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Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross

Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B singer. During his career, Vandross sold 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance With My Father," co-written with Richard Marx.

Early life and career 1951-1980

Vandross as a child

Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Vandross grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was 13. His sister sang with vocal group The Crests who had a number one hit in the early 1960's with "Sixteen Candles." Vandross' father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. His life-changing moment came when at the age of 13 he heard Dionne Warwick sing Anyone Who Had A Heart (a song he would cover in his later years). He knew then that he wanted to be a singer.

Vandross formed a vocal group in high school which once played at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His first recording credit was as producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968 and appeared as a vocalist on a Quincy Jones album Best in 1969. He was also a member of a theater workshop at the time and appeared on the first episode of Sesame Street in October 1969.

His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice," for the 1972 show The Wiz. However, Vandross had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing in David Bowie's soul-influenced Diamond Dogs tour and appear as the opening act with the Mike Garson Band in 1974. He ended up singing background vocals on Bowie's album Young Americans.

Vandross also sang backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Chic, and Barbra Streisand. During the beginning of his career, Vandross was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists. Roberta Flack pushed Vandross into starting his own career. She believed he was an incredible talent who, in addition to his songwriting and production skills, deserved to be heard for his si.

Before his breakthrough, he released two albums with a singing group he formed, also called Luther, on Cotillion Records. The group had a successful single entitled "It's Good for the Soul," although their two albums - the self-titled "Luther" in 1976 and "This Close to You" in 1977 - failed to make an impact. Vandross bought back the rights to these albums after the record label dropped the group, preventing their later re-release.

Vandross also wrote and sang commercials jingles during the late 1970s & early '80s earning upwards of $600,000 per year around the New York area. He created and/or sang jingles for such well known advertising campaigns as Kentucky Fried Chicken's "We Do Chicken Right," NBC's "Proud As A Peacock" & The US Army's "Be All You Can Be." Vandross continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 70's. His lead vocals can be heard on the Gregg Diamond produced single "Hot Butterfly" from Bionic Boogie in 1978 which gained moderate nightclub success.

Career success 1980-2003

Greatest Hits

He eventually made his breakthrough as a guest singer with the group Change. Their 1980 hits, "The Glow of Love" and "Searching" led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the LP "Never Too Much." The album, which contained the track "A House is Not a Home" went double platinum, with the song "Never Too Much" reaching #1 on the R&B charts.

Vandross released a series of million-selling albums during the 1980s and continued his session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme in 1982. Although the albums were very successful overall, many of his earlier albums made a much bigger impact on the R&B charts. Vandross had more modest success on the pop charts during this time. During the 1980s, Vandross had two other singles that reached #1 on the R&B charts: "Stop to Love" in 1986 and a duet with Gregory Hines "There's Nothing Better Than Love". He also sang duets with Dionne Warwick and Cheryl Lynn. He was also in demand as a producer; he was at the helm for Aretha Franklin's albums "Jump To It" and "Get It Right". (Franklin saw some moderate commercial success with those Vandross-produced tracks after a long chart absence.)

The 1989 compilation of greatest hits, The Best Of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love, included the ballad "Here And Now", the first Vandross single to chart in the Billboard pop chart Top Ten. He also won his first award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1991. "Here and Now" became a staple at weddings, and on Soft AC radio. In addition, the song allowed him to expand his musical horizons beyond R&B. His songs also became popular on smooth jazz radio.

More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991's Power of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 1992 with the track "Power of Love/Love Power" winning 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.

In 1993, Vandross had a nonspeaking role in the Robert Townsend movie Meteor Man. He played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's title character.

Vandross hit the top ten again in 1994 with "Endless Love", a duet with Mariah Carey and a cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's hit song from the film Endless Love. He also sang a duet with Frank Sinatra on Sinatra's Duets album. In 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 record released through Epic Records. After recording "I Know" on Virgin Records, he signed with J Records. His first album on Clive Davis' new label, entitled Luther Vandross, was released in 2001, and it produced the hits "Take You Out," "Grown Thangs" and "I'd Rather."

In 2003, Vandross released the album Dance With My Father in memory of his father. The title track, which was dedicated to the memory of the younger Vandross' childhood dances with his father, won Luther and his co-writer, singer Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. The song also won Vandross his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. The album was also the first album by Vandross to reach #1 on the Billboard album chart. The video for the title track features a various celebreties alongside their dads and family members. The stars include Beyonce, Ruben Studdard, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones submitted home videos or pictures of their families for the music video.

Illness 2003-2005

Vandross had diabetes, a disease that ran in his family, as well as hypertension. His weight fluctuated several times over the years, and Vandross had weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) at his heaviest. His father, Luther Sr., died of complications from diabetes when Luther Jr. was eight years old. Luther Jr.'s two sisters and a brother also predeceased him. On April 16, 2003, Vandross suffered a stroke in his home in Manhattan. (Although the cause of Vandross' stroke was not specifically attributed to diabetes, diabetics have been identified as being much more susceptible to strokes.) Although he appeared briefly on videotape at the 2004 Grammys to accept his Song of the Year award, he was never seen in public again. On the videotape on which Vandross appeared he sent an emotional message that said: "Whenever I say goodbye it's never for long because I believe in the power of love." Vandross died on July 1, 2005 at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. He was 54. At this time, the cause of death is not known, although hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh has said that Vandross never recovered from the 2003 stroke. It was reported that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a friend of Vandross, described him as "a boy so mellow, so powerful; a boy of rare, rare vintage. We lost Luther very early because of his medical condition, but his legacy will be a powerful legacy."

His funeral was in New York on July 8, 2005. After two days of viewing, Vandross was buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Influences and followers

Vandross was inspired by the soul divas of the 1960s: Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle & the Bluebells, Diana Ross & the Supremes and Aretha Franklin, for whom he eventually produced a few albums.

Vandross did many covers of older songs, such as "Since I Lost My Baby" (originally recorded by The Temptations), "Superstar (Until You Come Back To Me)" (originally recorded by The Carpenters and most recently covered by Ruben Studdard), "Love Won't Let Me Wait" (originally recorded by Major Harris), "Always and Forever" (originally recorded by Heatwave), "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (originally recorded by Stevie Wonder), and "Lovely Day" (originally recorded by Bill Withers), and "A House is Not A Home", a Burt Bacharach standard. His hit "Love Power" included snippets of the soul classic "The Power of Love." Another hit, "Bad Boy (Having a Party)," contained a passage from Sam Cooke's "Having a Party."

Vandross inspired his J Records labelmate, Ruben Studdard, the American Idol of 2003. Besides Studdard, Vandross also inspired countless other artists, both male and female, such as Boyz II Men, Usher, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Brandy. It was with Beyoncé that he recorded yet another cover of a well-known song, "The Closer I Get To You", originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

Rivalries

In the early stages of his solo career, Vandross' rivals included Peabo Bryson, Teddy Pendergrass and Jeffrey Osborne. In later years, artists like Gerald Levert, James Ingram and Phil Collins shared friendly rivalries with him.

Vandross' best-known rivalry was the one with Freddie Jackson, which was started in the mid-1980s. Many times, Vandross and Jackson were very unfriendly to each other, and their encounters were often heated. Because of this, they are blamed for inspiring future rivalries in R&B/hip-hop music, especially that of Brandy and Monica, who recorded a duet called "The Boy is Mine" in 1998. When the song came out, Brandy was often compared to Vandross, and Monica was inserted into Jackson's role. Even some music critics joked, "Well, it's a shame that Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson never did 'The Girl is Mine' together!"

However, since Vandross' death, Jackson's feelings have turned noticeably softer. He has been quoted as calling Vandross "a very worthy rival," and "one of the best singers in the music industry."

Sexuality

There have been many questions regarding Vandross' sexuality, mainly due to the fact that he remained a bachelor all of his life. The "lifelong bachelor" never had any children, but doted on his nieces and nephews. The entertainer said his "busy lifestyle" made marriage difficult; and indicated that "it was not what he wanted."

Vandross was as famous for keeping his personal life private as he was for his singing. In 2002, BET put the question to Vandross in an interview televised on its show Journeys in Black. Vandross refused to address questions of his sexuality, and instead told BET it was none of their business and separated his personal life from his professional one.

Tribute to Luther

On September 20th the album "So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross" was released. The album is a collection of some of Luther's songs performed by various artists. The artists on this compilation include Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Fantasia , Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Angie Stone, and Jamie Foxx.

Hit singles

  • from Never Too Much
    • 1981 "Never Too Much" #33 US
    • 1981 "A House Is Not A Hime" #? US
  • from Busy Body
    • 1983 "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" #27 US
  • from The Night I Fell in Love
    • 1985 "'Til My Baby Comes Home" #29 US
  • from Give Me the Reason
    • 1986 "Stop to Love" #15 US, #24 UK (1987 release)
    • 1987 "I Really Didn't Mean It" #16 UK
    • 1987 "So Amazing" #33 UK
    • 1988 "Give Me the Reason" (re-issue) #26 UK
    • 1988 "I Gave It Up (When I Fell in Love)" #28 UK
  • from Any Love
    • 1988 "Any Love" #31 UK
    • 1989 "She Won't Talk to Me" #30 US, #34 UK
  • from The Best of Luther Vandross: The Best of Love
    • 1989 "Here and Now" #6 US
    • 1989 "Never Too Much" (remix) #13 UK
  • from Power of Love
    • 1991 "Don't Want to Be a Fool" #9 US
    • 1991 "Power of Love - Love Power" #4 US
  • from Mo' Money soundtrack
    • 1992 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Janet Jackson and special guests BBD & Ralph Tresvant) #10 US, #2 UK
  • from Never Let Me Go
    • 1993 "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" #28 UK
    • 1993 "Heaven Knows" #34 UK
    • 1993 "Love Is on the Way" #38 UK
  • from Songs
    • 1994 "Endless Love" (with Mariah Carey) #2 US, #3 UK
    • 1995 "Always and Forever" #20 UK
    • 1995 "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" #22 UK
  • non-album-related remix singles
    • 1995 "Power Of Love - Love Power" (remix) #31 UK
    • 1995 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (remix) (with Janet Jackson) #7 UK
  • from Your Secret Love
    • 1996 "Your Secret Love" #14 UK
  • from Luther Vandross
    • 2001 "Take You Out" #26 US
  • from Dance with My Father
    • 2004 "Dance with My Father" #38 US, #21 UK

Biographies

  • (2004). Luther : The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross. New York: Harper. ISBN: 0060594187

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Blige, Usher, Fantasia , Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Angie Stone, and Jamie Foxx. These campaigns have involved figures such as Pope John Paul, Dorismar, Los Tigres del Norte and Mana. The artists on this compilation include Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Conservationists in Mexico and the United States have launched "Don't Eat Sea Turtle" campaigns in order to reduce the urban black market trade in sea turtle products. The album is a collection of some of Luther's songs performed by various artists. Estimates are as high as 35,000 turtles killed a year in Mexico and the same number in Nicaragua. On September 20th the album "So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross" was released. This is a pervasive problem throughout the world, but especially a concern in India, Indonesia and throughout the coastal nations of Latin America.

In 2002, BET put the question to Vandross in an interview televised on its show Journeys in Black. Vandross refused to address questions of his sexuality, and instead told BET it was none of their business and separated his personal life from his professional one. One of the biggest threats to sea turtles is the black market trade in eggs and meat. Vandross was as famous for keeping his personal life private as he was for his singing. Special lighting ordinances may also be enforced to prevent lights from shining on the beach and confusing young hatchlings from thinking it is the moon or sun and crawling toward it, usually crossing a road. The entertainer said his "busy lifestyle" made marriage difficult; and indicated that "it was not what he wanted.". This is not the best thing to do, as many turtle species return to the beach on which they were born. The "lifelong bachelor" never had any children, but doted on his nieces and nephews. In some areas, such as the East coast of Florida, after the adult turtles lay their eggs, they are dug up and relocated to special fenced nurseries where they can be protected from beach traffic.

There have been many questions regarding Vandross' sexuality, mainly due to the fact that he remained a bachelor all of his life. Since sea turtles return to the same locations to nest, these areas may be protected by special police. He has been quoted as calling Vandross "a very worthy rival," and "one of the best singers in the music industry.". Beach development is another very, very large area which has threatened sea turtles. However, since Vandross' death, Jackson's feelings have turned noticeably softer. Another danger comes from marine debris, especially from abandonded fishing nets in which they can become entangled. Even some music critics joked, "Well, it's a shame that Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson never did 'The Girl is Mine' together!". Small and inexpensive changes to fishing techniques, such as slightly larger hooks and traps from which sea turtles can escape, can dramatically cut the mortality rate.

When the song came out, Brandy was often compared to Vandross, and Monica was inserted into Jackson's role. According to researchers at the 24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, in Costa Rica the Pacific Leatherback has ten years before extinction if nothing is done to reverse these problems. Because of this, they are blamed for inspiring future rivalries in R&B/hip-hop music, especially that of Brandy and Monica, who recorded a duet called "The Boy is Mine" in 1998. Each year it is said that 40,000 turtles die from longlines alone. Many times, Vandross and Jackson were very unfriendly to each other, and their encounters were often heated. These days though their biggest threat comes from long-line fishing, and as bycatch in shrimp nets, as well as over development on nesting beaches. Vandross' best-known rivalry was the one with Freddie Jackson, which was started in the mid-1980s. And coastal peoples have always gathered turtle eggs for consumption.

In later years, artists like Gerald Levert, James Ingram and Phil Collins shared friendly rivalries with him. They used to be hunted on a large scale in the whaling days for their meat, fat and shells. In the early stages of his solo career, Vandross' rivals included Peabo Bryson, Teddy Pendergrass and Jeffrey Osborne. The Flat back is considered Data Deficient due to lack of research. It was with Beyoncé that he recorded yet another cover of a well-known song, "The Closer I Get To You", originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. The Olive ridley, Loggerhead, and Green turtles are considered Endangered. Besides Studdard, Vandross also inspired countless other artists, both male and female, such as Boyz II Men, Usher, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Brandy. The Leatherback, Kemp's ridley, and Hawksbill turtles are listed as Critically Endangered.

Vandross inspired his J Records labelmate, Ruben Studdard, the American Idol of 2003. Spotila's book "Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation"). His hit "Love Power" included snippets of the soul classic "The Power of Love." Another hit, "Bad Boy (Having a Party)," contained a passage from Sam Cooke's "Having a Party.". Sea turtles of all species are endangered (for an excellent reference see James R. Vandross did many covers of older songs, such as "Since I Lost My Baby" (originally recorded by The Temptations), "Superstar (Until You Come Back To Me)" (originally recorded by The Carpenters and most recently covered by Ruben Studdard), "Love Won't Let Me Wait" (originally recorded by Major Harris), "Always and Forever" (originally recorded by Heatwave), "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (originally recorded by Stevie Wonder), and "Lovely Day" (originally recorded by Bill Withers), and "A House is Not A Home", a Burt Bacharach standard. Only a very small proportion of them (at most 1 in 100) will be successful, as many predators are waiting to eat them. Vandross was inspired by the soul divas of the 1960s: Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle & the Bluebells, Diana Ross & the Supremes and Aretha Franklin, for whom he eventually produced a few albums. When the eggs hatch, these baby turtles dig their way out and seek the ocean.

After two days of viewing, Vandross was buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. Incubation takes about 2 months. His funeral was in New York on July 8, 2005. Some of the eggs are unfertilized 'dummy eggs' and the rest contain young turtles. We lost Luther very early because of his medical condition, but his legacy will be a powerful legacy.". They dig a hole with their hind flippers and lay from 100 to 150 eggs in it (depending on the species) before covering it up and returning to the ocean. Jesse Jackson, a friend of Vandross, described him as "a boy so mellow, so powerful; a boy of rare, rare vintage. They make from four to seven nests per nesting season.

The Rev. This can take place every two to four years in maturity. It was reported that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends. After about 30 years of maturing an adult female sea turtle returns to the land to nest, usually on the same beach from which they hatched. At this time, the cause of death is not known, although hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh has said that Vandross never recovered from the 2003 stroke. The numbers used to range in the thousands but these days due to the effects of extensive egg poaching and hunting in previous years the numbers are in the hundreds. He was 54. With the Kemp's ridley this occurs during the day and on only one beach in the entire world.

Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. The ridley turtles are especially peculiar because instead of nesting individually like the other species, they come ashore in one mass arrival known as an "arribada" (the arrival). On the videotape on which Vandross appeared he sent an emotional message that said: "Whenever I say goodbye it's never for long because I believe in the power of love." Vandross died on July 1, 2005 at John F. The fact that most species return to nest at the locations they were born at seems to indicate an imprint of that location's magnetic features. (Although the cause of Vandross' stroke was not specifically attributed to diabetes, diabetics have been identified as being much more susceptible to strokes.) Although he appeared briefly on videotape at the 2004 Grammys to accept his Song of the Year award, he was never seen in public again. They are highly sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field and probably use it to navigate. On April 16, 2003, Vandross suffered a stroke in his home in Manhattan. Sea turtles have an extraordinary sense of time and location.

Luther Jr.'s two sisters and a brother also predeceased him. The Leatherback is the only sea turtle that doesn't have a hard shell instead carrying a mosaic of bony plates beneath its leathery skin. was eight years old. Different species are distinguished by varying anatomical aspects: for instance the prefrontal scales on the head, the number of and shape of scutes on the carapace, and the type of inframarginal scutes on the plastron. His father, Luther Sr., died of complications from diabetes when Luther Jr. Most other species are smaller being two to four feet in length (0.5 to 1 m) and proportionally less wide. His weight fluctuated several times over the years, and Vandross had weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) at his heaviest. The Leatherback is the largest, measuring six or seven feet (2 m) in length at maturity, and three to five feet (1 to 1.5 m) in width, weighing up to 1300 pounds (600 kg).

Vandross had diabetes, a disease that ran in his family, as well as hypertension. The Flatback turtle is found solely on the northern coast of Australia. The stars include Beyonce, Ruben Studdard, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones submitted home videos or pictures of their families for the music video.
Sea turtles are found in all the world's oceans with the exception of the Arctic Ocean, and some species travel between oceans. The video for the title track features a various celebreties alongside their dads and family members. There are seven surviving species of sea turtle, all endangered:. The album was also the first album by Vandross to reach #1 on the Billboard album chart. Sea turtles are large, ocean-dwelling turtles.

The song also won Vandross his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. Family Protostegidae (extinct). The title track, which was dedicated to the memory of the younger Vandross' childhood dances with his father, won Luther and his co-writer, singer Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback Sea Turtle). In 2003, Vandross released the album Dance With My Father in memory of his father. Genus Dermochelys

    . His first album on Clive Davis' new label, entitled Luther Vandross, was released in 2001, and it produced the hits "Take You Out," "Grown Thangs" and "I'd Rather.". Family Dermochelyidae
      .

      After recording "I Know" on Virgin Records, he signed with J Records. Family Thalassemyidae (extinct). A second greatest hits album, released in 1997, compiled most of his 1990s hits and was his final record released through Epic Records. Family Toxochelyidae (extinct). In the Grammy Awards of 1997, he won his third Best Male R&B Vocal for the track "Your Secret Love". Natator depressus (Flatback Turtle) (Previously in Chelonia). He also sang a duet with Frank Sinatra on Sinatra's Duets album. Genus Natator

        .

        Vandross hit the top ten again in 1994 with "Endless Love", a duet with Mariah Carey and a cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's hit song from the film Endless Love. Syllomus aegypticus (extinct). In 1993, Vandross had a nonspeaking role in the Robert Townsend movie Meteor Man. He played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's title character. Genus Syllomus

          . In 1992, "The Best Things in Life are Free", a duet with Janet Jackson from the movie Mo' Money became a hit. Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Sea Turtle). He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 1992 with the track "Power of Love/Love Power" winning the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in the same year. Genus Eretmochelys
            .

            More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991's Power of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. Chelonia mydas (Green Sea Turtle). His songs also became popular on smooth jazz radio. Genus Chelonia

              . In addition, the song allowed him to expand his musical horizons beyond R&B. Subfamily Cheloniinae
                . "Here and Now" became a staple at weddings, and on Soft AC radio. Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp's Ridley).

                He also won his first award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1991. Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley). The 1989 compilation of greatest hits, The Best Of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love, included the ballad "Here And Now", the first Vandross single to chart in the Billboard pop chart Top Ten. Genus Lepidochelys

                  . (Franklin saw some moderate commercial success with those Vandross-produced tracks after a long chart absence.). Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle). He was also in demand as a producer; he was at the helm for Aretha Franklin's albums "Jump To It" and "Get It Right". Caretta patriciae (extinct).

                  He also sang duets with Dionne Warwick and Cheryl Lynn. Genus Caretta

                    . During the 1980s, Vandross had two other singles that reached #1 on the R&B charts: "Stop to Love" in 1986 and a duet with Gregory Hines "There's Nothing Better Than Love". Subfamily Carettinae
                      . Vandross had more modest success on the pop charts during this time. Family Cheloniidae
                        . Although the albums were very successful overall, many of his earlier albums made a much bigger impact on the R&B charts.

                        Vandross released a series of million-selling albums during the 1980s and continued his session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme in 1982. Their 1980 hits, "The Glow of Love" and "Searching" led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the LP "Never Too Much." The album, which contained the track "A House is Not a Home" went double platinum, with the song "Never Too Much" reaching #1 on the R&B charts. He eventually made his breakthrough as a guest singer with the group Change. His lead vocals can be heard on the Gregg Diamond produced single "Hot Butterfly" from Bionic Boogie in 1978 which gained moderate nightclub success.

                        He created and/or sang jingles for such well known advertising campaigns as Kentucky Fried Chicken's "We Do Chicken Right," NBC's "Proud As A Peacock" & The US Army's "Be All You Can Be." Vandross continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 70's. Vandross also wrote and sang commercials jingles during the late 1970s & early '80s earning upwards of $600,000 per year around the New York area. Vandross bought back the rights to these albums after the record label dropped the group, preventing their later re-release. The group had a successful single entitled "It's Good for the Soul," although their two albums - the self-titled "Luther" in 1976 and "This Close to You" in 1977 - failed to make an impact.

                        Before his breakthrough, he released two albums with a singing group he formed, also called Luther, on Cotillion Records. She believed he was an incredible talent who, in addition to his songwriting and production skills, deserved to be heard for his si. Roberta Flack pushed Vandross into starting his own career. During the beginning of his career, Vandross was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists.

                        Vandross also sang backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Chic, and Barbra Streisand. He ended up singing background vocals on Bowie's album Young Americans.. Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice," for the 1972 show The Wiz. However, Vandross had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing in David Bowie's soul-influenced Diamond Dogs tour and appear as the opening act with the Mike Garson Band in 1974. His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972.

                        He was also a member of a theater workshop at the time and appeared on the first episode of Sesame Street in October 1969. His first recording credit was as producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968 and appeared as a vocalist on a Quincy Jones album Best in 1969. Vandross formed a vocal group in high school which once played at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. He knew then that he wanted to be a singer.

                        His life-changing moment came when at the age of 13 he heard Dionne Warwick sing Anyone Who Had A Heart (a song he would cover in his later years). His sister sang with vocal group The Crests who had a number one hit in the early 1960's with "Sixteen Candles." Vandross' father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Vandross grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was 13. .

                        He won four Grammy awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance With My Father," co-written with Richard Marx. During his career, Vandross sold 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B singer. ISBN: 0060594187.

                        New York: Harper. Luther : The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross. (2004). 2004 "Dance with My Father" #38 US, #21 UK.

                        from Dance with My Father

                          . 2001 "Take You Out" #26 US. from Luther Vandross
                            . 1996 "Your Secret Love" #14 UK.

                            from Your Secret Love

                              . 1995 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (remix) (with Janet Jackson) #7 UK. 1995 "Power Of Love - Love Power" (remix) #31 UK. non-album-related remix singles
                                .

                                1995 "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" #22 UK. 1995 "Always and Forever" #20 UK. 1994 "Endless Love" (with Mariah Carey) #2 US, #3 UK. from Songs

                                  .

                                  1993 "Love Is on the Way" #38 UK. 1993 "Heaven Knows" #34 UK. 1993 "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" #28 UK. from Never Let Me Go

                                    .

                                    1992 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Janet Jackson and special guests BBD & Ralph Tresvant) #10 US, #2 UK. from Mo' Money soundtrack

                                      . 1991 "Power of Love - Love Power" #4 US. 1991 "Don't Want to Be a Fool" #9 US.

                                      from Power of Love

                                        . 1989 "Never Too Much" (remix) #13 UK. 1989 "Here and Now" #6 US. from The Best of Luther Vandross: The Best of Love
                                          .

                                          1989 "She Won't Talk to Me" #30 US, #34 UK. 1988 "Any Love" #31 UK. from Any Love

                                            . 1988 "I Gave It Up (When I Fell in Love)" #28 UK.

                                            1988 "Give Me the Reason" (re-issue) #26 UK. 1987 "So Amazing" #33 UK. 1987 "I Really Didn't Mean It" #16 UK. 1986 "Stop to Love" #15 US, #24 UK (1987 release).

                                            from Give Me the Reason

                                              . 1985 "'Til My Baby Comes Home" #29 US. from The Night I Fell in Love
                                                . 1983 "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" #27 US.

                                                from Busy Body

                                                  . 1981 "A House Is Not A Hime" #? US. 1981 "Never Too Much" #33 US. from Never Too Much
                                                    .