Donny Hathaway (Unsung: Part 2)

Donny Hathaway was a Prolific Song Writer and Music Composer of the Fabulous Soul Music Era. Donny's rise to Soul Music Prominence made him the standard bearer for today's R&B Male vocalist. Indeed Donny Hathaway is responsible for creating and influencing today's modern R&B vocal style for ALL male vocalist of our time. Before Donny Hathaway, no R&B male singer or performer was singing riffs, incorporating high notes or bringing down the house with soulful, melodic vocals. Donny Hathaway was the FIRST to do it...................not Lurther Vandross, not Stevie Wonder, Not even Marvin Gaye!

Singers like Usher, Neyo, Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Dru Hill, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe and so many others copy the vocal styles and even tonality that DONNY HATHAWAY created. Without Donny Hathaway, there would truly be NO SOUL AND NO R&B!!!!!!

We pay honors to Donny Hathaway with this rare documentary about the MUSICAL Genuise of our lifetime..............................Mr. Donny Hathaway...................The KING OF R&B!!!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• donny hathaway
• roberta flack
• lelah hathaway
• aretha franklin
• curtis mayfield
• motown
• phyllis hyman
• the whispers
• unsung

[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!!!!!!!!

[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.

[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

[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!!!!

[profoundlyso]

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

[Bookworme95]

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

[Bookworme95]

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

[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.