Donnita Hathaway honors her father’s 80th birthday with launch of mental health nonprofit
The soothing sounds of soul music filled the air along the famous Auburn Avenue corridor. Donnita Hathaway, daughter of the legendary musician Donny Hathaway, marked what would have been her father’s 80th birthday by launching a nonprofit dedicated to preserving his legacy and promoting mental health awareness.
The Donny Hathaway Legacy Project launched in Atlanta
The event, held in celebration of Hathaway’s milestone, featured live performances, ice cream, and cake — and, above all, a deep sense of gratitude for an artist whose voice and sonic sensations continue to shape modern music. The newly unveiled Donny Hathaway Legacy Project aims to honor the late musician’s contributions while addressing the importance of mental health, an issue central to Hathaway’s own life story.
“Donny Hathaway is one of the most influential artists that has lived,” Donnita “Donni” Hathaway expressed to rolling out. “He has a voice like no other, and his legacy still lives on 80 years later. It was important to gather the music community, my friends, and mental health professionals tonight to celebrate him and to join me in the launch of my nonprofit, the Donnie Hathaway Legacy Project.”
Although she was only two years old when her father passed away in 1979, Adina said she still feels deeply connected to him.
Daughter Donnita Hathaway hopes to live up to the legacy
“What I have is the feeling,” she reflected. “So whatever precious time that we had together has still stuck with me to this day. I hope to make him proud and live up to his legacy.”
Throughout the night, performers including Eric Roberson and Gary Jenkins paid tribute to Hathaway’s music, blending soulful renditions of classics like “A Song for You” and “This Christmas” with their own unique styles. The performances underscored how Hathaway’s influence continues to ripple through today’s music scene.
“Kids don’t actually know when they hear what they think is his voice and his music, but they do know the voice and they do know the songs,” Adina Hathaway. “The legacy continues through artists like Eric Roberson and Gary Jenkins, who carry on his music in a beautiful way.”
The legacy project centers on mental health education
The launch event also offered a glimpse of what’s ahead for the Donnie Hathaway Legacy Project, which will include community programming centered on mental health education and creative arts initiatives.
“I’m hoping I’m making him proud and living up to his legacy,” Adina said. “We’re about to start our programming, so you’re going to get a sneak peek of what we have in store.”
Donny Hathaway influenced today’s living legends
Donny Hathaway is best known for his seminal songs such as “The Close I Get To You,” “This Christmas,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” and “The Ghetto.” The pioneer patriarch was also immortalized by his indelible duets with Roberta Flack, including “Where Is the Love” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Other popular songs include “A Song for You” and “Little Ghetto Boy,” which is why Hathaway remains one of the most revered figures in soul and R&B music. He influenced performers from soul singers like Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, and Usher to rapper Common.
His remarkable life, marked by both extraordinary artistry and struggles with mental illness, continues to inspire conversations around emotional well-being in the music industry.
The Donny Hathaway Legacy Project seeks participation
Donnita Hathaway closed the evening by thanking attendees for their support and inviting the public to learn more about the organization’s mission. “Thank you so much for taking time with us,” she said. “Have fun always.”
For more information about the Donnie Hathaway Legacy Project, visit donnyhathaway.org or follow the organization on social media.