Donny Hathaway ( UnSung: Part 1)

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 MUSIC AND NO R&B MUSIC!!!!!!

We pay honor 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
• unsung
• phyllis hyman
• roberta flack
• minnie riperton

[ProximaB]

@Tempest87 I didn't take it that way. I took it as saying these artists were underrated or left the spotlight before their time. By the way I love the series because it talks about artists I'm personally interested in, whereas other stations only focus on the same mundane entertainers.

[mstye]

Its not that they have failed or anything like that its basically saying that they did not get the recognition that was deserved of the artist and their work.

[bassbymichele]

We miss you so much Donnie! You'll always live through your music... I just wanted to thank you!!!

[mrmartywaring]

Donny Hathaway was and still is ahead of his time. Just a phenomenal talent. 1 of the greatest to do it.....

[jonesvrnc]

@ddenniscoleman3 Facts!

[bareftcontessa1]

I'm a 56-year-old white woman who grew up in a segregated, white suburb and heard lots of R&B on the radio. Stevie and Donny are my favorite artists. Stevie always sounded like the soulful optimist and Donny was the epitome of soul but so sad. They're both brilliant and the best at expressing what it means to be human. I recently rediscovered "Sack Full of Dreams" by Donny Hathaway after not hearing it for 30+ years. My God, what a song!

[shag112002]

@regg073 I didn't want to get into this race conversation, but your comment struck a nerve in me. I'm a retired principal who worked for 22 years with gang members of all backgrounds. One thing I learned about "us" that's been there since the Willie Lynch era is, while we may not be big on killing ourselves, we are huge on "suicide by black." I'm sure you've heard of "suicide by cop," well that's what we do to one and another. We've got to get beyond the denial, and victim stage.

[shydmples]

@Codycole80 The O'Jays have an episode

[chj2]

@Hazakim That is largely true to an extent - however, if the ELDERS don't pass down the knowledge and artistry that greats like Donny Hathaway, Tammi Terrell, Phyllis Hyman and others left behind, then we can't just single out the youth.

[Codycole80]

@Tempest87

Right! Neither was The O'Jays. Why The O'Jays have an Unsung episode is beyond me.

[katimere2]

@ddenniscoleman3 I could not have said it better myself.

[martley1]

I can understand how people in the US feel about the series portraying black musicians as victims. However, here in the UK there was never a real separation concerning the charts and we grew up with black muisc on the same chart as all other music. It's nice to see the story behind the music with so many artists, but I agree that they are not unsung especially in the UK where we loved soul and black music so much. We aspired to be like them and admired their glamour and talent.