Today is the Birthday of the late Brother Donny Hathaway. He was a soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger. He was one of the greatest musicians of all time, and he influenced all musicians directly or indirectly in the 21st century. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised by his grandmother, Martha Pitts, known as Martha Crumwell. They lived in the Car Square housing project of St. Louis Missouri. Hathaway started to sing in the church choir with her grandmother, a professional gospel singer, at the age of three. He studied the piano too. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1963. Hathaway then studied music on a fine arts scholarship at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He had a roommate and drummer Ric Powell, who launched Donn's musical career as a member of The Ric Powell Trio. Donny and Ric left Howard and worked in the music business. Hathaway worked in Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records in Chicago. He was songwriter, session, musician, and producer for Curtis Curtom Records in Chicago. He did the arrangements for hits by the Unifics (Court of Love and The Beginning of My End). He worked with the Staple Singer, Jerry Butler, Aretha Franklin, The Impressions, and Curtis Mayfield himself. The Ghetto, Pt. 1 was his first single. Everything is Everything is his first critically acclaimed LP which was co-produced with Ric Powell and he did the arranging of all the cuts. His 2nd LP was Donny Hathaway with pop, soul, and gospel songs. His third album was Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. It was an album with duets with former Harvard University associate and label mate, Roberta Flack. He sang back up on her song Killing Me Softly with His Song. Where is the Love was a hit among Hathaway and Flack. It was written by Ralph MacDonald. Live was his album that was great too. Hathaway had the song of This Christmas which was released in 1970 being the standard in holiday songs. Extension of a Man was his final album in 1973. Someday We'll All Be Free was his classic single. The Closer I Get to You was his duet with Robert Flack in 1978. He loved his wife, Eulaulah Vann. He had two daughters of Lalah Hathaway and Kenya Can'Libra Hathaway. Both of her daughters are professional singers. Both of them graduated from the Berklee College of Music. Donny Hathaway was an icon of music being one of the greatest and influential singers of all time. Alicia Keys, Aaliyah, Common, Geroge Benson were inspired by him.
Rest in Power Brother Donny Hathaway.
Pete Hegseth is the epitome of bigotry, selfish mediocrity, and a person not qualified to be the Defense Secretary. When a liar like Hegseth said that diversity is not part of our strength, he is completely ignorant of history and truth. There were diverse men and women of every color that took part in the eradication of Nazism in Europe throughout World War II. There was a diversity of men and women of every color and background who came together to work in charities, help victims of natural disasters, and help to improve the lives of humanity in enumerable ways. Hegseth fired qualified women and black people plus other persons of color without any legitimate reason and stalled promotions of these people too. This liar said that he wants no DEI when DEI was established to promote quality not a nefarious system of undue privilege. He loves to use slurs, but he has been accuses of sexual assault. Hegseth has banned hundreds of library book, even May Angelou's autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This is blatant censorship, but MAGA hypocrites lecture us on free speech. We express outrage that this person Trump and his minion Hegseth runs wild over the world promoting illegal war, murder in the Caribbean, and support of a far-right Netanyahu. Therefore, we want justice and a pure unadulterated mentality of diversity, truth, honor, and integrity.
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