William DeVaughn
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Edward DeVaughn Jr.
Born (1947-11-28) November 28, 1947
Washington, D.C., United States
GenresR&B, soul
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1972–present
LabelsRoxbury Records
Mighty Two Diamond Records

William Edward DeVaughn Jr. (born November 28, 1947) is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the million-selling hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got" in 1974.[1][2]

Biography

DeVaughn was a salaried government employee as a drafting technician, and a part-time singer.[3] He wrote a song called "A Cadillac Don't Come Easy", which was eventually re-written to become "Be Thankful for What You Got", in 1972. He spent $900 towards getting it recorded with Omega Sound, a Philadelphia production house.[2] The record's producer at Omega, John Davis (a member of the MFSB studio session group), came up with a smooth arrangement, eventually booking time to record at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, used by Philadelphia International Records. Studio owner and chief engineer Joe Tarsia recorded and mixed the track.

The session featured members of the MFSB group – guitarists Norman Harris and Bobby Eli, drummer Earl Young, vibraphonist Vince Montana and percussionist Larry Washington; secured by Allan Felder, who also developed the separate ad-lib back-up chorus with his sister's vocal group. John Davis played keyboards on the track. Frank Fioravanti, the executive producer and co-ordinator, secured the song's release on Roxbury Records, a subsidiary of Chelsea Records, run by industry veteran Wes Farrell.[2]

The record sold nearly two million copies on its release in spring 1974, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The track saw two chart entries in the UK, with the record peaking at #31 (1974) and also #44 (1980), in the UK Singles Chart.[4] It was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on May 31, 1974.[1] With a sound and content influenced by Curtis Mayfield, its simple and encouraging lyrics hit home, to the extent that it became featured on gospel radio stations. When his success as a recording artist seemed guaranteed, DeVaughn quit his government job.

DeVaughn released an album, mainly of songs with a religious character, and its second single, "Blood Is Thicker than Water", reached No. 10 R&B and No. 43 pop later in 1974; "Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand" had only minor R&B chart success early the following year.[3] Live, DeVaughn preached to and admonished his audience from the stage. He lost interest in the music industry not long afterwards, working in a record store and again as a draftsman.

Fioravanti destined DeVaughn's 1980 effort, named after a new song by DeVaughn, Figures Can't Calculate to TEC Records in Philadelphia.[5] The title song climbed to No. 37 in the Billboard R&B chart,[2] and a remake of "Be Thankful for What You Got" was also included on the album.

In 2004, DeVaughn released a new single, "I Came Back", on his own Mighty Two Diamond Records.[5] In 2014, two previously unreleased DeVaughn tracks, "Staying Power" and "Love Ballad of the Year" were included on the Sound Gems Records oldies compilation Lost Soul Gems. In December 2016, an additional previously unreleased track, "Love in Any Language" was added to the Lost Soul Gems collection. All of these later tracks were written by Fioravanti and others.

On May 12, 2017, a two-song medley, "What Does It Take (to Win Your Love for Me)" and "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying" was released on Sound Gems Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Peak chart positions
US Pop
[6]		 US R&B
[6]
1974 Be Thankful for What You Got 165 10
1980 Figures Can't Calculate — 74
2008 Time Will Stand Still — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Pop
[6]		 US R&B
[6]		 US Dance
[6]		 UK
[4]
1974 "Be Thankful for What You Got" 4 1 — 31
"Blood Is Thicker than Water" 43 10 ― ―
"Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand" ― 51 ― ―
"Kiss and Make Up" ― ― ― ―
1980 "Figures Can't Calculate" ― 37 ― ―
"Be Thankful for What You Got" [new version] ― ― 83 44
1982 "Creme De Creme" — — ― ―
2004 "I Came Back" — — ― ―
2014 "Staying Power" — — ― ―
"Love Ballad of the Year" — — ― ―
2016 "Love in Any Language" — — ― ―
2017 "What Does It Take (to Win Your Love for Me)" — — ― ―
"I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying" — — ― ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

  1. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 344. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hogan, Ed. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Nathan, David (1994). William DeVaughn - Be Thankful for What You Got: A Golden Classics Edition (Media notes). Record Corp.
  4. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 152. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. 1 2 "William DeVaughn Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "William DeVaughn - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
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