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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHATHAWAY, Donny(b 1 Oct. '45, Chicago; d 13 Jan. '79, NYC) Multi-talented sweet-soul singer with beautiful voice. Raised in St Louis; grandmother Martha Crumwell was gospel singer; billed at age three as Donny Pitts, Nation's Youngest Gospel Singer, accompanying himself on ukulele. Attended Howard U Wash. DC on scholarship; classmate was Roberta Flack; joined cocktail jazz trio to pay for education; session work with Carla Thomas, Jerry Butler, the Staple Singers, Flack etc. Work for Percy Mayfield at Curtom label in Chicago incl. 'June and Donnie' duets with June Conquest; did prod. work for Chess; met King Curtis, got Atlantic contract as writer/prod., performer. First LP Everything Is Everything '70 incl. minor hit 'The Ghetto', charted '71 after second Donny Hathaway; Live album '72, Extension Of A Man '73 also charted. No top 40 pop singles except duets with Flack: 'You've Got A Friend' '71 no. 29; 'Where Is The Love' '72, 'The Closer I Get To You' '78 both top five; LP Roberta Flack And Donny Hathaway no. 3 '72; Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway no. 25 '80. Others incl. Best Of '78, In Performance '80. Fell 15 floors to his death, listed as suicide; friends couldn't believe it, but his career had slumped mid-'70s because of personal problems. |