Remembering...
Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross was a singulary rare talent. He was a classy, rich, soulful, romantic artist with a versatile, virtuoustic voice. Luther was a class act. He sold over 25 million albums and won numerous awards. Singing was what he wanted to do, the only thing he had prepared himself for.

Luthr was born into a family that had a gospel background. And, while still in high school he started his own group.

Early in his career he used his talented voice to doing commercial jingles for such companies as Coca Cola. He was also a vey popular session singer and had worked on sessions for such talents as Qunicy Jones, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Chic, and Sister Sledge. While doing sessions with Roberta Flack, she encouraged his of step out into the spotlight and launch his own career, and told him not to get comfortable in the background as a session singer.

Luther, who was highly sought after artist who performed with such musical talents as David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, and Ring Starr. He was also a producer who have worked with Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin.

Luther Vandross earned his first Grammy in 1990 with the single "Here and Now," and received five more if the statutes in 1991 with the Power of Love/LovePower. Luther's biggest selling album, Luther Vandross, was released in 2001.

In April, 2003, even after a tragic stroke, Luther kept on recording. In that year he won four Grammy Awards for his final album Dance With My Father. Luther never recovered from the stroke and passed on July 1, 2005 in New Jersey.

Calls of condolence came from many friends, including Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Quincy Jones, and Roberta Flack. Flack who had been a friend for over 20 years said,

"He was a musician who couldn't help but give you all he had. He was the kind of guy who was was born to do what he did musically and let the world know about it. He was not born to keep it smoothered in the chest."

©2005, L'cinda Scott-McCall