Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway ( born October 1, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, † January 13, 1979 in New York) was an American soul musician.

Life

Donny Hathaway grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Already with three years he sang in the church choir, a child he learned to play the piano. Thanks to his outstanding piano playing 1965 he was awarded a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC. After three years he left the university to work as a songwriter, musician and producer. The late 1960s, Hathaway was a producer at Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records label. There he took his first single in 1969 I Thank You Baby on.

In 1970 he published his first album Everything Is Everything, in which he wowed the critics primarily for his unique voice. His second self-titled album was another commercial as the part of the critics acclaimed success. After his next album with partner Roberta Flack he first took on some soundtracks, including the theme for the series Maude. Followed in 1978 by another duet with Roberta Flack. During his own career, Hathaway continued to produce albums of other artists.

Throughout his career, Donny Hathaway suffered increasingly from depression and had to repeatedly seek treatment. His friendship with the duet partner Roberta Flack suffered Hathaway's health, so that the two wanted to record an album together again after six years. During the sessions already ran for recording, Donny Hathaway was found dead on January 13, 1979 on the sidewalk below the window of his room at the Essex House Hotel in New York.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Others

The U.S. rock band Fall Out Boy Donny Hathaway dedicates the song What a Catch, Donnie. Released the track on the album Folie à Deux by 2008.