William DeVaughn facts for kids

William Edward DeVaughn Jr. (born November 28, 1947) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his huge hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got" from 1974, which sold millions of copies.

William DeVaughn's Life Story

Before becoming a famous singer, William DeVaughn worked for the government. He was a drafting technician, which means he drew detailed plans for buildings or machines. Music was his part-time hobby.

How "Be Thankful" Was Born

In 1972, William wrote a song called "A Cadillac Don't Come Easy." He later changed it into "Be Thankful for What You Got." He spent $900 of his own money to record it. This recording happened at Omega Sound, a music production company in Philadelphia.

John Davis, a producer at Omega, helped create the smooth sound for the song. He booked time at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, a famous studio used by many top artists. Joe Tarsia, the studio owner, recorded and mixed the song.

The Musicians Behind the Hit

Many talented musicians helped record "Be Thankful for What You Got." These musicians were part of a group called MFSB, a studio session group. This means they were professional musicians who played on many different artists' records.

Some of them included guitarists Norman Harris and Bobby Eli, drummer Earl Young, and vibraphonist Vince Montana. John Davis played the keyboards. A person named Frank Fioravanti helped get the song released on Roxbury Records.

The Song's Big Success

When "Be Thankful for What You Got" was released in the spring of 1974, it became a massive hit. It sold almost two million copies! The song reached number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart. It also hit number 4 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In the UK, the song also did well, reaching number 31 in 1974. Because it sold so many copies, the RIAA gave it a gold disc award on May 31, 1974.

The song's simple and positive message was inspired by singer Curtis Mayfield. It was so uplifting that even gospel radio stations played it. After this huge success, William DeVaughn decided to leave his government job to focus on music.

Life After the First Hit

William DeVaughn released an album with mostly religious songs. Another single from that album, "Blood Is Thicker than Water," also did well. It reached number 10 on the R&B chart later in 1974.

However, William soon lost interest in the music business. He went back to working as a draftsman and even worked in a record store.

Returning to Music

In 1980, William DeVaughn released a new song called "Figures Can't Calculate." This song reached number 37 on the Billboard R&B chart. He also included a new version of "Be Thankful for What You Got" on the album.

Years later, in 2004, William DeVaughn released a new single called "I Came Back." He released it on his own record label, Mighty Two Diamond Records. In 2014, two more of his songs, "Staying Power" and "Love Ballad of the Year," were released on a collection called Lost Soul Gems. Another song, "Love in Any Language," was added to this collection in 2016.

More recently, in 2017, a two-song mix was released. It included "What Does It Take (to Win Your Love for Me)" and "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying."

Discography

This section lists the albums and singles William DeVaughn has released.

Studio Albums

These are the main albums William DeVaughn has released.

Singles

These are the individual songs William DeVaughn has released.