On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.
Tag Archives: Donny Hathaway
Judy Clay
On July 19, 2001, Judy Clay died aged 62. She was a singer (soul, gospel), member of Drinkard Singers, who later became better known as The Sweet Inspirations, and teamed with singer-songwriter Billy Vera. As a background vocalist, she worked with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Donny Hathaway, and Wilson Pickett.
Donny Hathaway: Everything Is Everything
On July 1, 1971, “Atco” label released “Everything Is Everything”, the debut Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded September 1969 – April 1970, and was produced by Donny Hathaway and Ric Powell.
Personnel:
- Donny Hathaway – lead and backing vocals, electric pianos, organ, additional bass guitar, keyboard bass, arranger, conductor
- John Littlejohn – vocal, guitar
- King Curtis– guitar
- Phil Upchurch- bass guitar, guitar
- Marshall Hawkins- bass guitar
- Louis Satterfield- bass guitar
- Morris Jennings– drums
- Ric Powell – drums, percussion
- Master Henry Gibson– congas
- Clifford P. Davis – alto saxophone
- Don Myrick- alto saxophone
- Johnny Board – tenor saxophone
- Lenard Druss – tenor saxophone
- Willie Henderson- baritone saxophone
- John Howell – trumpet
- Oscar Brashear– trumpet
- Robert A. Lewis – trumpet
- Cyril Touff – bass trumpet
- John Avant – trombone
- Morris Ellis – trombone
- Aaron Dodd – tuba
- John Lounsberry – French horn
- Ethel Merker – French horn
- Paul A. Teryett – French hor
- The Vashonettes – backing vocals
- Murray Allen, Roger Anfinsen – recording
- Haig Adishian – design
- Jim Taylor – photography
Track listing:
- Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) – Richard Evans, Ric Powell, Phil Upchurch
- Je Vous Aime (I Love You) – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Edward Kennedy
- I Believe to My Soul – Ray Charles
- Misty – Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner
- Sugar Lee – Donny Hathaway, Ric Powell
- Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
- Thank You Master (For My Soul) – Donny Hathaway
- The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
- To Be Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
Curtis Mayfield: Sweet Exorcist
In May 1974, “Curtom” label released “Sweet Exorcist”, the fifth Curtis Mayfield studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Curtom Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Curtis Mayfield.
Personnel:
- Curtis Mayfield – vocals, keyboards
- Gil Askey, Richard Tufo – arrangements
- John Janus, Roger Anfinsen – engineer
- Bill Ronalds – illustration
- Milton Sincoff – creative director
Track listing:
All tracks by Curtis Mayfield except where noted.
- Ain’t Got Tiime
- Sweet Exorcist
- To Be Invisible
- Power to the People
- Kung Fu
- Suffer – Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway
- Make Me Believe In You
The Impressions: The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story
In May 1969, “Curtom Records” label released “The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story”, the eleventh Impressions album, the second one released on Curtis Mayfield’s label “Curtom Records”. It was recorded in 1969 and was produced by Curtis Mayfield.
Personnel:
- Curtis Mayfield – vocals
- Sam Gooden – vocals
- Fred Cash- vocals
- Donny Hathaway, Johnny Pate- arrangements
Track listing:
All tracks by Curtis Mayfield
- The Young Mods’ Forgotten Story
- Choice of Colors
- The Girl I Find
- Wherever You Leadeth Me
- My Deceiving Heart
- Seven Years
- Love’s Miracle
- Jealous Man
- Soulful Love
- Mighty Mighty (Spade & Whitey)
Leon Ware
On February 23, 2017, Leon Ware died aged 77. He was composer, released eleven albums as a performer, but he was best known for producing and writing music for other musicians and bands including: The Isley Brothers, Donny Hathaway, The Miracles, Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack, Lulu, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye.
Donny Hathaway: Same
On April 2, 1971, “Atco” label released the self-titled, second Donny Hathaway album. It was recorded 1970 – 1971, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Donny Hathaway.
Personnel:
- Donny Hathaway – lead vocals, keyboards
- John Littlejohn – vocals, guitar
- Cornell Dupree- guitar
- Steve Novosel – bass guitar
- Chuck Rainey- bass guitar
- Phil Upchurch- bass guitar
- Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
- Morris Jennings – drums
- Jack Jennings – percussion
- King Curtis- tenor saxophone
- Joe Newman – trumpet solo
- Myrna Summers- backing vocals
- Sammy Turner – backing vocals
- R. Bailey – backing vocals
- Cissy Houston- backing vocals
- Judy Clay – backing vocals
- Interdenominational Singers – backing vocals
- Sylvia Shemwell – backing vocals
- Myrna Smith- backing vocals
- Ivory Stone – backing vocals
- Deirdre Tuck Corley – backing vocals
- Lillian Tynes – backing vocals
- Ronald Bright – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Giving Up – Van McCoy
- A Song for You – Leon Russell
- Little Girl – Billy Preston
- He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – Bob Russell and Bobby Scott
- Magnificent Sanctuary Band – Dorsey Burnette
- She Is My Lady – George S. Clinton
- I Believe in Music – Mac Davis
- Take a Love Song – Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor
- Put Your Hand in the Hand – Gene MacLellan
Aretha Franklin: Let Me In Your Life
On February 25, 1974, “Atlantic” label released “Let Me in Your Life”, the twenty-first Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April – September 1973, at the “Whitney Studios” in Glendale, and was produced by Jerry Wexler and Aretha Franklin.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic and electric piano
- Donny Hathaway- acoustic and electric piano
- Bob James- organ, keyboards
- David Spinozza- guitar
- Cornell Dupree- guitar
- Hugh McCracken– guitar
- Deodato- arranger, electric piano
- Kenneth Bichel- synthesizer
- Richard Tee- keyboards
- Stanley Clarke– bass
- Chuck Rainey- bass
- Willie Weeks- bass
- Rick Marotta- drums
- Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
- Pancho Morales – percussion
- Ralph MacDonald- percussion
- Arif Mardin- string arranger
- Gene Orloff- concert master
- Joe Farrell- tenor saxophone, flute
- Ernie Royal- trumpet
- Gwen Guthrie- backing vocals
- Margaret Branch – backing vocals
- Cissy Houston- backing vocals
- Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
- Sylvia Shemwell – backing vocals
- Myrna Smith- backing vocals
- Judy Clay- backing vocals
- Deirdre Tuck Corley – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Let Me in Your Life – Bill Withers
- Every Natural Thing – Eddie Hinton
- Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
- I’m in Love – Bobby Womack
- Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Clarence Paul,Stevie Wonder, Morris Broadnax
- The Masquerade is Over – Herbert Magidson, Allie Wrubel
- With Pen in Hand – Bobby Goldsboro
- Oh Baby – Aretha Franklin
- Eight Days On the Road – Michael Gayle, Jerry Ragovoy
- If You Don’t Think – Aretha Franklin
- A Song for You – Leon Russell
Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black
On January 24, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Young, Gifted and Black”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded August 1970 – February 1971, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler. In 1972, the album won Aretha Franklin “Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. In 2003, the TV network “VH1” ranked it the 76th greatest album of all time.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano, celesta, electric piano
- Don Arnone – acoustic guitar
- Cornell Dupree- guitar
- Hugh McCracken- guitar
- Donny Hathaway- organ, electric piano
- Billy Preston- organ
- Eric Gale- bass
- Chuck Rainey- bass
- Robert Popwell- bass, percussion
- Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
- Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
- Ray Lucas – drums
- The Memphis Horns- horn section
- Andrew Love (of the Memphis Horns) – tenor saxophone
- Neal Rosengarden – trumpet, vibraphone
- Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) – trumpet
- Hubert Laws- flute
- Tom Dowd- horn arrangements
- Pat Smith – backing vocals
- Ronald Bright – backing vocals
- R. Bailey – backing vocals
- Carolyn Franklin- backing vocals
- Erma Franklin- backing vocals
- Margaret Branch – backing vocals
- Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
- The Sweet Inspirations- backing vocals
- Sammy Turner – backing vocals
- Stanislaw Zagorski – cover design
- David Nathan – liner notes
Track listing:
- Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
- Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
- Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
- Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
- All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
- A Brand New Me – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble
- April Fools – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
- First Snow in Kokomo – Aretha Franklin
- The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Thom Bell, William Hart
- Border Song (Holy Moses) – Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Donny Hathaway
On January 13, 1979, Donny Edward Hathaway died aged 34. He was musician (piano, keyboards), singer and songwriter, started successful career after signing contract with “Atlantic Records” in 1969 and after releasing his first single for the “Atco” label, “The Ghetto, Part I”. The “Rolling Stone” magazine “marked him as a major new force in soul music” in 1970 and his collaboration with Roberta Flack won him the “Grammy Award” for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” for the duet, “Where Is the Love” in 1973. On January 13, 1979, Hathaway’s body was found outside the luxury hotel “Essex House” in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.
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