Hathaway, the son of Drusella Huntley, was born in Chicago, but spent most of his youth in St. Louis. He lived with his grandmother, Martha Pitts, also known as Martha Crumwell, in the Carr Square housing project. Hathaway began singing in a church choir with his grandmother, a professional gospel singer, at the age of 3. He also played the ukulele and, fascinated by Liberace, began studying piano as a child. Hathaway began singing professionally as "Donny Pitts, The Nation's Youngest Gospel Singer". By the time he was a student at Vashon High School, he was known as a piano prodigy, which earned him a fine-arts scholarship to Howard University in 1964 where he was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He attended Howard for three years and performed with The Ric Powell Trio, a jazz trio. Hathaway received so many job offers that he left Howard without a degree in 1967.
At first, Hathaway worked as songwriter, session musician and producer. Working first at Chicago's Twinight Records, he later did the arrangements for The Unifics ("Court of Love" and "The Beginning Of My End") and participated in projects by The Staple Singers, Jerry Butler and Aretha Franklin, as well as with Curtis Mayfield. After becoming a "house producer" at Mayfield's label, Curtom Records, he recorded his first single in 1969, a duet with singer June Conquest called "I Thank You Baby".
Hathaway then signed to Atco Records, which released his first single of note, "The Ghetto". His debut LP was Everything Is Everything (1970), which was critically acclaimed. His second album, Donny Hathaway, was a major hit. He also recorded an album of duets with former Howard University classmate and label mate Roberta Flack. The album was both a critical and commercial success, including the Ralph MacDonald-penned track "Where Is The Love", which proved to be not only an R&B hit, but also went Top Five on the pop charts. The album also included a number of other covers, including versions of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and "Baby I Love You", originally a hit for Aretha Franklin.
Hathaway followed this flurry of work with some contributions to soundtracks, along with his recording of the theme song to the TV series Maude. He also composed and conducted music for the 1972 soundtrack of the movie Come Back Charleston Blue.
In the mid-1970s he also produced albums for other artists including Cold Blood, where he expanded the musical range of lead singer Lydia Pense.
At the height of his career, Hathaway began to suffer from severe bouts of depression. It was found that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was known to have taken up to 14 pills two to three times a day to control this disease. This condition wreaked havoc on his life and led to several hospitalizations.
The effects of Hathaway's deep depression also drove a wedge into Flack and Hathaway's friendship; they did not reconcile for several years, and did not release additional music until the 1978 release of "The Closer I Get To You". The single became a pop and R&B hit, and Flack and Hathaway returned to the studios to record a second album of duets thereafter.
On January 13, 1979, Hathaway was found dead on the sidewalk in front of the Essex House in New York City, where he had been living. His body showed no signs of struggle, and the glass from the window in Hathaway's room had been removed; investigators determined Hathaway had committed suicide. Friends, fans, and the media were mystified at his death, since his career and his partnership with Flack were on an upswing. Flack was devastated by his death, and included the few duet tracks they had finished on her next album. The Reverend Jesse Jackson conducted Hathaway's funeral, which was attended by many notable people including Roberta Flack and Stevie Wonder. He was buried in Lake Charles Cemetery in Bel-Nor, Missouri.
Hathaway met his wife, Eulaulah, at Howard University. They had two daughters, Eulaulah Donyll (Lalah Hathaway) and Kenya Canelibra. Lalah has enjoyed a successful solo career, while Kenya is one of the three backing vocalists on the hit TV program American Idol.
While separated from Eulaulah, Hathaway had another daughter named Donnita Hathaway.
Legacy
Donny Hathaway Live, which featured noted R&B musicians Willie Weeks (bass guitar) and Cornell Dupree (guitar), has been cited as an influence by numerous artists including George Benson, India.Arie and Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Anthony Hamilton, and Frank McComb are among the contemporary artists whose work echoes Hathaway's. His use of the Rhodes Piano on his early Atco R&B recordings has also influenced many Neo Soul artists & producers.
Hathaway was considered an eccentric by many. He cultivated many unusual interests, and was a devotee of mid-20th century French classical composers. Several anecdotes about Hathaway are contained in Jerry Wexler's book Rhythm And The Blues.
On soul group The Whispers' 1980 self-titled album, the group paid homage with "A Song for Donny," written by fellow soul singer Carrie Lucas. The song was set to the melody of Hathaway's "This Christmas."
On Jim Jones's song "Certified Gangstas", rapper The Game refers to Donny Hathaway with the lines "blowin in the crowd like Don Hathaway"
He was a major influence on the singing style of singer-guitarist George Benson.
In 2005, neo-soul singer songwriter guitarist, [artistRaul Midón (Blue Note) worked with Hathaway's longtime producer Arif Mardin (known for collaborations with The Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Norah Jones & Aretha Franklin) and created a tribute song to Hathaway called "Sittin' in the Middle."
Amy Winehouse refers to "Mr. Hathaway" in her song "Rehab" about depression and alcoholism. She also covered A Song For You, on her first posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures.
On NY artist Nas's album Hip Hop is Dead on the song "Blunt Ashes", he tells a story that includes reportedly claiming Donny Hathaway "freefell" from his balcony.
Hathaway's name is mentioned multiple times in rapper Common's lyrics. Also, Common's duet with Lauryn Hill entitled "Retrospect for Life" contains a sample from Hathaway's "Song for You".
In the 2001 hit by Jay-Z "Girls,Girls,Girls" Donny Hathaway's song "Love,Love,Love" is sampled.
Jennifer Holliday and Aaliyah, both, covered Hathaway's single, "Giving Up."
Rhymesayers artist Brother Ali mentions Donny Hathaway in his song, "Room With A View."
Soul Position mentions Hathaway in their song, "Hand-Me-Downs."
Talib Kweli mentions Hathaway in his song "The Beautiful Struggle"
2008, Ed Pavlic published "Winners Have Yet To Be Announced" (University of Georgia Press), poems reimagining the life of Donny Hathaway.
Bizzy Bone's song entitled “A Song For You,” is a poignant track that includes an interpolation of Donny Hathaways’s original recording of the same name.
The song "What a Catch, Donnie," from Fall Out Boy's fourth studio album, Folie a Deux, is named for him and mentions Roberta Flack, his writing partner.
In November 2008 the famous Dutch singer, Gordon Heuckeroth, made an album, called: A Song For You, with several songs by Hathaway.
Rapper Scarface mentions Hathaway in his song "Still Here" off of the "Emeritus" album released
Little Ghetto Boy
Donny Hathaway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?
Will you spend your days and nights in a pool room?
Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood?
Little ghetto boy
You already know how rough life can be
'Cause you've seen so much pain and misery
Little ghetto boy
Your daddy was blown away
He robbed that grocery store
Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day?
All of your young life you've seen such misery and pain
The world is a cruel place
And it ain't gonna change
You're so young and you've got so far to go
But I don't think you'll reach your goal, young man
Hangin' by the pool room door
Look out, son
Little ghetto boy
When, when, when you become a man
You can make things change, hey hey
If you just take a stand
You gotta believe it yourself in all you do
You've got to fight to make it better
You'll see how other people will start believing, too
Then, my son, things will start to get better
Everything has got to get better (I declare, I believe that today)
Everything has got to get better
Everything has got to get better (just as soon as you make up your mind)
Everything has got to get better (you go 'head on and do what's right)
Everything has got to get better (I said everything has got to get better)
Everything has got to get better (I'm depending on you, little brother)
Everything has got to get better (I'm depending on you)
Everything has got to get better (Hey hey, need your help, little brother)
Everything has got to get better
Donny Hathaway's "Little Ghetto Boy" is a somber and reflective song about the hardships and struggles that young black boys face in their communities. The song poses a question to these boys, asking what they will do when they grow up and have to face the realities of the world they live in. Will they fall into a cycle of poverty and crime, spending their days and nights in a pool room or selling drugs to their neighbors? The song acknowledges that these boys have already seen so much pain and misery in their young lives, having lost fathers and friends to violence and poverty.
However, the song also offers a glimmer of hope, encouraging these young men to believe in themselves and fight to make their lives and communities better. It tells them that they can make a difference and that things can get better, but they must take a stand and be willing to fight for it. Ultimately, the song is a call to action, challenging young black men to rise above the circumstances they were born into and create a better future for themselves and their communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Little ghetto boy, playing in the ghetto street
Addressing a young boy growing up in the harsh realities of urban poverty.
Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?
Asking the boy to consider his future and the difficult choices he will have to make.
Will you spend your days and nights in a pool room?
Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood?
Highlighting the temptations and dangers that lure young men in the ghetto.
Little ghetto boy
You already know how rough life can be
'Cause you've seen so much pain and misery
Commiserating with the boy, recognizing the harsh realities he's already experienced.
Little ghetto boy
Your daddy was blown away
He robbed that grocery store
Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day?
Acknowledging the loss and trauma the boy has already experienced with the murder of his father.
All of your young life you've seen such misery and pain
The world is a cruel place
And it ain't gonna change
Reinforcing the reality of the world the boy lives in and warning him the cruelty won't relent.
You're so young and you've got so far to go
But I don't think you'll reach your goal, young man
Hangin' by the pool room door
Encouraging the boy to escape the cycle of poverty and violence, instead of wasting away in the easy distractions of the ghetto.
Little ghetto boy
When, when, when you become a man
You can make things change, hey hey
If you just take a stand
Inspiring the boy to believe in himself and the power he holds to make a positive impact on his world.
You gotta believe it yourself in all you do
You've got to fight to make it better
You'll see how other people will start believing, too
Then, my son, things will start to get better
Encouraging the boy to have the strength of conviction, to fight for what's right and the belief that others will join him.
Everything has got to get better (I declare, I believe that today)
Everything has got to get better
Everything has got to get better (just as soon as you make up your mind)
Everything has got to get better (you go 'head on and do what's right)
Reiterating the hope and promise of a better future, but only if people take control of their own lives, make a stand for positive change, and persevere.
Everything has got to get better (I said everything has got to get better)
Everything has got to get better (I'm depending on you, little brother)
Everything has got to get better
Everything has got to get better (Hey hey, need your help, little brother)
Everything has got to get better
Leaving the boy with a sense of responsibility, a call to action, and the reassurance that he's not alone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddy Howard, Earl Ceasar De Rouen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mohammed GUEDOUAR
Une chanson tout en humanité, ''soulful'' à souhait. Nul besoin d' en comprendre les mots. Le ressenti est au-dela des mots pour qui a un coeur!
lcchill
I have never heard a song in my life that fits the black man more than this. The lyrics and Donny's voice literally pierce my soul more than anything I have heard in my life. He sings on the trials and tribulations so many of us go through, but at the same time he uplifts you and helps you. This song can have going crying tears of pain from hearing your story told to crying tears of joy knowing that there is hope and somebody is rooting for you, no matter how hard life has tried to convince you should be thrown away. This song stirs such a range of emotion that is simply amazing!!
mr soul
Boy you captured that so beautiful God bless you !!!
BLR Radio
Real talk, this sums up my life right here.....the silent pain that us "Little Ghetto Boys" have to go through is real when we lose our fathers to the streets, listening to this song really hit home and now this "Little Ghetto Boy" is a successful Man with my own family who I love and would let nothing happen to them.
Clara Glatthaar
@BLR Radio👍
Sophia Lefort
My Grandad was a war baby, a brown boy growing up in a white,rural village. This was his song. He passed in May and I play this everyday in his honor xx
Cristian Angel
This music is perpetual and immeasurable! 🎧🤩
Ms Mack
Rest In Power Donnie. You did your thing. You were Profoundly Blessed. We received your message..
oBazh
''Everything has got to get better'' This song gives me goosebumps.
Jerry Bell
Classic! Everything about this song is just perfect: the vocals, the arrangement, the lyrics, and it's not overly produced. Just pure and raw talent and soul.