Lalah Hathaway
Lalah Hathaway is a Grammy-winning R&B singer, pianist, and songwriter, best known as the daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway. Born Eulaulah Donyll Hathaway on December 16, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, she has built a distinguished career blending R&B, jazz, and pop influences.
Hathaway grew up immersed in music, raised by her parents Donny Hathaway and Eulaulah until her father's suicide when she was 10 years old. She attended Chicago's Performing Arts High School and later studied at Berklee College of Music, where she recorded her debut album as a student.
She debuted with a self-titled album on Virgin Records in 1990, featuring the top-five R&B hit "Heaven Knows," which peaked at number 18 on the US R&B Albums chart. After a follow-up album, A Moment (1994), and a collaboration with Joe Sample on The Song Lives On (1999), she signed with Mesa/Bluemoon for Outrun the Sky (2004), including her first Adult R&B number-one single "Forever, for Always, for Love."
Hathaway achieved breakthrough acclaim with albums like Self Portrait (2008) and Where It All Begins (2011) on Stax Records, earning Grammy nominations. Her 2015 live album produced the hit "Angel" and won three Grammys, including Best R&B Album; later releases include Honestly (2017) and Vantablack (2024) on her own label.
She has won multiple Grammys, notably for "Something" with Snarky Puppy, and received an honorary doctorate from Berklee in 2022. Known for soundtrack contributions to films like Hidden Figures, she continues performing and collaborating.
Lalah Hathaway
Arranged By – Andre Fischer, Jerry Hey
Bass – Neil Stubenhaus
Drums – Jeff Porcaro
Engineer, Mixed By – Al Schmitt
Keyboards – Randy Kerber
Producer – Andre Fischer
Saxophone – Marc Russo
Synthesizer – Larry Williams
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – B. Russell, D. Foster 3:38
A2 Heaven Knows
Backing Vocals – Jean McClain
Bass, Keyboards, Drum Programming – Derek Bramble
Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Marsha Burns
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Mike Mancini
Engineer [Assistant Engineers] – James Johnson, Kyle Bess, Stephen Harrison
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Keyboards – Monty Seward
Lead Vocals – Lalah Hathaway
Producer – Derek Bramble
Written-By – D. Bramble 5:18
A3 Baby Don't Cry
Backing Vocals – Angela Winbush
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Lalah Hathaway
Mixed By – Jeff Lorenzen
Producer, Arranged By – Angela L. Winbush
Recorded By – Dennis Stefani, Mitch Gibson
Synthesizer [Additional Synthesizers], Programmed By [Additional Programming] – Jeff Lorber
Synthesizer [Synthesizers], Keyboards, Drum Programming – Angela Winbush
Written-By – A. Winbush 4:03
A4 Smile
Arranged By – Andre Fischer, Jerry Hey
Bass – Jim Haslip
Drums – Will Kennedy
Engineer [Additional Engineers] – Doug Rider, Richard McKernan, Steve Sykes
Engineer, Mixed By – Al Schmitt
Guitar – Dean Parks
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Luis Conte
Producer – Andre Fischer
Saxophone – Marc Russo
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – M. Scott, R. Ferrante 4:54
A5 U-Godit Gowin On
Backing Vocals – DeBorah J.R. Cooper
Engineer – Craig T. Cooper, Robert ("B-B-B-B-Bob") Biles
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Darin Prindle
Handclaps [The "Gowin' On" Clappers (4-Reel)] – Josina Elder, Phaenicia Grant, Shiro Stokes, Wendi Williams
Handclaps [The "Gowin' On" Clappers] – Antoinette Brown, Cat Miller, Deborah J.R. Cooper, Denise Stewart, 4-Reel, Gerald Farwell, Jai Diamond, Kelvin McKisic, Kirtland, Maria A. Manning, Robbie Casey, Bullet Harris
Instruments [All Instruments] – Craig T. Cooper
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Lalah Hathaway
Mixed By – Craig T. Cooper, Robert ("B-B-B-B-Bob") Biles
Producer, Arranged By – Craig T. Cooper
Written-By – C.T. Cooper, D.J.R. Cooper 3:26
B1 Obvious
Engineer – Robert ("B-B-B-B-Bob") Biles
Engineer [Assistant Engineers] – Al Singleton, Karen Shellenberger
Instruments [All Instruments] – Craig T. Cooper
Mixed By – Robert ("B-B-B-B-Bob") Biles
Producer, Arranged By – Craig T. Cooper
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – C.T. Cooper, D.J.R. Cooper, D.A. Stewart 5:15
B2 Stay Home Tonight
Arranged By – Andre Fischer, Jerry Hey
Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Natalie Cole
Bass – Neil Stubenhaus
Drums – Will Kennedy
Guitar – Donald Griffin
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Andre Fischer
Recorded By, Mixed By – Al Schmitt
Saxophone – Marc Russo
Synthesizer – Larry Williams
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – M. Blockson 4:15
B3 I'm Coming Back
Arranged By [Additional Arrangements By] – Andre Fischer
Drums, Percussion – Andre Fischer
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff
Guitar – Michael Thompson
Keyboards, Drum Programming [DMX Programming] – Gary Taylor
Post Production [Additional Production] – Andre Fischer
Producer, Arranged By – Gary Taylor
Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Marc Hugenberger
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – G. Taylor 5:36
B4 Sentimental
Instruments [All Instruments] – Chuckii Booker
Mixed By – Craig Burbridge
Producer, Arranged By – Chuckii Booker
Recorded By – Rob Seifert
Recorded By [Assisted By] – Anthony Jeffries, Mike Scotella
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – C. Booker 3:50
B5 I Gotta Move On
Arranged By [Additional Arrangements By] – Andre Fischer
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff
Flute [Flutes], Strings, Programmed By [Additional Programming] – Jeff Lorber
Post Production [Additional Production By] – Andre Fischer
Producer, Arranged By – Angela L. Winbush
Saxophone – Sam Riney
Synthesizer [Additional Synthesizers], Keyboards [Additional Keyboards], Drum Programming [Additional Drum Programming] – Andre Fischer
Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Larry Steelman
Synthesizer [Synthesizers], Keyboards, Drum Programming – Angela Winbush
Vocals [All Vocals] – Lalah Hathaway
Written-By – A. Winbush 4:44
Label: Virgin – 91382-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Neo Soul, Contemporary R&B
Lalah Hathaway's self-titled debut album, Lalah Hathaway (1990), received generally positive reviews, with critics praising her strong voice and R&B sound. The material was considered memorable when paired with the right production.
Hathaway was recognized for her significant vocal range, charisma, and passionate delivery. Her voice was described as a lovely contralto with a unique warmth.
The album established a contemporary R&B sound, which was a strong start to her career. The track "Heaven Knows" was a highlight, along with "Baby Don't Cry" and "It's Something".
The quality of the album was noted as varying, depending on the specific writers and producers for each song. While Hathaway delivered strong performances, the material didn't always match her talent.
The album was successful enough to create pressure for a strong follow-up, which eventually led to her later releases exploring various genres like jazz and neo-soul, demonstrating her versatility.
Overall, the debut album was seen as a solid foundation that showcased Lalah Hathaway's potential, even if some tracks were considered routine. It successfully launched her career and set her on a path to develop her own soulful identity.