Topic: Luther Vandross is Dead bet.com
- Jul 2, 2005 05:31am by NRG - livin the art that is life !
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\http://www.hiphopkc.com/albums/album01/f59a0110_16b7_82b6_5678_07987f729604_Luther_bb_070105
By Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur, BET.com Staff Writer
Posted July 1, 2005 -- Luther Vandross, the velvet-voiced soul singer, who sold more than 25 million records during an illustrious career that included four Grammys just last year, died Friday. He was 54.
At press time the exact cause of death was unknown. His death occurred Friday at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J. Vandross was reportedly surrounded by family, friends and his doctors when he expired at 1:47 p.m. (ET), according to a statement released by the hospital.
"Throughout his illness, Luther received excellent medical care and attention from his medical team," medical center spokesman Rob Cavanaugh said. Luther was deeply touched by all the thoughts and wishes from his fans."
Vandross, whose most memorable hits include "Here and Now" and "Any Love," had never quite recovered from a stroke he suffered in April 2003 at his New York City home.
Prior to the stroke, Vandross recorded an album, Dance With My Father, which secured four Grammys for the R&B balladeer. The album featured such stars as Queen Latifah, Beyoncé, Foxy Brown and Busta Rhymes. But, according to recording industry insiders, he never truly recuperated from the ailment that severely hampered his motor skills.
His spirit was not hindered at all despite his physical limitations.
Fonzi Thornton, who worked closely with Vandross, said in 2003 that the singer’s will to live was as strong as the music he released throughout his illustrious career.
"Luther is doing well, but he's a work in progress," Thornton said to BET.com. "He is able to speak. He's walking with assistance. He's singing…he's very optimistic. He's already talking about the next album and telling me about song ideas. So, that means he's looking to the future.â€
His past is one that will forever ring in the annals of music history.
The Grammy Award winner exploded on the scene in the early 1980’s when his Epic/CBS Records single “Never Too Much,†from Never Too Much, sold double platinum domestically. Other albums like Forever, for Always, for Love (1983) and Give Me The Reason (1986) cemented the singer's iconic status. In 1989, a greatest hits collection, The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love, yielded his first No. 1 hit, “Here And Now.†The hefty singer would continue to craft masterworks like 1991's Power of Love.
Earlier still, the New York native started writing songs and commercial jingles in the 70’s and was finally discovered by rocker David Bowie. He co-wrote the classic song “Fame†and opened the superstar’s tour at the time. He sang back-up for the likes of Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan and Barbra Streisand prior to being a household name in the Black community.
Fans, friends, family and associates like author/entertainment journalist Karu F. Daniels are recollecting their loving memories with Vandross.
"This news saddens me,†Daniels told BET.com. “Just five years ago on this very day, rumors were circulating that he died suddenly. It was during the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. I remember vividly because he was scheduled to perform there that year. In true Luther fashion, he remained mum and didn't surface until the night of the show. I remember him dressed in all white during the intro and him teasing the audience in a spooky voice saying he was the ghost of Luther Vandross.â€
Continuing, he said, “Backstage, I got to talk to him candidly. I will never forget that night. He put on one hell of a show... Oh, I have great memories of him. While I wasn't close to him, I was quite fond of him.â€
Davey D, an Oakland-based journalist and activist, also had humorous memories to share.
“When I was part of the morning team at KMEL back in the early 90s. Our main host, Renel, was a huge Luther fan. Anyway I was new to the game and I went on air and made a couple of Luther eating chicken jokes and said he couldn't sing,†Davey said. “You wanna get sisters pissed off? Make fun of Luther. Yo, I caught crazy heat. That was over 10 years ago and I still have people who get on me about that. Then I met dude when he came to the station and he was the coolest cat in the world.â€
The singer, that was born April 20, 1951, has sold over 25 million records in his remarkable career and impacted millions upon million with his smooth, heartfelt voice.
Conscious, a spoken word artist from New York, said, “Luther Vandross had a subtle but powerful approach, that was unlike any other. His music seemed so sincere and perfect. The soundtrack for good feelings dancing between your ears long after the record ceased playing. The sprit in his music will never cease playing and will continue to inspire listeners for years to come.â€
This inspiration is already coming to light. Acts like Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion have already supplied vocals to a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-headed tribute album. The album comes through Vandross’ label, J Records, and label mates Fantasia, Ruben Studdard and Angie Stone are going to be features as well.
Vandross is survived by his mother, Mary, and his nieces and nephews. His two sisters and a brother died before him.
Project Islamic Hope is hosting a a candlelight vigil in Luther Vandross' honor in Lemiert Park, 3415 West 43rd Place, in Los Angeles' Crenshaw district on Saturday, July 2 from 6 p.m. (PT) - until.
- Jul 2, 2005 05:43am by NRG - livin the art that is life !
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while I was walking Beasley, I met up my friend Mark Manning (host of the Mid-day Medley on kkfi) and mark shared with me some little known infomation about Luther Vandross.
did you know that Luther was a back up singer for bett midler. He was on of the Harlets. He sang off stage, because of his sensitivity surrounding his weight.
did you know that Luther wrote some songs for David Bowie and that Bowie saught him out specifically because of his particular sound
did you know (I think you do) that Luther use to tour with Patti LaBelle early in his career.
share any stories personal (what role his music played in your life )or
otherwise ( maybe there are other stories you've heard) about Luther.
I mos def shared Luther Vandross with my family and friends.
holla
- Jul 7, 2005 04:30pm by NRG - livin the art that is life !
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2975731.stm
Obituary: Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross: Silky balladeer
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was born on 20 April 1951 in a poor Bronx neighbourhood of New York City. His family was immersed in gospel and soul music.
His sister sang with a group called The Crests during the Phil Spector/girl group era and had a number one hit with a record called Sixteen Candles. His father died as a result of diabetes when Luther was eight.
So dominant was music in his life that a promising school record was one day suddenly ruined.
"I was so distraught when Diana Ross left The Supremes that my grades went dramatically downhill and, soon after, I dropped out of school. Everything else suddenly seemed meaningless."
After struggling as a musician, his first break came in 1972 when his composition Everybody Rejoice (A Brand New Day) was included in the hit Broadway musical The Wiz.
Two years later, at the age of 23, he visited a high school friend who was playing with David Bowie.
The Englishman was impressed on overhearing Vandross improvising a line from his song Young Americans and invited him to sing backing vocals on the album of the same name.
He then toured with Bowie and his vocal talent was soon in demand in sessions with such stars as Chaka Khan, Ringo Starr, Donna Summer, Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand.
Romantic
He made a living singing advertising jingles and fronted a largely unsuccessful band called Luther before launching a solo career in 1981.
Crossover success came in 1990
Never Too Much earned him an R&B number one, while the accompanying album reached the US Top 20.
Vandross's niche became the luxuriantly arranged romantic ballad delivered in his silky baritone voice, always safe and reassuring. He was particularly popular with female audiences.
Despite achieving heavy airplay on black radio stations, it took a long time for Vandross to achieve the kind of "crossover" popularity of other contemporary black artists like Lionel Richie and James Ingram.
The early 1980s were tough for most black artists - some say because of a backlash against disco music.
The record that changed this was Here and Now which became the most-played song at weddings in 1990. He rejected frequent charges that he watered down his music to make it more palatable for the white consumer.
Other hits followed such as Power of Love/Love Power and Don't Want to be a Fool.
Collaborations
In 1992, Luther Vandross collaborated with Janet Jackson, BBD and Ralph Tresvant on The Best Things in Life are Free, a hit taken from the movie Mo Money.
His life was dogged by ill-health
Vandross himself appeared in a cameo role as a silent hit-man in the 1993 comedy Meteor Man.
There followed another Top Ten hit Endless Love, a duet with Mariah Carey from 1994. He had also appeared on the Duets album with Frank Sinatra.
A decline in sales in the mid-1990s saw the termination of his contract with Sony. He was also increasingly troubled by diabetes and his weight would fluctuate wildly.
He suffered a severe stroke in April 2003, and did not perform in public again.
However, his album Dance With My Father, released after his stroke, went straight to Number One in the US charts.
In 2004, he won four Grammys for it, including song of the year for the title track.
He was unable to attend the awards ceremony, but sent a videotaped message from his wheelchair.
"Remember, when I say goodbye it's never for long," he said. "Because, I believe in the power of love."
- Jul 7, 2005 04:32pm by NRG - livin the art that is life !
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so amazing
- Jul 22, 2005 02:12am by NRG - livin the art that is life !
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from www.nelsongeorge.com/blog
July 1, 2005
I've been meaning to write about a lot of what I've been thinking about lately (the superficial documentary Rize, the complex iconography of Hustle & Flow, Faith's soul music reviving single "Mesmerized") but all that falls away when giants leave us. Luther Vandross was the definitive soul singer of the last twentyfive years. Since he emerged with Change at the dawn of the '80s singing "Glow of Love" and "Searching," Luther's velvet tone and nuanced phrasing have given him few peers in art of smooth vocalizing. His cognac mellow delivery recalled Nat 'King' Cole and his ability to interpret ballads was amazing, both for the emotion he evoked in listeners and the technical precision with which he sang. For me his classic album is 'The Night I Fell in Love,' which moves from strenght to strenght. But you couldn't go wrong with any of his first five albums, which are full of exceptional songs and singing. One of the greatest performances I've ever seen in concert was by Luther at Radio City Music Hall during the late '80s. I was reviewing the show for Billboard and keeping notes. Luther performed only eight songs over a 90 minute set, but those eight songs were so carefully arranged, extended and executed he was able to fill that vast hall with his voice and his always beautifuuly staged productions. For years he had the same touring band, back ground singers and road crew. Together they made his show's THE date of the year everytime he came to town. Sadly there is no true inheritor of Luther's place in the r&b pantheon. Maxwell had a shot. So did D'Angelo. But right now his death lives in huge vacuum in the rich tradition of male soul singers.
Late last week another icon of a fading African-American tradition died. George Woods was the dominant voice of black radio in Philadelphia from the late '50s right into the '80s. He hosted shows at the Uptown Theater (Philly's Apollo,) helped break the records that made the Philly Sound a national movement and, just as important, became a major political figure in his city, fighting for civil rights on the air and getting arrested at demonstrations in the streets. George Woods aka "the guy with the goods" is both a disk jockey and a activist in the City of Brotherly Love, a combination of roles it's hard to imagine today's major market DJs being able to maintain. Back when I wrote The Death of Rhythm & Blues in '88 Luther was one of the few voices that was sucessfully fighting against the tide and Woods was a radio fixture and throwback to the days when black radio was a crucial platform for our people. In the 21st century our connections to that past weaken by the day.
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