Roberta flack/ Donny Hathaway

Biography

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway were iconic soul musicians whose partnership produced some of the most beloved duets of the 1970s. Flack, born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, was a prodigious talent who entered Howard University at age 15 to study piano, later building her career in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing with Atlantic Records. Hathaway, from Chicago, also attended Howard University where he played in a jazz trio, then pursued professional opportunities, working as a session musician, arranger, and producer at Curtom Records for Curtis Mayfield while releasing his solo debut Everything Is Everything in 1970, featuring the hit 'The Ghetto.' Their paths converged through shared time at Howard and Atlantic Records, leading to their breakthrough duet album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway in 1972, propelled by the Grammy-winning 'Where Is the Love.'

Their collaboration defined classic soul with smooth, expressive vocals and sophisticated arrangements blending jazz, gospel, and R&B influences. They reunited in 1977-1978 for hits like 'The Closer I Get to You,' which reached No. 1 on the soul chart and No. 2 on the pop chart, and began a second duet album. Tragically, Hathaway, who battled paranoid schizophrenia, depression, and mood swings, died by suicide on January 13, 1979, after recording two final tracks, 'Back Together Again' and 'You Are My Heaven.' Flack completed the album, released as Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway in 1980, preserving their legacy amid heartbreak.

Their work symbolized unity and pride during racial turmoil, with Flack continuing a successful solo career into the 1980s and beyond through duets like 'Tonight, I Celebrate My Love' with Peabo Bryson. The duo's harmonious style and emotional depth left an indelible mark on soul music, influencing generations with timeless hits that remain staples of the genre.

Fun Facts

• Flack was one of the youngest students ever to enroll at Howard University, entering at age 15 to study piano.
• Hathaway recorded his vocals for 'The Closer I Get to You' separately in Chicago while Flack recorded in New York due to his mental health struggles.
• Their 1972 duet album was proposed by Atlantic's Jerry Wexler to consolidate their popularity after Flack included Hathaway's compositions on her early albums.
• Hathaway completed his final two recordings, 'Back Together Again' and 'You Are My Heaven' (co-written by Stevie Wonder), on the same day he died in 1979.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Curtis Mayfield - Professional mentor and employer at Curtom Records where Hathaway worked as session musician, arranger, and producer (Projects for Mayfield, Staples Singers, Aretha Franklin) [Late 1960s-early 1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Jerry Wexler - Atlantic Records producer who suggested and oversaw their duet album (Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972))
• Peabo Bryson - Later duet partner for Flack after Hathaway's death ('Tonight, I Celebrate My Love' (1983))
• Maxi Priest - Later duet partner for Flack ('Set the Night to Music' (1991))

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia