Ty Stephens, Singer
Talking about Donny Hathaway is personal. Though I never met him, and only briefly saw him in concert, his impact was intense. I have only felt this way for a few singers, including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Riperton [and] Chaka Khan, to name a few. Most of them are still alive, except Riperton, who also passed in 1979. [Hathaway] touched me so deeply and personally that it was as if he was speaking directly to me. He compelled me to want to sing like him, to touch people the way that he did, and ultimately, to create this tribute to his legacy.
He was the embodiment of the music revolution of the late ’60s and early ’70s, when artists were taking control of their creativity and recordings. But, Hathaway reached the depths of his own soul, like only a handful of artists could. He displayed his heart and soul ‘on his sleeve.’ The proof is evident in all his recordings, live performances, lyrics, and the responses you get when you say his name.
I spent a good portion of my singing career trying to ‘find Hathaway’ [and] doing some of the songs that he made his own. In 1992, I decided to take it further and began the periodic productions of ‘CELEBRATING DONNY!’ This year marks the 30th anniversary of his transition and I felt I just couldn’t let it go unnoticed.
[Hathaway] was an amazing phenomenon. His career was short, yet, his impact was huge. He only released four recordings during his lifetime, but, it seems, he put everything of himself into them. He was the consummate artist. His music inspires many of today’s young vocalists. –staff writer
Catch Ty Stephens’ performance at the Triad Theatre in New York City on Oct. 11.
