History Music / LutherVandross

* TheCoverChangesTheGender: Averted, Vandross covered "Killing Me Softly with His Song" in 1994 and he did not change the gender of the subject in the song.

+ Music/ArethaFranklin, Music/DianaRoss, Music/MarvinGaye, Music/PattiLabelle, Music/StevieWonder, Music/DionneWarwick, Music/RobertaFlack Music/DonnyHathaway, Music/NatKingCole, Music/SamCooke, Music/PeaboBryson, Music/DavidBowie, Music/BetteMidler]

+ Music/ArethaFranklin, Music/DianaRoss, Music/MarvinGaye, Music/PattiLabelle, Music/StevieWonder, Music/DionneWarwick, Music/RobertaFlack Music/DonnyHathaway, Music/NatKingCole, Music/SamCooke, Music/PeaboBryson]

+ Music/{{Usher}}, Music/JohnLegend, Music/NeYo, Music/RubenStuddard, Music/DAngelo, Music/HootieAndTheBlowfish, Music/DariusRucker, Music/BoyzIIMen]

+ Music/{{Usher}}, Music/JohnLegend, Music/NeYo, Music/RubenStuddard, Music/DAngelo, Music/HootieAndTheBlowish, Music/DariusRucker, Music/BoyzIIMen]

+ Music/ArethaFranklin, Music/MarvinGaye, Music/StevieWonder, Music/DonnyHathaway, Music/NatKingCole, Music/SamCooke]

His big break took place when Music/DavidBowie overheard Vandross discussing vocal arrangements with guitarist Carlos Alomar. Vandross was invited by Bowie to sing and arrange background vocals on his ''Music/YoungAmericans'' album. (He also co-wrote one of the album's songs, "Fascination.") Shortly thereafter, Vandross found fairly steady work as a background and commercial jingle singer, earning the occasional featured vocal credit along the way.

Unfortunately, his own health troubles -- he had a notorious love of extremely unhealthy food[[note]]The "Luther burger", a bacon double cheeseburger with grilled Krispy Kreme doughnut halves in place of a regular hamburger bun, was named after Vandross and maligned by [[WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks Aaron McGruder]][[/note]] and otherwise lived poorly -- had taken a serious toll on him. Vandross suffered a stroke shortly after completing ''Dance With My Father'', leaving him unable to personally accept the four Grammy Awards he won that year.

Unfortunately, his own health troubles--he had a notorious love of extremely unhealthy food[[note]]The "Luther burger", a bacon double cheeseburger with grilled Krispy Kreme doughnut halves in place of a regular hamburger bun, was named after Vandross and maligned by [[WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks Aaron McGruder]][[/note]] and otherwise lived poorly--had taken a serious toll on him. Vandross suffered a stroke shortly after completing ''Dance With My Father'', leaving him unable to personally accept the four Grammy Awards he won that year.

* CoverVersion: "A House is Not a Home" was originally sung by Music/DionneWarwick. It's arguable this is a case of CoveredUp as Vandross's version is more well-known and was more successful.
* MelismaticVocals: One of the more prominent male Soul singer examples.

* TransparentCloset: Luther Vandross never came out as gay while he was alive. Of course, that didn't stop the constant speculation in regards of his love life as he never married nor had children. A few of his closest friends did know, and after his death, Music/PattiLabelle would confirm that he was gay.

----

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as Music/TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and Music/DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) ''Theatre/TheWiz''.

In 1981, Vandross released his first solo album, ''Never Too Much'', which quickly found admiration among R&B fans. His next five albums, ''Forever, For Always, For Love'', ''Busy Body'', ''The Night I Fell In Love'', ''Give Me The Reason'' and ''Any Love'' were also extraordinarily popular. His music is known for being deeply romantic and sensual; it is often joked that if you were born in the 80's or early 90's, there's a chance you owe your conception to him.

Vandross, however, also sought crossover success. Later hits such as “Here and Now”, “Power of Love/Love Power”, “The Best Things In Life Are Free” (a duet with Music/JanetJackson) and “Endless Love” (a duet with Music/MariahCarey and cover of the Music/LionelRichie and Music/DianaRoss song) proved very popular with both pop and R&B audiences. The coveted #1 pop spot eluded Vandross until 2003, when he released the title track from his album ''Dance With My Father'', a tribute to his father who passed away when he was eight.

Despite his reputation for romantic songs, he never married and had no known relationships with women, leading to popular speculation that he was gay. Songs such as “Dance With My Father” and “Any Love” have been interpreted as evidence of this.

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as Music/TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and Music/DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) Theatre/TheWiz.

-->"Never Too Much"

'''Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.''' (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as Music/TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and Music/DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) Theatre/TheWiz.

Despite his reputation for romantic songs, he never married and had no known relationships with women, leading to popular speculation that he was gay. Songs such as ''Dance With My Father'' and ''Any Love'' have been interpreted as evidence of this.

'''Luther Vandross''' (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as Music/TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and Music/DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) Theatre/TheWiz.

'''Luther Vandross''' (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) Theatre/TheWiz.

Vandross, however, also sought crossover success. Later hits such as “Here and Now”, “Power of Love/Love Power”, “The Best Things In Life Are Free” (a duet with JanetJackson) and “Endless Love” (a duet with MariahCarey and cover of the LionelRichie and DianaRoss song) proved very popular with both pop and R&B audiences. The coveted #1 pop spot eluded Vandross until 2003, when he released the title track from his album ''Dance With My Father'', a tribute to his father who passed away when he was eight.

Unfortunately, his own health troubles--he had a notorious love of extremely unhealthy food[[note]]The "Luther burger", a bacon double cheeseburger with grilled Krispy Kreme doughnut halves in place of a regular hamburger bun, was named after Vandross and maligned by [[TheBoondocks Aaron McGruder]][[/note]] and otherwise lived poorly--had taken a serious toll on him. Vandross suffered a stroke shortly after completing ''Dance With My Father'', leaving him unable to personally accept the four Grammy Awards he won that year.

'''Luther Vandross''' (April 21, 1951 -- July 1, 2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) TheWiz.

Luther Vandross (1951-2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B[=/=]{{Soul}} during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) TheWiz.

His big break took place when Music/DavidBowie overheard Vandross discussing vocal arrangements with guitarist Carlos Alomar. Vandross was invited by Bowie to sing and arrange background vocals on his ''Young Americans'' album. Shortly thereafter, Vandross found fairly steady work as a background and commercial jingle singer, earning the occasional featured vocal credit along the way.

Despite his reputation for romantic songs, he never married and had no known relationships with women, leading to popular speculation that he was gay.

Luther Vandross (1951-2005) was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B/[[Music/{{Soul}} soul]] during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) TheWiz.

Luther Vandross was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B/[[Music/{{Soul}} soul]] during TheEighties and TheNineties. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) TheWiz.

Luther Vandross was one of the defining singers and songwriters of R&B/[[Music/{{Soul}} soul]] during the '80s and '90s. Inspired by '60s and '70s icons such as TheSupremes, Patti [=LaBelle=] and DionneWarwick, Vandross got his start by writing “Everybody Rejoice” for the musical (later movie) TheWiz.

Unfortunately, his own health troubles had taken a serious toll on him. Vandross suffered a stroke shortly after completing ''Dance With My Father'', leaving him unable to personally accept the four Grammy Awards he won that year.