Born/Died:
Born: Oct. 1, 1945 in Chicago, Ill. Died Jan. 13, 1979 in New York City.
Early Life:
Born in Chicago, Hathaway grew up in St. Louis and played piano, earning a fine arts scholarship to Howard University in 1964. He was offered jobs in the music industry before graduating and left school after only three years. He worked as songwriter, session musician and producer for The Staple Singers, Jerry Butler and Aretha Franklin, as well as with Curtis Mayfield.
Commercial & Critical Success:
His critically acclaimed debut LP was 1970's Everything Is Everything. His second album, Donny Hathaway, was a major hit and was followed by an acclaimed album of duets with labelmate Roberta Flack, including a hit version of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and the self-penned "Where Is The Love." Hathaway also began working on soundtracks, but his output would slow down in the mid-1970s due to his battle with clinical depression.
A Tragic End:
In the late 1970s, Hathaway renewed his collaborations with Flack. spawning the 1978 hit "The Closer I Get to You." More recordings between the duo were set, but Hathaway was found dead on the sidewalk below the 15th floor window of his room in a New York City hotel. The glass had been carefully removed from the hotel window, and there were no signs of struggle, leading investigators to rule his death a suicide.
Influential Artist:
Donny Hathaway has proven to be one of the most influential singers of the past three decades. Dozens of contemporary singers have cited Hathaway as an influence, including Brian McKnight, India.Arie, John Kegend, Anthony Hamilton, Ruben Studdard and many, many others. His daughter, Lalah Hathaway, is an R&B/jazz singer.
The Last Word:
"Donny Hathaway made a great impression on me because he was a pure artist, he lives just for the music and everything he did was musicaly driven. He left a great mark on today's music. You have a lot of new artists that are very impressed by Donny." -- Music director/arranger Ray Chew.
