William DeVaughn is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his 1974 million-selling hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got"
. Born William Edward DeVaughn Jr. on November 28, 1947, in Washington, D.C., he was originally a government drafting technician and part-time singer before his breakthrough with this song
. "Be Thankful for What You Got" was originally written as "A Cadillac Don't Come Easy" in 1972, then reworked and recorded at Omega Sound studios in Philadelphia with members of the famous MFSB studio band. DeVaughn invested $900 to produce the track, which was recorded and mixed by Joe Tarsia at Sigma Sound Studios
. The song features the memorable lyric "Diamond in the back, sunroof top, diggin' the scene with a gangsta lean" and became a major hit, reaching number 1 on the U.S. R&B charts and number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling nearly two million copies
. The song's lyrics encourage gratitude and contentment with what one has, a message that resonated widely and has been sampled and referenced in many other songs since
. After the success of "Be Thankful for What You Got," DeVaughn left his government job to pursue music full-time and released an album of the same name in 1974, which included other notable tracks like "Blood Is Thicker than Water"
. In summary, William DeVaughn is most famous for "Be Thankful for What You Got," a soulful anthem promoting thankfulness and appreciation for one's blessings, which became a classic in the soul and R&B genres
