On Aug. 5, 2019, Chicago gathered at Millennium Park to honor a native son, Donny Hathaway. The Chicago-born soul singer left an imprint on the world with his timeless classics that have endured the test of time in the music industry. Songs like “Someday We’ll Be Free” and “Little Ghetto Boy” spoke to the plight of Black people in America with the idea that circumstances will change. His love songs “The Closer I Get to You” — a duet he did with Roberta Flack — and “A Song for You” are candid and truthful ballads that fill the listeners’ hearts with emotion.
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Mario Smith “The Mayor of Hyde Park” and host of Lumpen radio and musician Corey J. Wilkes came together to curate this tribute to Hathaway during the Millennium Park Summer Music Series. Rolling out asked Mario Smith why it was important to have this tribute. “We wanted to show our appreciation and say thank you by re-introducing him and his work into this 21st-century conversation,” said Smith.
Hathaway’s daughter Donita Hathaway was present at the tribute to share how grateful her family was for such an honor. She also mentioned that the Recording Academy, also known as the Grammys, honored her father with a lifetime achievement award 40 years after his death. Donny Hathaway fell 15 stories to his death in January of 1979. Many attribute his death to suicide and mental illness. Donita Hathaway spoke about the foundation she has created to honor her father’s legacy and highlight mental illness.
“I didn’t follow in my father’s footsteps so I won’t be singing a song for you tonight. What I do have is my dad’s heart. So what I wanted to do is celebrate him and also shine a light on mental health,” explained the thoughtful advocate.
“Chicago will be the base of my nonprofit called the Donny Hathaway Legacy Project. Go to donnyhathaway.org for more information. Also, thank you to the city of Chicago for declaring Oct. 1 as Donny Hathaway Day. I love you guys and please enjoy this wonderful show tonight,” she said.
The evening was electric and showcased a broad scope of local talent and as well as others from around the country. Stay tuned for more tributes and check out the gallery.
