Singer-composer-arranger Donny Hathaway is perhaps best known for his duets with singer Roberta Flack, but the body of solo work he left behind when he died 30 years ago is part of the foundation of American soul music. His songs have influenced performers from R&B singer Alicia Keys to rapper Common to singer-guitarist George Benson.
Hathaway’s voice was clear and powerful, and his piano playing was remarkable in its own right. He exercised uncanny control over both of his instruments. Contemporary singer-songwriter Raul Midon — often compared to Hathaway — says Hathaway not only had an incredible voice but also the technique of a classical singer.
“He’s just the strongest soul singer that ever existed,” he says. “Call it gospel. Call it a soul. Call it whatever you want. That tradition of singing… black singers, African-American singers. He came from that tradition.”
Hathaway was born October 1, 1945, in Chicago I.L., but was raised by his grandmother in a St. Louis public housing project. By the age of three, he was already a professional gospel singer. His piano chops earned him a scholarship to attend Howard University and eventually landed him work as a producer and arranger for the likes of Aretha Franklin and the Staple Singers. In 1969, he signed with Atlantic Records and released his first single, “The Ghetto, Pt. 1.”
What was Donny Hathaway’s biggest hit?
His two biggest pop hits—“Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You”—were collaborations with Roberta Flack. Born in Chicago and raised in St. Louis, Hathaway began singing at his grandmother’s church when he was three.
Source: Ghanafuo.com
