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October 1
He was born in Chicago, but grew up in St. Louis and began singing gospel at age three. Hathaway attended Howard University on a fine arts scholarship and was a classmate of Roberta Flack. He began recording for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label in 1969, and then he signed with Atco records. His single, "The Ghetto," was a mild hit, but the duet "You've Got a Friend" with Flack was his first Top Ten R&B market leader. Together, they would later score two Number 1 hit duets, "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get To You." Both were also Top Ten pop sensations. Hathaway’s vocal sound, delivery, and quality have influenced singers from Stevie Wonder to George Benson, while his compositions have been recorded by an assortment of artists, including Cold Blood, Jerry Butler, the Staple Singers, Carla Thomas, and Aretha Franklin. Hathaway and Flack had two concluding hits; "You Are My Heaven" and "Back Together Again," in 1980, after Hathaway stunned everyone by committing suicide, in 1979, at age 33. Reference: ACSAP Biographical Dictionary R. R. Bowker Co., Copyright 1980 ISBN 0-8351-1283-1
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The African American Registry®, The African American Registry® Copyright 2005, 2006
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