(AURN News) — Donny Hathaway was born Oct. 1, 1945, in Chicago. A prodigy from a young age, he began singing in church and later studied on a fine arts scholarship at Howard University, where he befriended fellow musician Roberta Flack.
Their collaborations, including the Grammy-winning song “Where Is the Love” in 1973, made Hathaway a household name.
Hathaway also co-wrote and performed the holiday classic “This Christmas” in 1970, which remains a seasonal staple in film, television and advertising.
In 1978, Hathaway returned to the charts with Flack on “The Closer I Get to You.”
Despite his musical genius, Hathaway struggled with depression and paranoid schizophrenia throughout his life. Tragically, he died by suicide in New York City in 1979 at only 33 years old.
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