William DeVaughn

William DeVaughn (b 1948, Washington D.C.) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got".

Biography

DeVaughn was a salaried government employee as a drafting technician (according to Casey Kasem, he designed sewers), part-time singer,^[1] and member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.^{[citation needed]} He wrote "Be Thankful for What You Got" in 1972, and paid $900 for its recording at the Sigma studio in Philadelphia. Remarkably, the session featured members of the MFSB group - guitarist Norman Harris, drummer Earl Young, bassist Ron Baker, and vibist Vince Montana - and was produced by Allan Felder.^[2] The owner of Sigma, Frank Fioravanti, was impressed, and secured its release on the Roxbury Records record label.

The record sold nearly two million copies on its release in spring 1974, reaching #1 on the U.S. R&B charts and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, selling a million copies.^[3] 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, featuring mostly songs of an overtly religious character, and the second single, "Blood Is Thicker Than Water", made the R&B top ten and the pop top fifty later in 1974; "Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand" had minor success early the next year.^[4] Live, DeVaughn preached to and admonished his audience from the stage. He lost interest in the music industry not long after, working in a record store and again as a draftsman. His 1980 album Figures Can't Calculate (TEC) included the title song, which was a minor R&B hit, and a remake of "Be Thankful for What You Got".

Covers

In 1975, Love released a cover version of "Be Thankful for What You Got" on their Reel to Real album.

In 1991, Massive Attack released a cover version of "Be Thankful for What You Got" on their debut album, Blue Lines.

In 2004 DeVaughn released a new single, "I Came Back", on his own Mighty Two Diamond Records.

In that same year, rapper Ludacris sampled "Be Thankful for What You Got" for "Diamond in the Back" on his album Chicken and Beer. It uses DeVaughn's beat and his voice is used throughout the chorus as the instrumental was made by [[DJ Paul and Juicy J from Three 6 Mafia

Notes

1. ^ Drafting technician: Nathan, citing an unspecified 1974 issue of the British magazine Blues and Soul. Singer: Nathan, citing an unspecified 1980 interview in Blues and Soul.
2. ^ Sigma studio and some other information: Nathan. Other sources say Omega
3. ^ Chart positions and sales figure: Nathan.
4. ^ Nathan.

References

• Nathan, David. Notes for William DeVaughn: Be Thankful for What You Got: A Golden Classics Edition. Collectables [sic] CD COL-5271. Collectables [sic] Record Corp., 1994.

External links

• DeVaughn's website
• Breath of Life article