William DeVaughn

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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".

DeVaughn was a salaried government employee, part-time entertainer, and member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. He wrote "Be Thankful For What You Got", and paid for its recording at the Omega studio in Philadelphia. Remarkably, the session featured the MFSB group - Norman Harris (guitar), Earl Young (drums), Ron Baker (bass), and Vince Montana (vibes). The owner of Omega, Frank Fioravanti, was impressed, and secured its release on the Roxbury label.

The record sold nearly two million copies on its release in spring 1974, reaching # 1 on the US R&B charts and # 4 pop. 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 :- Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac / Diamond in the back, sunroof top / Diggin' the scene with a gangsta lean / Gangsta whitewalls, TV antennas in the back / You may not have a car at all / But remember brothers and sisters / You can still stand tall / Just be thankful for what you got.

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 later in 1974. Live, DeVaughn preached to and admonished his audience from the stage. He lost interest in the music business not long after, though he later remade "Be Thankful for What You Got" and charted again with "Figures Can't Calculate" in 1980.