Donny Hathaway (Unsung: Part 5)

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 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:

• unsung
• donny hathaway
• phyllis hyman
• minnie riperton
• aretha franklin
• marvin gaye
• curtis mayfield
• motown

[tnwilson4]

what an interesting story, WOW...i never knew this.

[determination9995757]

I am a little disapointed that no mention of the song "young gifted and black" was mentioned. Donny brilliantly sang this song to help uplift the black community in the sixties and seventies.

[humbl3fact]

I love this narrator's voice. So wonderful.

Poor Donny. RIP, my brother.

[ezekielthemack]

@TempeSoldier123 "Ever heard of Marvin Gaye Sam Cooke?" - Yes I have and they too are my musical idols, as is Curtis Mayfield. But none of those artists had the unique ability of being a virtuoso vocalist AND a virtuoso musician. Donny couldn't be touched vocally NOR could he be touched by anyone for his piano playing prowess.You seldom see the confluence of those two entities in a musician end of story.

[TempeSoldier123]

@ezekielthemack Ever heard of Marvin Gaye? Sam Cooke?

[ezekielthemack]

Donny Hathaway was the greatest vocalist/musician to walk the face of the earth period.

[imthebrother]

Thinking back the day Donny died may me realize of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and others we lost tragically and too soon.

[imthebrother]

@shesodior Blunt Ashes by Nas from the CD Hip Hop is Dead, everyone should listen to this song and find some real in depth 2 it.

[imthebrother]

Since this episode aired in late 2008, it keeps me in great memories and how much I appreciate the spirit, the legacy and the movement of the great Donny Hathaway. Mental Illness is very serious and treated in the health community as Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, etc. Back then it wasn't alot of support groups, interventions or suicide preventions at the time, but 2day we do have those now available. Let's hope and pray we continue to fight Stigma and raise awareness w/ Mental Illness all across.

[imthebrother]

The last part on this documentary had me in shock and put me in tears when Donny committed suicide at 33 years of age. Who would've thought something this tragically and sad could do something to himself. Had he lived long enough he would've grew and exploded by now. He was on the verge of a comeback and just getting ready to roll. To this day I considered this one of the truest episodes of unsung ever. As with Bird and Marvin Gaye, they all various dualities in 'em.