Diamond GwynnGracing the stage for the 2016 Lyceum series is the Grammy Award-winning singer Lalah Hathaway.
Tomorrow night’s performance at 7:30 p.m. in the B.N. Duke Auditorium is now sold out.
Hathaway, born in Chicago in 1968, is the daughter of the late, legendary soul singer Donny Hathaway.
Music came naturally to the young singer. She began writing music at an early age.
In 1989 she was signed to Virgin Records, followed by her debut self-titled album in 1990. The albums lead single “Heaven Knows” excelled on the hot R&B charts.
Hathaway released a second album in 1994 entitled “A Moment.”
Hathaway’s second album wasn’t as successful as her first but that didn’t stop her from doing what she loved.
The rising star left her recording label, Virgin Records, and went on to claim her spot in the music industry.
She began writing, producing, and singing background vocals for established stars.
She returned to the spotlight releasing a joint album with jazz pianist Joe Sample titled ‘The Song Lives On.” The album soared up the jazz charts.
Hathaway’s fourth album “Outrun The Sky” was released in 2004. It’s best known for her cover of Luther Vandross’ “Forever, For Always and For Love.”
In 2008, she released “Self Portrait” and “Where it All Begins” in 2011.
In all, Hathaway has received three Grammy Awards. In 2013 she was awarded best traditional R&B performance for “Little Ghetto Boy,” originally sang by her father in the early 70s.
She received her second Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammy Award in 2014 for “Jesus Children.”
Just last year, Hathaway was awarded Best R&B Performance for “Something,” which she performed with Snarky Puppy.
“I think she’s great for the youth. She bridges the gap between the traditional jazz demographics and the millennials,” said WNCU’s general manager Lackisha Freeman.
Outside of music, Hathaway is a National Ambassadors for the Circle of Promise, a campaign created to educate, empower and mobilize the African-American community in the fight against breast cancer.
As an ambassador, she has raised money on her tours and record sales to help find a cure for breast cancer.
Hathaway will be holding a workshop in the Edwards Music Hall at 1 p.m. tomorrow for music majors.
