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IN THE TRUNK: “When Love Has Grown” by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (Audio)

By on February 9, 2011

Roberta Flack - Donny Hathaway - When Love Has Grown“When Love Has Grown” is one of my all time favorite duets; it makes me wonder what happened to the idea of beautiful duets in today’s R&B. At the time of the recording, in 1971, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway were both signed to the same label, Atlantic Records where the two went on to collaborate together, in addition to this self-titled LP.

Classically trained pianist, Roberta Flack was born in 1937 in North Carolina, and raised in Virginia. She was one of the youngest to ever attend Howard University where she was awarded a music scholarship. While playing and teaching to make a living she was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who later introduced her to famed record producer Joel Dorn, whom she went on to record her first LP with. In addition to recording with Donny, she went on to make 14 studio LP’s and two live albums. She is still recording today and currently is working on a The Beatles interpretation LP. She is known for many songs, but largely in the hip hop community when The Fugees did a cover of Flack’s “Killing me Softly”.

Donny’s story is one of extreme talent taken away too soon. He lived a short life but captivated so many with his voice and spirit. Born and raised in Chicago Illinois around 1945 Donny grew up in a musical home where his Grandmother was a Gospel singer. He too, was a Howard University alum, where he studied music. In his musical career, Donny would work with Curtis Mayfield, The Staple Singers, and Carla Thomas. His songs were also performed by artists such as Aretha Franklin. He and Roberta had an undeniable chemistry together and Atlantic Records took notice of this by encouraging the production of an the album. Donny went on to record six LP’s and three live albums.

“When Love Has Grown” starts off simply with a gentle piano that accompanies their voices with hints and splashes throughout the composition. The song is sweet and sad; you hear both happiness and pain as the violins come in. The most striking feature of the song are the incredible voices of Roberta and Donny, who have such a deep and strong vocal range. While many vocalists have trouble deciding whose voice goes where, they show with the fluidity of their harmony what a “duet” can be. The line about “the sun has surely made its final dawning” is incredible! It is something you could listen to in making up or breaking up, but the point is the union.

Take a listen and share your thoughts.

“When Love Has Grown” by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

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Robert Liu-Trujillo

Parent, illustrator, author, owner of Come Bien Books, muralist, activist, and self-proclaimed believer in the power of music and its infinite sonic vibrations. Follow him @RobertTres
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