Donny Hathaway (Unsung: Part 2)

[laceydays1]

man, i love this series 'unsung'...used to dance to 'the ghetto'..fell in love to 'where is the love?' with roberta flack....never knew he grew up in my hometown of st louis and went to vashon high school...damn...learning so much about some of the best musicians ever!!!

[emmaga11]

I love this guy. RIP

[chuito6619]

BET is now owned by Viacom, that is why you will not see programs like this there, now it's all reality show crap. I've seen all the unsung episodes. You find out why things happen in the music industry that they do not want you to know. Also the sad tragedies of some of the great talent in music.

[RoofLight00]

lets cut the derailing chat about other topics and get back to remembering Donny for the almighty voice and talent that he was. There was no one else like him. End of.

[LIsMRMOTOWN]

No mention of his arrangements for THE UNIFICS? His arrangements for them gave them the big hits "Court of Love" and "The Beginning of My End" and his name was always prominately displayed on the record as arranger.

[soln4suhreborn]

@LIsMRMOTOWN Very true! Donny did much work back then. He did some of Calvin Carter's stuff for Betty Everett and Little Milton and for Syl Johnson's Twinight label (Syl Johnson,Annette Poindexter,Dynamic Tints etc.) Let's not forget the many great songs he co-wrote with another talented brother,Leroy Hutson.

[keemyfoke]

Does anyone know where i can find the footage of that live performance of The Ghetto?..he killed that performance

[josephjohnsononline]

he was a perfectionist because he's a libra

[csiwon]

BOB JOHNSON IS A FUCKIN SELL OUT..HE DIDNT EVEN SUPPORT OBAMA..THE LAST FEW YEARS HE OWNED BET HE DID NOT LET ANY POSITIVE RAP VIDEOS AIR HE GOT RID OF TRAVIS SMILEY..THEIR MODT POPULAR SHOW 106&PARH DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A BLACK WOMAN AS THIR HOST..DO ANY OF YOU THINK A BLACK WOMAN CAN GET THE JOB AS A CO-HOST OF THE MOST POPULAR SHOW ON TELEMUNDO?

[Cxrusha]

FUCK BET DEM SELL OUT THEY RATHER SHOW THE YOU NEGATIVE SHIT LIKE AMERICAN GANGSTER FUCK DEM SELL OUTS

[nogerdsurg]

They want us dumbed down, and savaged by the junk so called music of today. It's really sad, I grew up with Donny Hathaway, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Teddy Pendergras, etc. Real music was and is a thing of the past.

[TallSomeone]

Willie Weeks on bass. Earl DeRouen on congos.

[Odawg96]

Hathaway was a secular talent, but he also surrounded himself with superior musicians. Those of you who know youur music will recognize Phil Upchurch as the guitar player in the live clips. The drummer is a teen-aged FRED WHITE (Maurice & Verdine's younger brother) in his pre-Earth, Wind & Fire days. I didn't get a good look at the bassist, but it MIGHT be Willie Weeks.

[itisjustme08]

Where are artist like this today????

[islezeus]

@itisjustme08 Well we have Lil Wayne, Nicky Minaj, Usher, T.I... what, you're not happy with these artists?

[itisjustme08]

@islezeus

Wow lil wayne??Nicky Minaj??How and why are they even selling records???I'm young but love REAL music..This mess they got now is just trash. I dont even know what LIL wayne talking about he dont know what he talking about! What about Anthony Hamilton Jill Scott I love real music and hate the fact that Real artists dont sell. Guess I gotta stick to my youtube videos of unsung! LOL

[islezeus]

@itisjustme08 Yep we have no where else to go since the industry is only promoting these "artistes"

[Bowdwn2theQueen]

@itisjustme08 I probably not as young as you but i agree w/u What the hell is

Lil Wayne talkin about and what idiot compared him too 2pac he is no way close it seems he get high then goes into the studio and what ever he says they call it a hit and Nikki Minaj sounds a mess like the female LiL Wayne WHAT THE HELL!!! is that i grew up on REAL female rappers that were lyrically untouchable keep listen to good music do fall over or for the trash that's being played

[taet24]

@Bowdwn2theQueen i most definitely agree

[Bookworme95]

@itisjustme08 They are out there. They will be on UnSung in 30 years.

[cavaleer]

I like hearing him speak as much as sing. His voice is magic.

[AJ3686]

He is the George Washington Carver of music. People will probably never FULLY know how much of a genius that man was.

[CJWriter0925]

@AJ3686 PERFECT comparison.

[crealonthebass]

Damn homie, that was THE perfect comparison lol!

[blackcaesar72]

Yes Donnie Was amazing!!!!! His Live CD is incredible....

[irishlinuxgeek]

i *NEED* that take of 'The Ghetto' @ 04:45

[HipHop226]

Otis Redding and David Ruffin

[juiceeddieshow]

I wish I could see that live version of the Ghetto.

[royalsoulness]

Even though I don't agree with your synopsis (no soul/r&b w/o Donny? That's a stretch!) However, Donny brought alot to the table in terms of musicianship and songwriting. Great singer whom we lost too soon.

[SexyAzzHell93]

This man was truly gifted. He left so much material behind. God bless him.

[alkjackson]

All I watch when I'm at home is TVONE....I love it!!! I never knew who Donnie Hathaway was till TVONE showed this. I always heard of him but never knew anything about him. I fell in love with him after I saw this show. I downloaded all of his songs. He is a musical genius that can't be categorized.

[lepoetress]

I was glad to see this show. Donny was very vocally gifted and his music and style are sorely missed now. Some of these singers today need to study him. Like they had a class for MaDonna, they need to have a 101 class for Donny Hathaway.

[sbrownie]

the best male voice EVER!...EVER!...

[NikiD40]

I second that (but I'd like to include the late Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles to the mix).

[sbrownie]

yeah...it's hard to 'decide'...'cause i LOVE Marvin and Sam...but for that vocal instrument, technically...i dunno...okay...let's have a draw...and call it a fantastic TRILOGY...

[NikiD40]

This TRILOGY will work for me as well.

[ewashington7000]

@sbrownie

One may want to properly first consider Eldra Debarge (and by extension his older brother Bobby Debarge), Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin, Curtis Mayfield, Eddie Kendricks, Marvin Gaye, and Aaron Neville - to name (only) a few (singers) if you are considering (only) black male soul vocalists - before one makes such a bold statement.

[ifusuckilltellu]

What a talent and thank you for allowing us the chance to watch this all of your posts are wonerful thank you again!

[JamesWhistleJr]

This is indeed a great piece on Donnie Hathaway!

[antij1]

Donny's speaking voice sounds like Smokey Robinson's. I wish that TVOne was more accessible. It's so much better than BET because of quality programming, like this.

[cat3375]

I agree the BET Awards are a disgrace to blacks.

[puddin6010]

@cat3375 OKAY.....

[Bookworme95]

@cat3375 It was the few good performance like Jill Scott looked out of place.

[76discodolly]

Before there was a Luther vandross there was Donny Hathaway. I love both Luther and Donny. May their souls rest in Peace.

[deccarter2004]

Props 2 TVONE I cant stand BET they suck!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jesiahbailey]

I wish CABLEVISION would carry TVONE cause I hate BET and BLACK STARZ

[deep71483]

I agree 100%! TVONE is a much better channel. It should be on standard cable instead of BET buffoonery channel

[Memyai]

I don't hate BET or BLACK STARZ, but I don't like them as much as I used to...TVONE is a whole lot better!!!!

[juiceeddieshow]

eventually you'll get it, just gotta get enough people to petition for their cable provider to provide TVOne.

[roorootru96]

Ain't that the truth; I'm sick to death over how BET has sold out myself!

[76discodolly]

Why?

[mssquirrely]

THEY WASN'T READY FOR DONNIE HATHAWAY ~ He was too ADVANCED for the INDUSTRY

Listen at how POSITIVE & ARTICULATE he was ~ CONSCIOUSLY AWARE!!

[mastertung7]

4:48 now thats what i been talkin bout, ..need to see more of this man in concerts,tv shows..more more....none like donnie

[Piper707]

and more at 7:00. does anybody know the source of those clips? is the full performance available somewhere? I'd love to see him tearing it up live!

[tsujoy]

chitown3002, you are so correct!

[BlkAngel1746]

Thank You for posting this. My cable company (Dish Network) doesn't carry TVOne.

[chitown3002]

THANKYOU!!!!! these are the type of things BET should be doing....that's a tried ass company. Props to TVone and you for posting.

[DeenasWorld]

Thank You!!!

Chitown, you are so right, BET used to be such a great and positive station. They took Tavis Smiley and BET TALK off the air and sold to Viacon's stupid ass, and BET Lost Their Damn Minds. That Station shames My Black race! THANK GOD 4 TVONE!!!!!!!!

[n0gar]

@DeenasWorld: That was why they did it. The Jews who own viacom do not want niggas thinking about anything but what they think we shouyld think about - crime, music, sports, sex, money, drugs, gangstas and anything that takes our thinking away from who they (Jews) are and are doing to us. These same bastards killed Tupac, Biggie and Michael Jackson.

[profoundlyso]

@DeenasWorld dont forget about Centric! repping for black folks who are proud to be african-americans unstereotyped

[chj2]

@DeenasWorld I second that sentiment. I used to watch BET back in the 80s and 90s, but I stopped watching it once the new millenium came along. Thanks for posting this - and you're right: without greats like Donny Hathaway all these new cats wouldn't be able to do what they do on a mic. Donny, you left us too soon, Bruh! I know you're blessing the other side with your God-given gifts!!!!

[Sonofdarighthand]

I'm from Chicago too chitown3002. I most certainly agree with what you said homes! BET is a disgrace to black people nowadays. I can't watch the BET awards without being embarrased.

[MaxMikeLatino]

@chitown3002 Well that what greed with get you. Robert Johnson's black ass sold his shit and moved on.

[craigsarmywife]

@chitown3002 BET is really trying to get back on track with positive black programming they have Sunday Best, The Game, some new show coming out in Jan. and also they feature up and coming black playwright's I am pleased with the progress BET has made over the past 18 months they are slowly but surely getting back on track check them out.

[crimsondash1]

@craigsarmywife I DONT LIKE THOSE SHOWS AND THE NEW STUFF WONT BE ANY GOOD EITHER BET WILL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS IT USED TO BE. NO MATTER WHAT. THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE GONE!