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Listen to William DeVaughn, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

William DeVaughn

R&B/Soul

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Top Songs By William DeVaughn

Listen to Be Thankful for What You Got by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Be Thankful for What You GotWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to Be Thankful for What You Got by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Be Thankful for What You GotWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to Be Thankful for What You've Got (David Todd Remix) by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Be Thankful for What You've Got (David Todd Remix)William DeVaughn
Listen to Be Thankful for What You've Got (David Todd Remix) [Radio Edit] by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Be Thankful for What You've Got (David Todd Remix) [Radio Edit]William DeVaughn
Listen to Love Comes So Easy With You by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Love Comes So Easy With YouWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to You Send Me by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
You Send MeWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to Figures Can't Calculate (The Love I Have for You) by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Figures Can't Calculate (The Love I Have for You)William DeVaughn
Listen to Never Found a Girl by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Never Found a GirlWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to Love in Any Language-Radio by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Love in Any Language-RadioWilliam DeVaughn
Listen to Thank You Thank You (For Your Love) [Remastered 2023] by William DeVaughn, see lyrics, music video & more!
Thank You Thank You (For Your Love) [Remastered 2023]William DeVaughn

More albums from William DeVaughn

Listen to Be Thankful for What You Got by William DeVaughn
ALBUMBe Thankful for What You GotWilliam DeVaughn

About William DeVaughn

Listen to William DeVaughn, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Hometown
Washington, D.C.
Born
November 28, 1948
Genre
R&B/Soul
Singer/songwriter/guitarist William DeVaughn had a million-seller the first time out with his inspiring "Be Thankful for What You Got." Those who first heard the smooth track thought it was a new record from Curtis Mayfield. DeVaughn's high tenor does bear some resemblance to Mayfield's and the simple, encouraging lyrics were similar to the kind found in the catalog of the Impressions leader. "Be Thankful for What You Got" also found its way onto the playlist of some gospel radio programs. One of the lyrics: "Diamond in the back / sunroof top / digging the scene with a gangster lean" became a catchphrase and appeared in numerous rap/hip hop records of the '90s. The Washington, D.C. native was working for the government when he paid $900 for a recording session at Philadelphia's Omega Sound Inc. (basically a "vanity record" operation). Usually the results of such efforts are anything but star-making, but Omega featured the services of MFSB's main rhythm section (guitarist Norman Harris, drummer Earl Young, bassist Ron Baker, and vibist Vince Montana). Omega vice-president Frank Fioravanti was impressed with the record and began shopping it around to various labels. Finally issued on Wes Farrell's Roxbury imprint and produced by Frank Fioravanti and arranger John Davis, "Be Thankful for What You Got" sold nearly two million copies, gliding up to the top of the R&B charts and number four pop in spring 1974. The album of the same name had an almost religious tone (DeVaughn was a Jehovah's Witness) and yielded several radio-aired LP tracks: "Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand" (the third single), "We Are His Children," "Sing a Love Song," and "You Can Do It." The second single, "Blood Is Thicker Than Water," made it to number ten R&B and number 43 pop in summer 1974. Akin to the post-heyday performances of a converted Al Green, DeVaughn preached to and admonished his audience from the stage. He lost interest in the music business not long after, though hed did remake "Be Thankful for What You Got" for TEC and charted again with the Top 40 R&B hit "Figures Can't Calculate" in summer 1980 for the label. ~ Ed Hogan

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