Behind the Music: Murder or Suicide?

A couple of days ago, I heard a little snippet of music on a commercial. I immediately recognized it as the Roberta Flack / Donny Hathaway hit "The Closer I Get to You". I had forgotten all about that song, which used to be one of my favorite slow jams. So of course I had to immediately download the song lest I forget it again, and reminisce.

But that's not what this post is about. 

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway were a musical dynamic duo in the '70s, on the Atlantic Records label. They teamed up in 1972 and won a Grammy for their album "Roberta Flack  and Donny Hathaway". In 1973 they recorded "Where is the Love". My slow jam, "The Closer I Get to You", was recorded in 1978. This established them as a romantic duo, although they were never more than friends. But fans still put them in a romantic, almost erotic light. Hey: whatever sells, right?

He had success on his own. His first hit single with Atlantic Records was "The Ghetto" in 1971. Donny Hathaway was compared to Otis Redding. However, he was more than a great soul singer like Otis: he was a composer, arranger, conductor, singer and teacher. He wrote their arrangement for "You've Got A Friend" at midnight, scored, did the whole job including recording it with Roberta and they were done by 2 a.m. That's talent!

Unfortunately, sometimes genius is accompanied by darkness. His quick rise to success gave him anxiety. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1971, and also suffered from depression. Medication, several medications in fact, did help. But they don't always help forever...

On January 13, 1979, Donny spent all day writing new music and performing it with Roberta.  After having dinner with her he returned to his hotel room at the Essex House, 160 Central Park South. The next time anyone saw him was after he had plunged from the 15th floor of the hotel to his death.

Police suspected suicide, but those who knew him best said no way. He wasn't a drinker and didn't do drugs. He was also in good spirits that night so why would he kill himself? But his room was bolted shut and no one else was present. So as the only one in the room, the ruling of suicide and not homicide won out.

Sometimes, regardless of success: the demons win. It seems to happen much too often in the entertainment industry. The only comfort we can take from Donny's life is his musical contribution. And that will live on forever.