Lalah Hathaway

Eulaulah Donyll "Lalah" Hathaway (born December 16, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter and music producer. Credited as the "First Daughter of Soul", she is the first-born daughter of musician and soul singer Donny Hathaway.

She rose to fame in the 1990s with the release of her debut self-titled album, Lalah Hathaway (1990). The album's lead single "Heaven Knows" peaked in the top-five on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Her follow-up album A Moment (1994) failed to make a commercial impact and ultimately released Hathaway from her recording contract with Virgin Records. In April 1999, she briefly re-emerged with her third album The Song Lives On, a collaborative album with musician Joe Sample. After another hiatus, Hathaway released her fourth album Outrun the Sky (2004). The album's lead single "Forever, for Always, for Love" peaked at number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. Her song "Jesus Children" secured a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015.

Early life Eulaulah Donyll Hathaway was born on December 16, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, to Eulaulah Hathaway , a classically trained vocalist and session singer, and Donny Hathaway, a musician and soul singer. Lalah's younger sister, Kenya Hathaway, is also a singer. She also has a half-sister named Donnita Hathaway. Hathaway's father Donny Hathaway died when she was ten years old. Lalah attended the American Conservatory of Music where she learned piano. In March 1991, Hathaway recorded a song "Night and Day" for a commercial by Japanese cigarette company Mild Seven. The song was exclusively released in Japan as a single without Hathaway's consent. In July 1991, Hathaway released a cover version of Sly and the Family Stone's song "Family Affair" on British Electric Foundation's album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 2. The song peaked at number thirty-seven on the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, Hathaway appeared as a featured vocalist on American jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.'s album Next Exit. The single "Love Like This", which featured Hathaway, peaked at number thirty-one on the Hot R&B Singles chart.

1996–2005: GRP Records and The Song Lives On

In 1996, Hathaway performed a rendition of jazz standard "Summertime" for Marcus Miller's live album Live & More. Through her friendship with Miller, Hathaway was introduced to American musician Joe Sample. The Song Lives On peaked at number two on Billboard'''s Jazz Albums chart and at number fifty-three on the US Top R&B Albums chart.

2006–2012: Stax Records

In 2007, Hathaway signed a two-album recording contract with Stax Records. In March 2007, Stax Records released a tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire, which featured Hathaway's cover version of Earth, Wind & Fire's song "Love's Holiday". In April 2008, Hathaway released the single "Let Go", which peaked at number fifty-one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number sixteen on the Adult R&B Songs chart. In October 2008, "That Was Then" was released as the second single and peaked at number thirty-two on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

In 2010, Hathaway collaborated with American musician Kirk Whalum on the song "He's Been Just that Good" for his album The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III. The song peaked at number twenty-one on the US Gospel Airplay chart. The album became her highest-debuting album on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, debuting and peaking at number two. "Coastin'" peaked at number seventeen on the Adult R&B Songs chart.

Artistry Voice and musical style

Hathaway's voice is classified as a contralto. Hathaway's method generates two distinct pitches from the vocal folds directly.

Her music includes various styles of musical genres such as contemporary R&B, neo soul, and gospel. Her debut album Lalah Hathaway (1990) followed a contemporary R&B sound, while her third album The Song Lives On (1999) featured a jazz sound. Hathaway also continued performing jazz music on Kirk Whalum's The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III (2010) and Boney James' "Coastin'" (2021). Hathaway and her sister Kenya Hathaway performed "Where Is the Love" at the Grammy Salute To Music Legends in 2019.

Hathaway also cites Miles Davis as another major music influence. In an interview with DownBeat, Hathaway stated, "I never met Miles, but he was a huge influence. I see myself as a vocalist who improvises, which I got from Miles. Kind of Blue is at the top of my [list of] 10 Desert Island albums. Miles plays pure." Hathaway was heavily influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, and once said "She helped me define my voice as an instrument."

Business and ventures In 2015, Hathaway founded her own entertainment company Hathaway Entertainment which formed as an imprint based from eOne Music, the company began as a production unit for music and videos in 2017. The company has distributed Hathaway's albums such as Lalah Hathaway Live (2015), Honestly (2017), and Vantablack (2024). The Circle of Promise campaign aimed to educate and mobilize the African-American community in the fight against breast cancer.

Discography

Albums Lalah Hathaway (1990) A Moment (1994) The Song Lives On (with Joe Sample) (1999) Outrun the Sky (2004) Self Portrait (2008) Where It All Begins (2011) Honestly (2017) Vantablack (2024) Made In Chicago'' (2026)

Awards and nominations Grammy Awards + Year Category Work Result Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "That Was Then" Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Soul Train Certified Award