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 , Ron Baker (bass), and Vince Montana . The owner of Omega, Frank Fioravanti, was impressed, and secured its release on the Roxbury Records record label. The record sold nearly two million copies on its release in spring 1974, reaching #1 on the U.S. R&B charts and # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 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