The Evolution of Lalah Hathaway

A Celebration of the First Daughter of Soul.

First Daughter Of Soul - Lalah Hathaway's musical talent is so immense she wears many monikers. She's the daughter of Donnie Hathaway, a musical prodigy, a multi-Grammy Award winner, an all-star collaborator and a soul diva in her own right. She's also Black girl who rocks and that's why BET.com is celebrating the evolution of this amazing artist. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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First Daughter Of Soul - Lalah Hathaway's musical talent is so immense she wears many monikers. She's the daughter of Donnie Hathaway, a musical prodigy, a multi-Grammy Award winner, an all-star collaborator and a soul diva in her own right. She's also Black girl who rocks and that's why BET.com is celebrating the evolution of this amazing artist. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Born into Music - The daughter of the late soul singing great Donny Hathaway, Lalah was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 16, 1968.  (Photos from left: Steve Granitz/WireImage, Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Born into Music - The daughter of the late soul singing great Donny Hathaway, Lalah was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 16, 1968.  (Photos from left: Steve Granitz/WireImage, Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Get Behind the Groove - Of course Lalah caught the music bug early, starting to write songs while in high school.  In 1989, she signed to Virgin Records and released her first song "Inside the Beat."(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)

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Get Behind the Groove - Of course Lalah caught the music bug early, starting to write songs while in high school.  In 1989, she signed to Virgin Records and released her first song "Inside the Beat."(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)

Student Becomes the Teacher - While a student at Berklee College of Music, Lalah recorded and released her self-titled debut LP in 1990. Singles included "Baby Don't Cry" and "Heaven Knows," which hit number three on the Billboard R&B charts.  (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

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Student Becomes the Teacher - While a student at Berklee College of Music, Lalah recorded and released her self-titled debut LP in 1990. Singles included "Baby Don't Cry" and "Heaven Knows," which hit number three on the Billboard R&B charts.  (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

Grooving with Grover - A year after releasing her EP entitled Night & Day. Lalah was recruited to appear on Grover Washington Jr.'s 1992 album Next Exit. The LP's lead single, "Love Like This", featured vocals from Lalah. (Photo: Dimitri Hakke/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Grooving with Grover - A year after releasing her EP entitled Night & Day. Lalah was recruited to appear on Grover Washington Jr.'s 1992 album Next Exit. The LP's lead single, "Love Like This", featured vocals from Lalah. (Photo: Dimitri Hakke/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Honoring Her Dad's Voice - Often compared to her father, Lalah, who'd been criticized for not covering her dad's music, appeared on Take 6's rendition of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free." (Photo: Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Honoring Her Dad's Voice - Often compared to her father, Lalah, who'd been criticized for not covering her dad's music, appeared on Take 6's rendition of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free." (Photo: Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty Images)

Building on a Moment - Lalah embraced more of an upbeat feel for her second album, A Moment, which sported the hit lead single "Let Me Love You" produced by Brian Alexander Morgan. (Photo: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)

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Building on a Moment - Lalah embraced more of an upbeat feel for her second album, A Moment, which sported the hit lead single "Let Me Love You" produced by Brian Alexander Morgan. (Photo: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)

Coolest Collaborator - Lalah Hathaway worked with several established over the years including Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Prince, Natalie Cole, Dizzy Gillespie and Snoop Dogg. Her collaboration with Joe Sample on the album The Song Lives On became a modern jazz breakthrough. The release topped the jazz chart at number to and charted on both Billboard?s Hot 200 and Top R&B album chart. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

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Coolest Collaborator - Lalah Hathaway worked with several established over the years including Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Prince, Natalie Cole, Dizzy Gillespie and Snoop Dogg. Her collaboration with Joe Sample on the album The Song Lives On became a modern jazz breakthrough. The release topped the jazz chart at number to and charted on both Billboard?s Hot 200 and Top R&B album chart. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

Stax Superstar - Hathaway signed to the relaunched Stax Records in 2007. And it was an honor for the vocalist to be connected the label's iconic history. ?The foundation of soul music is rooted in Stax Records,? she said in statement. ?There is no higher compliment than to be signed to a label whose music is timeless.? (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

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Stax Superstar - Hathaway signed to the relaunched Stax Records in 2007. And it was an honor for the vocalist to be connected the label's iconic history. ?The foundation of soul music is rooted in Stax Records,? she said in statement. ?There is no higher compliment than to be signed to a label whose music is timeless.? (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

Self Portrait Success - Lalah?s Stax debut album, Self Portrait went on to be her most successful to date. It debuted at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts and sold over 9,4000 copies in the first week. ?I?m proud to carry the torch that will continue to bring quality soul music to a new audience,? says Hathaway. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

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Self Portrait Success - Lalah?s Stax debut album, Self Portrait went on to be her most successful to date. It debuted at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts and sold over 9,4000 copies in the first week. ?I?m proud to carry the torch that will continue to bring quality soul music to a new audience,? says Hathaway. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

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Lalah?s Begins Again - In 2011, Hathaway treated fans to a free download of her single, ?If You Want To? the debut release of her sixth studio album, Where It All Begins. Her performance on Snarky Puppy?s ?Something? wowed followers and critics alike because of Layla?s amazing ability to sing multiple notes at the same time. (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) 

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Lalah?s Begins Again - In 2011, Hathaway treated fans to a free download of her single, ?If You Want To? the debut release of her sixth studio album, Where It All Begins. Her performance on Snarky Puppy?s ?Something? wowed followers and critics alike because of Layla?s amazing ability to sing multiple notes at the same time. (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) 

Donnie's Little Girl - Hathaway has carved out a unique niche for herself in music but still remains connected to the legacy of her father?s classic sound. ?I am his daughter and that?s the truth of who I am, every day,? she says. ?Like my father, I want to leave a legacy of music that makes people really feel something, whether it be happiness, sadness, grief or heartache.? (Photo: Tiffany Rose/WireImage)

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Donnie's Little Girl - Hathaway has carved out a unique niche for herself in music but still remains connected to the legacy of her father?s classic sound. ?I am his daughter and that?s the truth of who I am, every day,? she says. ?Like my father, I want to leave a legacy of music that makes people really feel something, whether it be happiness, sadness, grief or heartache.? (Photo: Tiffany Rose/WireImage)

Grammy's Golden Goddess - Lalah Hathway won her most recent Grammy in February 2015. The two-time winner picked up her most recent trophy for Best Traditional R&B Performance with Robert Glasper and Malcolm-Jamal Warner for the single, "Jesus Children." (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Grammy's Golden Goddess - Lalah Hathway won her most recent Grammy in February 2015. The two-time winner picked up her most recent trophy for Best Traditional R&B Performance with Robert Glasper and Malcolm-Jamal Warner for the single, "Jesus Children." (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)