Luthor Vandross has died

*Raph's Girl* · 07-01-2005, 05:19 PM

The local news just reported on the sudden death of singer Luthor Vandross. Here's the yahoo! news article I found...they're dropping like flies!!! flies!!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor.../obit_vandross

Grammy award winner Luther Vandross, whose deep, lush voice on such hits as "Here and Now" and "Any Love" sold more than 25 million albums while providing the romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide, died Friday. He was 54.

Vandross died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. He did not release the cause of death.

Since suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home on April 16, 2003, the R&B crooner stopped making public appearances — but amazingly managed to continue his recording career. In 2004, he captured four Grammys as a sentimental favorite, including best song for the bittersweet "Dance With My Father."

Vandross, who was still in a wheelchair at the time, delivered a videotaped thank you.

"Remember, when I say goodbye it's never for long," said a weak-looking Vandross. "Because" — he broke into his familiar hit — "I believe in the power of love."

Vandross also battled weight problems for years while suffering from diabetes and hypertension.

He was arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer of his generation. He made women swoon with his silky yet forceful tenor, which he often revved up like a motor engine before reaching his beautiful crescendos.

Vandross was a four-time Grammy winner in the best male R&B performance category, taking home the trophy in 1990 for the single "Here and Now," in 1991 for his album "Power of Love," in 1996 for the track "Your Secret Love" and a last time for "Dance With My Father."

The album, with its single of the same name, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts while Vandross remained hospitalized from his stroke. It was the first time a Vandross album had topped the charts in its first week of release.

In 2005, he was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for a duet with Beyonce on "The Closer I Get To You."

Vandross' sound was so unusual few tried to copy it; even fewer could.

"I'm proud of that — it's one of the things that I'm most proud of," he told The Associated Press in a 2001 interview. "I was never compared to anyone in terms of sound."

Vandross' style harkened back to a more genteel era of crooning. While many of his contemporaries and successors belted out tunes that were sexually charged and explicit, Vandross preferred soft pillow talk and songs that spoke to heartfelt emotions.

"I'm more into poetry and metaphor, and I would much rather imply something rather than to blatantly state it," he said. "You blatantly state stuff sometimes when you can't think of a a poetic way to say it."

A career in music seemed predestined for the New York native; both his parents were singers, and his sister, Patricia, was part of a 1950s group called the Crests.

But he happily toiled in the musical background for years before he would have his first hit. He wrote songs for projects as varied as a David Bowie album ("Fascination") and the Broadway musical "The Wiz" ("Everybody Rejoice (Brand New Day)"), sang backup for acts such as Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand, and even became a leading commercial jingle singer.

Vandross credited singer Roberta Flack for prodding him to move into the spotlight after listening to one of his future hits, "Never Too Much."

"She started crying," he recalled. "She said, `No, you're getting too comfortable (in the background). ... I'm going to introduce you to some people and get your career started.'"

Vandross' first big hit came as the lead vocalist for the group Change, with their 1980 hit, "The Glow of Love." That led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the disc "Never Too Much." The album, which contained his aching rendition of "A House is Not a Home," became an instant classic.

Over the years, Vandross would emerge as the leading romantic singer of his generation, racking up one platinum album after another and charting several R&B hits, such as "Superstar," "Give Me The Reason" and "Love Won't Let Me Wait."

Yet, while Vandross was a household name in the black community, he was frustrated by his failure to become a mainstream pop star. Indeed, it took Vandross until 1990 to score his first top 10 hit — the wedding staple "Here & Now."

"I just wanted more success. I didn't want to suddenly start wearing blond wigs to appeal to anyone," he told the AP.

"This is the same voice that sang Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola, NBC 'proud as a peacock,' ... America, the world, has heard the voice, so there's no reason that that music shouldn't have gone the complete distance, I mean, to number one."

Another frustration for Vandross was his lifelong battle with obesity. Health problems ran in his family, and Vandross struggled for years to control his waistline. When he first became a star, he was a hefty size; a few years later, he was almost skinny. His weight fluctuated so much that rumors swirled that he had more serious health problems than the hypertension and diabetes caused by his large frame.

Vandross' two sisters and a brother died before him. The lifelong bachelor never had any children, but doted on his nieces and nephews. The entertainer said his busy lifestyle made marriage difficult; besides, it wasn't what he wanted.

Raph's Girl note: I LOVE "Dance With My Father"!!

*runs off to play the song over and over again*

**Jo Dawn** · 07-01-2005, 06:23 PM

*cries* Aww... This is really sad. I hear he was a nice uy, too. And so young!! Oh... How depressing. And I, also, love Dance With My Father. *tears up* My condolences to his family and fans everywhere. He will be missed.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 07-01-2005, 07:03 PM

Goddammit. Why all the good people? Why always the few good surviving american musicians. Sh*t.

愛 · 07-01-2005, 09:35 PM

Dude, Vandross was the man. This is such sad news.

*That Matt Guy* · 07-02-2005, 02:15 AM

His music will forever be played in grocery stores and elevators across the nation.

*XERO* · 07-02-2005, 07:08 PM

That's really messed up.

RIP. Luther. The world is yours now.

~~BartAllen~~ · 07-03-2005, 09:04 AM

54? man i hope to make it PAST that age.

*R-iZZy* · 07-05-2005, 06:44 PM

Yeah, this news tore me up when I heard it.

R.I.P. Vandross... may your legacy live on!

Doppleganger · 07-07-2005, 05:20 PM

Oh wow! I can't believe that. I've gotta visit this part of the forums more often...

Misfit · 07-08-2005, 02:12 PM

I was sad about this. If Only For One Night is one of my favourite songs.

*The Stryker* · 07-09-2005, 04:34 AM

1 Down 2 to go.

07-01-2005, 05:19 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Luthor Vandross has died The local news just reported on the sudden death of singer Luthor Vandross. Here's the yahoo! news article I found...they're dropping like flies!!! flies!! http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor.../obit_vandross Grammy award winner Luther Vandross, whose deep, lush voice on such hits as "Here and Now" and "Any Love" sold more than 25 million albums while providing the romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide, died Friday. He was 54. Vandross died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. He did not release the cause of death. Since suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home on April 16, 2003, the R&B crooner stopped making public appearances — but amazingly managed to continue his recording career. In 2004, he captured four Grammys as a sentimental favorite, including best song for the bittersweet "Dance With My Father." Vandross, who was still in a wheelchair at the time, delivered a videotaped thank you. "Remember, when I say goodbye it's never for long," said a weak-looking Vandross. "Because" — he broke into his familiar hit — "I believe in the power of love." Vandross also battled weight problems for years while suffering from diabetes and hypertension. He was arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer of his generation. He made women swoon with his silky yet forceful tenor, which he often revved up like a motor engine before reaching his beautiful crescendos. Vandross was a four-time Grammy winner in the best male R&B performance category, taking home the trophy in 1990 for the single "Here and Now," in 1991 for his album "Power of Love," in 1996 for the track "Your Secret Love" and a last time for "Dance With My Father." The album, with its single of the same name, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts while Vandross remained hospitalized from his stroke. It was the first time a Vandross album had topped the charts in its first week of release. In 2005, he was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for a duet with Beyonce on "The Closer I Get To You." Vandross' sound was so unusual few tried to copy it; even fewer could. "I'm proud of that — it's one of the things that I'm most proud of," he told The Associated Press in a 2001 interview. "I was never compared to anyone in terms of sound." Vandross' style harkened back to a more genteel era of crooning. While many of his contemporaries and successors belted out tunes that were sexually charged and explicit, Vandross preferred soft pillow talk and songs that spoke to heartfelt emotions. "I'm more into poetry and metaphor, and I would much rather imply something rather than to blatantly state it," he said. "You blatantly state stuff sometimes when you can't think of a a poetic way to say it." A career in music seemed predestined for the New York native; both his parents were singers, and his sister, Patricia, was part of a 1950s group called the Crests. But he happily toiled in the musical background for years before he would have his first hit. He wrote songs for projects as varied as a David Bowie album ("Fascination") and the Broadway musical "The Wiz" ("Everybody Rejoice (Brand New Day)"), sang backup for acts such as Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand, and even became a leading commercial jingle singer. Vandross credited singer Roberta Flack for prodding him to move into the spotlight after listening to one of his future hits, "Never Too Much." "She started crying," he recalled. "She said, `No, you're getting too comfortable (in the background). ... I'm going to introduce you to some people and get your career started.'" Vandross' first big hit came as the lead vocalist for the group Change, with their 1980 hit, "The Glow of Love." That led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the disc "Never Too Much." The album, which contained his aching rendition of "A House is Not a Home," became an instant classic. Over the years, Vandross would emerge as the leading romantic singer of his generation, racking up one platinum album after another and charting several R&B hits, such as "Superstar," "Give Me The Reason" and "Love Won't Let Me Wait." Yet, while Vandross was a household name in the black community, he was frustrated by his failure to become a mainstream pop star. Indeed, it took Vandross until 1990 to score his first top 10 hit — the wedding staple "Here & Now." "I just wanted more success. I didn't want to suddenly start wearing blond wigs to appeal to anyone," he told the AP. "This is the same voice that sang Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola, NBC 'proud as a peacock,' ... America, the world, has heard the voice, so there's no reason that that music shouldn't have gone the complete distance, I mean, to number one." Another frustration for Vandross was his lifelong battle with obesity. Health problems ran in his family, and Vandross struggled for years to control his waistline. When he first became a star, he was a hefty size; a few years later, he was almost skinny. His weight fluctuated so much that rumors swirled that he had more serious health problems than the hypertension and diabetes caused by his large frame. Vandross' two sisters and a brother died before him. The lifelong bachelor never had any children, but doted on his nieces and nephews. The entertainer said his busy lifestyle made marriage difficult; besides, it wasn't what he wanted. Raph's Girl note: I LOVE "Dance With My Father"!! runs off to play the song over and over again __________________

07-01-2005, 06:23 PM	#2
Jo Dawn Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Authority On All Things Don Posts: 5,190	cries Aww... This is really sad. I hear he was a nice uy, too. And so young!! Oh... How depressing. And I, also, love Dance With My Father. tears up My condolences to his family and fans everywhere. He will be missed. __________________

07-01-2005, 07:03 PM	#3
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	Goddammit. Why all the good people? Why always the few good surviving american musicians. Sh*t. __________________

07-02-2005, 07:08 PM	#6
XERO Hybrid Theorist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alamo City Posts: 8,185	That's really messed up. RIP. Luther. The world is yours now. __________________ "Travel at the speed of light... then hit the nitro!"

07-05-2005, 06:44 PM	#8
R-iZZy The Long Con Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: G'ville, FL (Gator Country), USA Posts: 3,007	Yeah, this news tore me up when I heard it. R.I.P. Vandross... may your legacy live on! __________________

07-01-2005, 09:35 PM	#4
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	Dude, Vandross was the man. This is such sad news.

07-02-2005, 02:15 AM	#5
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	His music will forever be played in grocery stores and elevators across the nation.

07-03-2005, 09:04 AM	#7
~~BartAllen~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 922	54? man i hope to make it PAST that age.

07-07-2005, 05:20 PM	#9
Doppleganger Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 687	Oh wow! I can't believe that. I've gotta visit this part of the forums more often... __________________

07-08-2005, 02:12 PM	#10
Misfit Stone Warrior Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 508	I was sad about this. If Only For One Night is one of my favourite songs. __________________ My LiveJournal My Fanfiction "I'm the pretty one!" - Mikey in "Meet Casey Jones".

07-09-2005, 04:34 AM	#11
The Stryker Stupid Rich Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Room 237 Posts: 11,152	1 Down 2 to go. __________________ @~<3 Mom~@