Luther Vandross

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA-certified platinum albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Known as the "Velvet Voice," Vandross was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time (2023)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and was named one of the greatest R&B artists by Billboard.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> NPR also included him among its 50 Great Voices. He won eight Grammy Awards,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> including Song of the Year in 2004 for "Dance with My Father".<ref name="BBC">Template:Cite news</ref> He has been inducted into both the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Vandross began his music career in the late 1960s performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City as part of a local musical ensemble. The group later appeared on the television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s. He eventually established himself as a sought-after backing vocalist, contributing to albums by Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Todd Rundgren, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, and Donna Summer. In 1980, he served as the lead vocalist for the post-disco group Change on their Gold-certified album The Glow of Love, released on Warner/RFC Records.

After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records as a solo artist and released his debut solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981. In 1982, he was credited as the primary producer on Aretha Franklin's album Jump to it, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. His hit songs include "Never Too Much", "Here and Now", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better", and "For You to Love". He also recorded several covers of songs originally performed by other artists, including "Since I Lost My Baby", "Superstar", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and "Always and Forever".

Vandross collaborated on several notable duets, including "The Closer I Get to You" with Beyoncé, "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey, and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson of which the latter two were hit songs in his career. The tribute album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released shortly after his death. In 2024, Kendrick Lamar and SZA released the chart-topping single "Luther", paying homage to Vandross and sampling his rendition of "If This World Were Mine", a duet with Cheryl Lynn.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That same year, he was the subject of the documentary Luther: Never Too Much, which chronicles his life, career, and legacy.

Early life

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.<ref name="Spin">Template:Cite magazine</ref> was born on April 20, 1951, at Bellevue Hospital, in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.<ref name="Seymour16">Template:Harvnb</ref> His birth occurred concurrently with General Douglas MacArthur's ticker-tape parade throughout the same city. He was the fourth and youngest child (Anthony, Patricia, Ann)<ref name="books.google.com">Template:Cite magazine</ref> as well as the second son of Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross Sr.<ref name="books.google.com"/> His father was an upholsterer and singer,<ref name=JetChristian /> and his mother was a nurse.<ref name="GuardianObit">Template:Cite news</ref> Vandross was raised in Manhattan's Lower East Side in the Alfred E. Smith Houses public housing development.<ref name="NewYorkCoombs">Template:Cite magazine</ref> At the age of three, having his own phonograph, Vandross taught himself to play the piano by ear.<ref name="Spin"/>

His father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old.<ref name="Spin"/><ref name="NewYorkCoombs"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2003, Vandross wrote the song "Dance with My Father" and dedicated it to him; the title was based on his childhood memories and his mother's recollections of the family singing and dancing in the house. His family moved to the Bronx when he was nine.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> His sisters, Patricia "Pat" and Ann, began taking Vandross to the Apollo Theater and to a theater in Brooklyn to see Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin perform.<ref name="Spin"/> Patricia sang with the vocal group The Crests<ref name="VibeSearching">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and was featured on the songs "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".<ref name=JetChristian>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Vandross graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx in 1969,<ref name="VibeSearching"/> and attended Western Michigan University for one and a half semesters before dropping out to continue pursuing a career in music.<ref name=leeds>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

While in high school, Vandross founded the first Patti LaBelle fan club, of which he was president.<ref name=VibeSearching /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also performed in a group, Shades of Jade, that once played at the Apollo Theater. During his early years in show business, he appeared several times at the Apollo's famous amateur night.<ref name="Spin"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> While he was a member of a theater workshop, Listen My Brother,<ref name="Spin"/> he was involved in the singles "Only Love Can Make a Better World" and "Listen My Brother". The group performed in front of tens of thousands at the Harlem Cultural Festival in late August 1969.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Directly afterward, he appeared with the group in the pilot episode and other episodes of the first season of Sesame Street during 1969–1970.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1970s: Backing vocalist and first groups

Vandross added backing vocals to Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway in 1972,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and worked on Delores Hall's Hall-Mark album (1973). He sang with her on the song "Who's Gonna Make It Easier for Me", which he wrote, and he contributed another song, "In This Lonely Hour".Template:Citation needed After his song "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)" was re-written as "Fascination" with David Bowie for the latter's Young Americans (1975) album, Vandross went on to tour with him as a backing vocalist in September 1974.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day" for the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz.<ref name=JetChristian /><ref name=leeds /><ref name=Billboard1982 />

Vandross also sang backing vocals for artists including Roberta Flack,<ref name=JetChristian/> Chaka Khan, Ben E. King, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Gary Glitter, Ringo Starr, Sister Sledge, and Donna Summer,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and for the bands Mandrill, Chic<ref name=Billboard1982>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and Todd Rundgren's Utopia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Before his solo breakthrough, Vandross was part of a singing quintet named Luther in the late 1970s. The quintet consisted of former Shades of Jade members Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, as well as Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire, signed to Cotillion Records. Although the singles "It's Good for the Soul", "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)",<ref name="Billboard1982" /> and "The Second Time Around" were relatively successful, their two albums, the self-titled Luther (1976) and This Close to You (1977), which Vandross produced, did not sell enough to make the charts. Vandross bought back the rights to those albums after Cotillion dropped the group, preventing them from being re-released.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Both albums were re-released in 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:User-generated source</ref>

Vandross also wrote and sang commercial jingles from 1977 until the early 1980s, for companies including NBC, Mountain Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and Juicy Fruit.<ref name=JetChristian /><ref name="NewYorkCoombs"/> He continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 1970s. His aforementioned song "Everybody Rejoice", sometimes called "A Brand New Day", was used in a Kodak commercial during the mid-1970s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1978, Vandross sang lead vocals for Gregg Diamond's disco band, Bionic Boogie, on the song titled "Hot Butterfly".<ref name="Spin"/> Also in 1978, he appeared on Quincy Jones's Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!, most notably on the song "I'm Gonna Miss You in the Morning" along with Patti Austin.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Vandross also sang with the band Soirée and was the lead vocalist on the track "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"; he also contributed background vocals to the album along with Jocelyn Brown and Sharon Redd, each of whom also saw solo success. Additionally, he sang the lead vocals on the group Mascara's LP title song "See You in L.A." released in 1979. Vandross also appeared on the group Charme's 1979 album Let It In.Template:Citation needed

1980s: Change and solo breakthrough

File:Luther Vandross 1982.jpg

Vandross in 1982

Vandross made his career breakthrough as a featured singer with the vaunted pop-dance act Change, a studio concept created by French-Italian businessman Jacques Fred Petrus. Their 1980 hits, "The Glow of Love" (by Romani, Malavasi and Garfield) and "Searching" (by Malavasi), featured Vandross as the lead singer. In a 2001 interview with Vibe, Vandross said "The Glow of Love" was "the most beautiful song I've ever sung in my life."<ref name=VibeSearching /> Both songs were from Change's debut album, The Glow of Love.

Vandross was originally intended to perform on their second and highly successful album Miracles in 1981, but declined the offer as Petrus didn't pay enough money. Vandross's decision led to a recording contract with Epic Records that same year,<ref name=JetChristian/> but he also provided background vocals on "Miracles" and on the new Petrus-created act, the B. B. & Q. Band in 1981. During that year, Vandross jump-started his second attempt at a solo career with his debut album, Never Too Much. In addition to the hit title track it contained a version of the Bacharach & David song "A House Is Not a Home".<ref name=JetChristian/>

The song "Never Too Much", written by Vandross, reached number-one on the R&B charts. This period also marked the beginning of a songwriting collaboration with bassist Marcus Miller, who played on many of the tracks and would also produce or co-produce a number of tracks for Vandross. The Never Too Much album was arranged by Vandross's high school classmate, Nat Adderley Jr., a collaboration that would last throughout Vandross's career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Vandross released a series of successful R&B albums during the 1980s and continued his session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme in 1982. Many of his earlier albums made a bigger impact on the R&B charts than on the pop charts. During the 1980s, two of Vandross's singles reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts: "Stop to Love", in 1986, and a duet with Gregory Hines, "There's Nothing Better Than Love".<ref>.[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Artist Chart History]</ref> Vandross was at the helm as producer for Aretha Franklin's Gold-certified, award-winning comeback album Jump to It.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He also produced its follow-up album, 1983's Get It Right.<ref name=JetChristian /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1983, the opportunity to work with his main musical influence, Dionne Warwick, came about with Vandross producing, writing songs, and singing on How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye, her fourth album for Arista Records.<ref name=JetChristian /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The title track duet reached No. 27 on the Hot 100 chart (#7 R&B/#4 Adult Contemporary),<ref>[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Artist Chart History]</ref> while the second single, "Got a Date" was a moderate hit (#45 R&B/#15 Club Play).

Vandross wrote and produced "It's Hard for Me to Say" for Diana Ross from her Red Hot Rhythm & Blues album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ross performed the song as an a cappella tribute to Oprah Winfrey on her final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show. She then proceeded to add it to her successful 2010–12 "More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour. Vandross also recorded a version of this song on his Your Secret Love album in 1996.

File:Luther Vandross 1985.jpg

Vandross in 1985

In 1985, Vandross first spotted the talent of Template:AnchorJimmy Salvemini, who was 15 at the time, on Star Search. He thought Salvemini had the perfect voice for some of his songs and contacted him. He was managed by his brother, Larry Salvemini. A contract was negotiated with Elektra Records for $250,000 and Vandross agreed to produce the album. He contacted longtime friends–Cheryl Lynn, Alfa Anderson (of Chic), Phoebe Snow and Irene Cara–to appear on the record. Jimmy Salvemini's album, Roll It, was released in 1986.

Vandross also sang the ad-libs and background vocals, along with Syreeta Wright and Philip Bailey, in Stevie Wonder's 1985 hit "Part-Time Lover".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1984, he voiced a cartoon character named Zack for ABC's Zack of All Trades, a three Saturday morning animated PSA spots.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He sang as part of the background chorus on Bowie's 1986 single "Underground", from the movie Labyrinth.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

The 1989 compilation album The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love included the ballad "Here and Now", his first single to chart in the Billboard pop chart top ten, peaking at number six.

1990s

In 1990, Vandross wrote, produced and sang background for Whitney Houston in a song titled "Who Do You Love" which appeared on her album I'm Your Baby Tonight.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the same year, he guest starred on the television sitcom 227.<ref name=JetChristian /><ref name="JetJune1992">Template:Cite magazine</ref> More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991's Power of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. He won his first Grammy award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1991.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 1992, and his track "Power of Love/Love Power" won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in the same year. In 1992, "The Best Things in Life Are Free", a duet with Janet Jackson from the movie Mo' Money became a hit.<ref name="JetChristian" /> In 1993, he had a brief non-speaking role in the Robert Townsend movie The Meteor Man.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's title character.<ref name="JetJune1992" />

Vandross hit the top ten again in 1994, teaming with Mariah Carey on a cover version of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's duet "Endless Love".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was included on the album Songs, a collection of songs that had inspired Vandross over the years. He also appears on "The Lady Is a Tramp" released on Frank Sinatra's Duets album. At the Grammy Awards of 1997, he won his third Best Male R&B Vocal for the track "Your Secret Love".

A second greatest hits album, released in 1997, compiled most of his 1990s hits and was his final album released through Epic Records. After releasing I Know on Virgin Records, he signed with J Records.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> His first album on Clive Davis's new label, titled Luther Vandross, was released in 2001, and it produced the hits "Take You Out" (#7 R&B/#26 Pop), and "I'd Rather" (#17 Adult Contemporary/#40 R&B/#83 Pop). Vandross scored at least one top 10 R&B hit every year from 1981 to 1994.

In 1997, Vandross sang the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", during Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

2000s

File:Luther Vandross and Diana Ross 2000.jpg

Performing with Diana Ross at Madison Square Garden, July 6, 2000

He made two public appearances at Diana Ross's Return to Love Tour: at its opening in Philadelphia at First Union Spectrum and its final stop at Madison Square Garden on July 6, 2000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In September 2001, Vandross performed a rendition of Michael Jackson's hit song "Man in the Mirror" at Jackson's 30th Anniversary special, alongside Usher and 98 Degrees. In the spring of 2003, Vandross's last collaboration was Doc Powell's song "What's Going On", a cover of Marvin Gaye's seminal 1971 original, from Powell's album 97th and Columbus.

In 2003, Vandross released the album Dance with My Father. It sold 442,000 copies in the first week and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The title track of the same name, which was dedicated to Vandross's childhood memories of dancing with his father, won Vandross and his co-writer, Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Award for Song of the Year.<ref name=JetChristian/> The song also won Vandross his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category.<ref name=JetChristian /> The album was his only career No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. The video for the title track features various celebrities alongside their fathers and other family members.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The second single released from the album, "Think About You", was the number one Urban Adult Contemporary Song of 2004 according to Radio & Records.

In 2003, after the televised NCAA Men's Basketball championship, CBS Sports gave "One Shining Moment" a new look. Vandross, who had been to only one basketball game in his life, was the new singer, and the video had none of the special effects, like glowing basketballs and star trails, that videos from previous years had. This song version is in use today.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Posthumous releases

J Records released a song in 2006, "Shine" – an upbeat R&B track that samples Chic's disco song "My Forbidden Lover" – which reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song was originally slated to be released on the soundtrack to the movie, The Fighting Temptations, but it was shelved. A later remix of the song peaked at No. 10 on the Club Play chart.Template:Citation needed "Shine" and a track titled "Got You Home" were previously unreleased songs on The Ultimate Luther Vandross (2006), a greatest hits album on Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings that was released August 22, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On October 16, 2007, Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings released a 4-disc boxed set titled Love, Luther. It features nearly all of Vandross's R&B and pop hits throughout his career, as well as unreleased live tracks, alternate versions, and outtakes from sessions that Vandross recorded. The set also includes "There's Only You", a version of which had originally appeared on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Made in Heaven.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2015, Sony Music released a re-configured edition of its The Essential Luther Vandross compilation containing three unreleased songs: "Love It, Love It" (which made its premiere a year prior on the UK compilation The Greatest Hits), a live recording of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Paul Simon and Jennifer Holliday, and a cover of Astrud Gilberto's "Look to the Rainbow".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Vandross never married and had no children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His mother outlived all of her four children, and his three elder siblings along with his father all predeceased him due to diabetes and asthma.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sexual orientation

In 2006, Bruce Vilanch, a friend and colleague of Vandross, told Out magazine, "He said to me, 'No one knows I'm in the life.' ... He had very few sexual contacts".<ref name="OutMagazineApril2006">Template:Cite magazine</ref> According to Vilanch, Vandross experienced his longest romantic relationship with a man while living in Los Angeles during the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name="OutMagazineApril2006"/> In December 2017, 12 years after his death, Vandross' friend Patti LaBelle confirmed that he was gay.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> LaBelle further stated that "[Vandross] had a lot of lady fans" and "he just didn't want to upset the world".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In December 1985, Vandross filed a libel suit against a British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss to AIDS. He weighed Template:Convert when he started a diet in May of that year.<ref name="AP">Template:Cite news</ref>

1986 car accident

After signing Jimmy Salvemini and having completed his debut album Roll It, Vandross, Salvemini, and Salvemini's brother and manager Larry decided to celebrate. On January 12, 1986, they were riding in Vandross's convertible on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the north section of Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. Vandross was driving at 50 mph (80 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) zone when he veered across the double yellow center line of the two lane street, turned sideways and collided with the front of a southbound car, then swung around and hit another car head on.<ref name="AP"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Vandross and Salvemini were rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.<ref name="Spin"/><ref name="AP"/>

Larry Salvemini, who was in the passenger seat, was killed in the collision. Vandross suffered three broken ribs, a broken hip, several bruises and facial cuts.<ref name="Spin"/><ref name="AP"/> Jimmy Salvemini, who was in the back of the car, had cuts, bruises and contusions. Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges as a result of Larry's death, and his driving license was suspended for a year. There was no evidence that Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; he pleaded no contest to reckless driving. At first, the Salvemini family was supportive of Vandross, but later filed a wrongful death suit against him. The case was settled out of court with a payment to the Salvemini family of about $630,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Health problems and death

Vandross had diabetes and hypertension.<ref name=leeds /><ref name=CNN>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 16, 2003, he had a severe stroke at his home in New York City<ref name=leeds /> and was in a coma for nearly two months.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The stroke affected his ability to speak and sing and required him to use a wheelchair.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He later regained the ability to walk.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross appeared in a pre-taped video segment to accept his Song of the Year Award for "Dance With My Father", saying, "When I say good-bye, it's never for long, because I believe in the power of loveTemplate:-" (Vandross sang the last six words).<ref name=leeds /> His mother, Mary, accepted the award in person on his behalf. His last public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show.<ref name=leeds /> Vandross died on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 from a heart attack.<ref name=CNN />

Vandross's funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005.<ref name="Segal2005">Template:Cite news</ref> Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston were among the speakers and singers at the service.<ref name="Segal2005"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Vandross was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Artistry

Possessing a tenor vocal range,<ref name="GuardianObit" /><ref name="leeds" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Vandross was commonly referred to as "The Velvet Voice", and was sometimes called "The Best Voice of a Generation". He was also regarded as the "Pavarotti of Pop" by many critics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legacy

Vandross has been cited as an inspiration by a number of other artists, including 112, Boyz II Men, D'Angelo, Hootie & the Blowfish, Jaheim, John Legend, Mint Condition, Ne-Yo, Ruben Studdard, and Usher.<ref>Luther Vandross: Followers, MTV. Retrieved October 15, 2017.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stokley Williams, the lead singer of Mint Condition, has said that he has "studied Luther for such a long time because he was the epitome of perfect tone." On his influence, John Legend has said, "All us people making slow jams now, we was inspired by the slow jams Luther Vandross was making."

In 2008, Vandross was ranked No. 54 on Rolling Stone magazine's List of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Mariah Carey said in several interviews that standing next to Vandross while recording their duet "Endless Love" was intimidating.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2010, NPR included Vandross in its 50 Greatest Voices in recorded history, saying Vandross represents "the platinum standard for R&B song stylings." The announcement was made on NPR's All Things Considered on November 29, 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tribute

In 1999, Whitney Houston sang Vandross' "So Amazing" as a tribute to Vandross as he sat in the audience during the Soul Train Awards. Johnny Gill, El DeBarge, and Kenny Lattimore provided background vocals. On July 27, 2004, GRP Records released a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, Forever, for Always, for Luther, including ten popular songs written by Vandross. The album featured vocal arrangements by Luther and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Rideout had co-authored songs, contributed arrangements and played keyboards on Vandross's final three albums. The tribute album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who recorded and mixed most of Luther's music over the years. It featured an ensemble of smooth jazz performers, many of whom had previously worked with Vandross.<ref>Forever, For Always, For Luther, VerveMusicGroup.com</ref>

On September 20, 2005, the album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released. The album is a collection of some of his songs performed by various artists, including Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Fantasia, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, John Legend, Angie Stone, Jamie Foxx, and Teddy Pendergrass. Aretha Franklin won a Grammy for her rendition of "A House Is Not a Home", and Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé won a Grammy for their cover of "So Amazing".Template:Citation needed

On November 21, 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a follow-up to the earlier smooth jazz GRP tribute album, this time on his own Rendezvous Entertainment label, an album called Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II, also produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Koz played on all the featured Luther Vandross tracks, which were recorded by various smooth jazz artists.<ref>Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II Template:Webarchive, smoothvibes.com</ref> On April 20, 2021, Google celebrated his 70th birthday with a Google Doodle of an animated clip that plays Vandross's song "Never Too Much".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The 2024 documentary Luther: Never Too Much chronicles Vandross's life, career, and legacy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

• Never Too Much (1981)
• Forever, for Always, for Love (1982)
• Busy Body (1983)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• The Night I Fell in Love (1985)
• Give Me the Reason (1986)
• Any Love (1988)
• Power of Love (1991)
• Never Let Me Go (1993)
• Songs (1994)
• This Is Christmas (1995)
• Your Secret Love (1996)
• I Know (1998)
• Luther Vandross (2001)
• Dance with My Father (2003)

Tours

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

• Luther Tour Template:Small
• Forever, for Always, for Love Tour Template:Small
• Busy Body Tour Template:Small
• The Night I Fell in Love Tour Template:Small
• Give Me the Reason Tour Template:Small
• The Heat Template:Small
• Any Love World Tour Template:Small
• Best of Love Tour Template:Small
• The Power of Love Tour Template:Small
• Never Let Me Go World Tour Template:Small
• Your Secret Love World Tour Template:Small
• Luther & Vanessa Live! Template:Small
• Take You Out Tour Template:Small
• BK Got Music Summer Soul Tour Template:Small

Awards

Grammy Awards

Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="2" | 1982 || Luther Vandross || Best New Artist || Template:Nominated |- | Never Too Much || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | 1983 || Forever, For Always, For Love || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | 1986 || The Night I Fell in Love || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1987 || rowspan="2" | "Give Me the Reason" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | Best R&B Song (shared with Nat Adderley Jr.) || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1989 || rowspan="2" | "Any Love" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | Best R&B Song (shared with Marcus Miller) || Template:Nominated |- | 1990 || "She Won't Talk to Me" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | 1991 || "Here and Now" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Won |- | rowspan="3" | 1992 || rowspan="2" | "Power of Love/Love Power" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Won |- | Best R&B Song (with Marcus Miller and Teddy Vann) || Template:Won |- | "Doctor's Orders" (with Aretha Franklin) || Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals || Template:Nominated |- | 1993 || "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Janet Jackson) || Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="3" | 1994 || "How Deep Is Your Love" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | "Heaven Knows" || Best R&B Song (shared with Reed Vertelney) || Template:Nominated |- | "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" || Best R&B Song (shared with Marcus Miller) || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="4" | 1995 || "Love the One You're With" || Best Male Pop Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | "Endless Love" (with Mariah Carey) || Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals || Template:Nominated |- | "Always and Forever" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | Songs || Best R&B Album || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1997 || rowspan="2" | "Your Secret Love" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Won |- | Best R&B Song (shared with Reed Vertelney) || Template:Nominated |- | 1998 || "When You Call on Me / Baby That's When I Come Runnin'" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1999 || "I Know" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |- | I Know || Best Traditional R&B Performance || Template:Nominated |- | 2003 || "Any Day Now" || Best Traditional R&B Performance || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="5" | 2004 || rowspan="3" | "Dance with My Father" || Song of the Year (shared with Richard Marx) || Template:Won |- | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Won |- | Best R&B Song (shared with Richard Marx) || Template:Nominated |- | "The Closer I Get to You" (with Beyoncé) || Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals || Template:Won |- | Dance with My Father || Best R&B Album || Template:Won |- | 2007 || "Got You Home" || Best Male R&B Vocal Performance || Template:Nominated |}

Soul Train Music Awards

Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="2" | 1987 || Give Me the Reason || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Won |- | "Give Me the Reason" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Nominated |- | 1988 || "So Amazing" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Nominated |- | 1989 || Any Love || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="3" | 1990 || The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | "Here and Now" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Won |- | Best Song of the Year || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1992 || Power of Love || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Won |- | "Power of Love/Love Power" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1994 || Never Let Me Go || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Nominated |- | "Heaven Knows" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Nominated |- | 1995 || Songs || Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Nominated |- | 1999 || Luther Vandross || Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement || Template:Won |- | rowspan="3" | 2004 || rowspan="2" | Dance with My Father || Best Album of the Year || Template:Nominated |- | Best R&B/Soul Album – Male || Template:Nominated |- | "Dance with My Father" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Male || Template:Won |- | 2005 || "The Closer I Get to You" (with Beyoncé) || Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo || Template:Nominated |}

American Music Awards

Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="2" | 1986 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Nominated |- | The Night I Fell in Love || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || Template:Nominated |- | rowspan="2" | 1988 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | Give Me the Reason || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || Template:Nominated |- | 1990 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | rowspan="2" | 1992 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | Power of Love || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || Template:Won |- | 1994 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | 1996 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | 2002 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | rowspan="2" | 2003 || Luther Vandross || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || Template:Won |- | Dance with My Father || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || Template:Won |}

Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Inducted: Star (Posthumous; June 3, 2014)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame

Template:Awards table |- | 2021 || Luther Vandross || Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame || Template:Won |-

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Grammy Hall of Fame

Template:Awards table |- | 2025 || Never Too Much || Grammy Hall of Fame || Template:Won |-

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See also

• List of quiet storm songs
• Luther Burger
• Craig Seymour
• Bronx Walk of Fame
• Luther: Never Too Much

References

General sources

• Template:Cite book
• Vandross, Luther (1990). The Best of Luther Vandross: The Best of Love. Hal Leonard Corporation. Template:ISBN.

External links

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