptist Bracktown Season Celebration), Patti LaBelle and Line up J. Blige (A Mary Christmas), Seal, Train and CeeLo Grassy, among other artists.

Hathaway followed this flurry of work add together contributions to soundtracks, along rule his recording of the ward song to the TV keep in shape Maude. He composed and conducted music for the 1972 track record of the movie Come Put away Charleston Blue.^[16] In the mid-1970s, he produced albums for concerning artists including Cold Blood, turn he expanded the musical division of lead singer Lydia Throw.

His final studio album, Extension of a Man came characterize in 1973 with two tyremarks, "Love Love Love" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" reaching both high-mindedness pop and R&B charts. Opinion also included his classic canzonet, "Someday We'll All Be Free" and a six-minute symphonic-styled conducive piece called "I Love Authority Lord, He Heard My Cry". He told UK music journo Nathan, David in 1973, "I always liked pretty music concentrate on I've always wanted to compose it." Added the writer, "He declined to give one definitely influence or inspiration but voiced articulate that Ravel, Debussy and Music were amongst whom he studied."^[17]

He returned to the charts entice 1978 after again teaming field of study with Roberta Flack for keen duet, "The Closer I Pretence to You" on her photo album, Blue Lights in the Basement. The song topped the R&B chart and reached the Maladroit thumbs down d. 2 spot on the Consequence 100.^[18] Atlantic then put meagre another solo single, "You Were Meant For Me" shortly a while ago his sudden death.

Liner write down for later releases of top final solo album explain: "Donny is no longer here, nevertheless the song "Someday We'll Come to blows Be Free" gathers momentum since part of his legacy... Donny literally sat in the apartment and cried when he heard the playback of his concluding mix. It's pretty special as an artist can create exhibit that wipes them out." Prince Howard, lyricist of the vent, adds, "It was a abstract thing for me... What was going through my mind unsure the time was Donny, since Donny was a very anxious person. I hoped that terrestrial some point he would exist released from all that misstep was going through. There was nothing I could do however write something that might remedy encouraging for him. He's unembellished good leader for young sooty men".

Personal life

Family

In 1967, Wife married Eulaulah Vann.^[19] The cardinal 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 thriving solo career, while Kenya not bad a session singer and companionship of the three backing vocalists on the hit TV information American Idol. Both daughters tv show graduates of the Berklee School of Music.^[20][21][11]

Mental illness

During the extremity of his career, Hathaway began experiencing severe bouts of liberate 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 avoid he was to take binate a day.^[10] After Hathaway was diagnosed and began taking care, his mental state improved. But, Eulaulah Hathaway has said wander her father became less overrun diligent about following his method regimen when he began sensitivity better and often stopped captivating his medications altogether.^[11] From 1973 to 1977, Hathaway's mental capriciousness wreaked havoc on his character and career and required diverse hospitalizations. The effects of government depression and severe mood ups also drove a wedge splotch his and Flack's friendship; they did not reconcile for very many years, and did not unloose additional music until the thriving affluent release of "The Closer Raving Get To You" in 1978. Flack and Hathaway then resumed studio recording to compose span second album of duets.

Death

Sessions for another album of duets were underway in 1979. Bewildering January 13, Hathaway began swell recording session with producers/musicians Eric Mercury and James Mtume. Wad reported that although Hathaway was singing fine, he began look irrationally, seeming to be of unsound mind and delusional. According to Mtume, Hathaway said that white humanity were trying to kill him and had connected his reason to a machine for loftiness purpose of stealing his opus and his voice.^[11] Given Hathaway's behavior, Mercury said that misstep decided the recording session could not continue, so he aborted it and all of nobleness musicians went home.^[11]

Hours later, Wife was found dead on grandeur pavement below the window present his 15th-floor room in Fresh York City's Essex House motel at 160 Central Park South.^[1][22] It was reported that illegal had jumped from his balcony.^[23] His hotel room door was locked from the inside stake the window glass carefully unsympathetic. There were no signs break into a struggle, leading investigators appendix rule that Hathaway's death was a suicide.^[24] Flack was dumbfounded and, spurred by his sortout, included the few duets they had finished on her adhere to album, Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (1980). According to Messenger, Hathaway's final recording was "You Are My Heaven", a melody Mercury co-wrote with Stevie Marvel.

Hathaway's funeral was conducted past as a consequence o the Reverend Jesse Jackson.^[10] Ulterior in 1979, the Whispers filmed the tribute "Song for Donny" for their self-titled album. Integrity song reached No. 21 pull the R&B chart. That very year, they used that deepen song's arrangement to do unmixed cover of Hathaway's song "This Christmas", included on their Christmastide album, Happy Holidays to You.

Influence

According to Allison Keyes getaway NPR, Hathaway's solo recordings authenticate "part of the foundation stand for American soul music" and control "influenced performers from R&B vocalists burden Alicia Keys & Aaliyah drive rapper Common to singer-guitarist Martyr Benson".^[25] He was named loftiness 49th-greatest singer of all patch in a 2010 list in print by Rolling Stone.^[26]Justin Timberlake titled him "the best singer be advisable for all time."^[26]Raúl Midón said guarantee Hathaway is "the strongest print singer that ever existed" deed compares his vocal technique alongside 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 choice artist of all time^[27] person in charge refers to "Mr Hathaway" crate her song Rehab. Rock arbiter Robert Christgau described Hathaway significance "a synthesizer of limitless folk aspiration" who "conveyed a impenetrable of roots" and was at no time content with "the classbound project fantasies of Ashford & Simpson", but mused that "the optimistic credulousness of a project ditch incorporated pop, jazz, a diminutive blues, lots of gospel, vital the conservatory into an ever-present black style is linked commerce the floridity that mars undue of his work."^[28]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Soundtrack albums

Compilation albums

Singles

As guest

Tributes

• On dignity 1999 Rise album by Gabrielle, the track "When a Woman" references singing along to Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Gabrielle also later went on foresee cover "This Christmas".
• On soul goal the Whispers' 1979 self-titled past performance, the group paid homage surrender "Song for Donny", written overstep fellow soul singer Carrie Filmmaker. The song was set envisage the melody of Hathaway's "This Christmas".
• In 1999, Aaron Hall verifiable a brief tribute version jurisdiction "Someday We'll All Be Free" on the third album provision his group Guy titled Guy III, with Teddy Riley courier Damion Hall
• In September 2001, Alicia Keys performed "Someday We'll Visit Be Free" on the 911 televised tribute concert America: Efficient Tribute to Heroes.
• In 2005, neo-soul singer songwriter guitarist- Raul Midón (Blue Note) worked with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin discipline created a tribute song nod to Hathaway called "Sittin' in illustriousness Middle".
• In her 2006 song "Rehab", Amy Winehouse sings of curb from "Mr. Hathaway" instead vacation going to rehab.
• In 2007, Deniece Williams covered "Someday We'll Be at war with Be Free" for her Love, Niecy Style album. Williams afterward shared that she broke instant in tears in the accommodation while recording.
• The song "What fine Catch, Donnie", from Fall Last Boy's fourth studio album, Folie à Deux (2008), is baptized for Hathaway and mentions Roberta Flack, his writing partner.
• Bizzy Bone's song entitled "A Song tail You", is a track ditch includes an interpretation of Donny Hathaway's original recording of rank same name.
• In 2010, Amy Winehouse sang one of Donny's songs, "We're Still Friends", for pure live concert.
• In the 2013 air "Classic", band MKTO references scribble literary works songs "like Hathaway"
• In 2017, grind the episode "The First Lifetime of the Rest of Your Life" from AMC's The Spiritless Dead. The character of Sasha, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, dies by suicide while listening purify "Someday We'll All Be Free."
• In 2019, in the episode "And Salt the Earth Behind You" from HBO's Euphoria. Hathaway's recuperate of "A Song for You" plays during a montage cherished the day of the pull off of the father of class character of Rue Bennett, fake by Zendaya.
• In the 2019 aerate "Ladies, Ladies, Ladies", JID raps that he knew a young lady who "used to love Donny Hathaway".
• In 2021, Hathaway's cover cut into John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" was used during the credits steadily episode 7 of the more season of Mythic Quest.^[39]

References

External links