TOMMY & TESS 

d. 13th January 1979, New York, U.S.A.

Donny Hathaway hailed from Chicago, Illinois, although he grew up in St. Louis with his grandmother, Martha Cromwell, who was a respected Gospel singer in her own right.

Donny grew up, as did many of his contemporaries, with Gospel roots.

He studied music at Howard University in Washington during 1964, where his room mate was Leroy Hutson.

The pair were later to pen the song 'The Ghetto', together.

Donny majored in musical theory before performing in a cocktail jazz group called the Ric Powell Trio.

He was then employed as a producer with Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label, while a duet with June Conquest, 'I Thank You Baby', became his first hit in 1969.

Donny later worked at the Chess and Stax labels with The Staples Singers, Carla Thornas and Jerry Butler.

The coupling reached their pinnacle on the singles 'Where Is The Love' (1972) and 'The Closer I Get To You' (1978), both of which reached the U.S. Top 5.

Listen to this in the midnight hour. When you are at your wits end. When it seems like you are about to give up on life and everyone and everything has turned against  you.

Albums:

Everything Is Everything (Atco 1970)

Donny Hathaway (Atco 1971)

Donny Hathaway Live (Atco 1972)

Come Back Charleston Blue film soundtrack (1972)

with Roberta Flack: Roberta Flack And Donny Hathaway (Atlantic 1972)

Extension Of A Man (Atco 1973)

with Roberta Flack: Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (Atlantic 1980)

In Performance (1980)