Luther Vandross

Biography

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. ( VAN-drohss; April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA-certified platinum albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide. Vandross was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time (2023) and was named one of the greatest R&B artists by Billboard. NPR also included him among its 50 Great Voices. He won eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2004 for "Dance with My Father×Dance With My Father10 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1If I Didn't Know Better4:082Think About You5:053If It Ain't One Thing4:134Buy Me a Rose3:485The Closer I Get to You6:266Lovely Day5:577Dance With My Father4:268She Saw You5:449Apologize4:5910Hit It Again4:3711Right in the Middle4:5112Once Were Lovers4:3513Lovely Day, Part II3:5514They Said You Needed Me4:40". He has been inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Vandross began his music career in the late 1960s performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City as part of a local musical ensemble. The group later appeared on the television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s. He eventually established himself as a sought-after backing vocalist, contributing to albums by Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Todd Rundgren, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, Laura Branigan, Donna Summer, Chic, and Roxy Music. In 1980, he served as the lead vocalist for the post-disco group Change on their Gold-certified album The Glow of Love, released on Warner/RFC Records.
After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records as a solo artist and released his debut solo album, Never Too Much×Never Too Much12 August 1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Never Too Much3:51A2Sugar and Spice (I Found Me a Girl)4:57A3Don’t You Know That?4:04A4I've Been Working6:36B1She’s a Super Lady5:08B2You Stopped Loving Me5:15B3A House Is Not a Home7:10, in 1981. In 1982, he was credited as the primary producer on Aretha Franklin's album Jump to it, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. His hit songs include "Never Too Much", "Here and Now×Here and Now1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Here And Now5:22A2For You To Love5:35B1The Mix By Ben Liebrand - Mega Remix: Never Too Much / Sugar & Spice ( I Found Me A Girl) / I Really Didn't Mean It / The Glow Of Love / She's A Super Lady8:44", "Any Love×Any Love1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1I Wonder5:132She Won't Talk to Me4:373I Know You Want To4:314Come Back4:165Any Love5:056Love Won't Let Me Wait7:197Are You Gonna Love Me5:118For You to Love5:409The Second Time Around6:21", "Power of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better", and "For You to Love×For You to Love1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAFor You To Love4:28BFor You To Love (Instrumental)5:35". He also recorded several covers of songs originally performed by other artists, including "A House Is Not a Home", "Since I Lost My Baby×Since I Lost My Baby1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASince I Lost My Baby3:50BYou're the Sweetest One4:25", "Superstar", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and "Always and Forever×Always And Forever1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Always and Forever (radio edit)4:002Searching8:023The Glow of Love6:114Always and Forever (live)5:03".
Vandross collaborated on several notable duets, including "The Closer I Get to You" with Beyoncé, "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey, and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson of which the latter two were hit songs in his career. The tribute album So Amazing×So Amazing1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1So Amazing3:412So Amazing (instrumental)3:513If Only for One Night4:154Forever, for Always, for Love6:24: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released shortly after his death. In 2024, Kendrick Lamar and SZA released the chart-topping single "Luther", paying homage to Vandross and sampling his rendition of "If This World Were Mine×If This World Were Mine1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAIf This World Were Mine3:57BI Just Wanna Be Your Fantasy4:04", a duet with Cheryl Lynn. In January of that same year, he was the subject of the documentary Luther: Never Too Much, which chronicles his life, career, and legacy. In 2026, Vandross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early life

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born on April 20, 1951, at Bellevue Hospital in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Vandross was African-American. His birth occurred concurrently with General Douglas MacArthur's ticker-tape parade throughout the city. He was the fourth and youngest son of Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross Sr, and his older siblings were Patricia, Ann, and Anthony. His father was an upholsterer and singer, and his mother was a nurse. Vandross was raised on Manhattan's Lower East Side in the Alfred E. Smith Houses public housing development. At the age of three, having his own phonograph, Vandross taught himself to play the piano by ear.
His father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. In 2003, Vandross wrote the song "Dance with My Father×Dance With My Father10 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1If I Didn't Know Better4:082Think About You5:053If It Ain't One Thing4:134Buy Me a Rose3:485The Closer I Get to You6:266Lovely Day5:577Dance With My Father4:268She Saw You5:449Apologize4:5910Hit It Again4:3711Right in the Middle4:5112Once Were Lovers4:3513Lovely Day, Part II3:5514They Said You Needed Me4:40" and dedicated it to him; the title was based on his childhood memories and his mother's recollections of the family singing and dancing in the house. His family moved to the Bronx when he was nine. His older sisters, Patricia "Pat" and Ann, began taking Vandross to the Apollo Theater and to a theater in Brooklyn to see Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin perform. Patricia sang with the vocal group The Crests and was featured on the songs "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".
Vandross graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx in 1969. He attended Western Michigan University for one-and-a-half semesters before dropping out to continue pursuing a career in music.

Career

While in high school, Vandross founded the first Patti LaBelle fan club, of which he was president. He formed a quartet with other students and won a summer talent show. Because each member of the quartet attended a different school, the quartet broke up. Vandross then formed a new group, Shades of Jade, that once played at the Apollo Theater. During his early years in show business, he appeared several times at the Apollo's famous amateur night.
Vandross, along with some members of his previous two groups, joined Listen My Brother, a workshop group based at the Apollo Theater. They released one single "Only Love Can Make a Better World". The group performed in front of tens of thousands at the Harlem Cultural Festival in late August 1969. Directly afterward, the group appeared in the pilot episode and other episodes of the first season of Sesame Street during 1969–1970.

Session work and groups

Starting in 1972, Vandross began a career as a session vocalist, starting with adding backing vocals to Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway in 1972, and worked on Delores Hall's Hall-Mark album (1973), duetting with her on the song "Who's Gonna Make It Easier for Me", a song he wrote, and contributed another song, "In This Lonely Hour". In 1974, he began working with British rocker David Bowie on his album, Young Americans. In addition to contributing background vocals, most notably on the title track, which Vandross himself conducted the background, Vandross allowed Bowie to use his composition, "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)", and he and Bowie re-wrote as "Fascination". Vandross joined Bowie's tour as a backing vocalist in September 1974. Vandross also contributed the song, "Everybody Rejoice", to the Broadway musical, The Wiz (1975). During this era, Vandross would back several artists including Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Ben E. King, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Gary Glitter, Ringo Starr, Sister Sledge, and Donna Summer, and for the bands Mandrill, Chic, Roxy Music, and Todd Rundgren's Utopia.
In 1975, Vandross formed his own band, Luther, which consisted of former Shades of Jade members Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, as well as Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire. The band signed with Cotillion Records that year and released their self-titled debut, Luther, which featured the relatively successful top 40 R&B singles "It's Good for the Soul" and "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)", in 1976. A year later, the band dropped their second and final album, This Close to You (1977), featuring the top 40 R&B hit "The Second Time Around". In 1977, the band opened for Marvin Gaye at Radio City Music Hall. Neither of the band's albums sold enough copies to make the charts. After Cotillion dropped the group, Vandross bought back the rights to those albums, preventing them from being re-released. Both albums were eventually re-released in 2024. From 1977 until the early 1980s, Vandross wrote and sang commercial jingles for companies such as NBC, Mountain Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and Juicy Fruit. A year prior, in 1976, Vandross' "Everybody Rejoice" was used in a Kodak commercial.
Vandross was noted for his work with the disco group, Chic, heavily conducting background vocals for most of the band's albums, most prominently on songs×Songs20 September 1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Love the One You're With5:042Killing Me Softly5:333Endless Love4:214Evergreen3:555Reflections3:216Hello4:437Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now4:538Always and Forever4:549Going in Circles5:1110Since You've Been Gone4:1511All the Woman I Need4:5412What the World Needs Now5:1913The Impossible Dream5:16 such as "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)", "Everybody Dance" and "Le Freak". In 1978, he sang lead vocals for Gregg Diamond's disco band, Bionic Boogie, on the song titled "Hot Butterfly" and sang a duet with Patti Austin on the song "I'm Gonna Miss You in the Morning" on Quincy Jones's Sounds...and Stuff Like That!! that same year. Later, "Hot Butterfly" was covered by Chaka Khan on her 1980 album, Naughty, under the name, "Papillon", in which Vandross contributed background vocals. Around the time of him working on Khan's album, Vandross met a teenage Whitney Houston, who had been brought to the studio by her mother and Vandross' fellow session singing partner Cissy Houston. The two young singers forged a lifelong friendship. In 1980, Vandross had his career breakthrough when he became the featured singer in the pop-dance act, Change, a studio concept created by French-Italian businessman Jacques Fred Petrus. Vandross sang lead vocals on the group's hits, "The Glow of Love" and "Searching". In a 2001 interview with Vibe, Vandross said "The Glow of Love" was "the most beautiful song I've ever sung in my life." Both songs were from Change's debut album, The Glow of Love. Vandross was originally intended to perform on their second and highly successful album Miracles in 1981, but declined the offer as Petrus didn't pay enough money. Vandross's decision led to a recording contract with Epic Records that same year, but he also provided background vocals on "Miracles" and on the new Petrus-created act, the B. B. & Q. Band in 1981.

Early solo career

Vandross signed a solo deal with Epic Records shortly after his tenure with Change. Later in 1981, he released his debut album, Never Too Much×Never Too Much12 August 1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Never Too Much3:51A2Sugar and Spice (I Found Me a Girl)4:57A3Don’t You Know That?4:04A4I've Been Working6:36B1She’s a Super Lady5:08B2You Stopped Loving Me5:15B3A House Is Not a Home7:10, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The self-penned and produced title track was an immediate success, topping the Hot Soul Singles chart for two weeks and peaked at number four on the National Disco Action Top 80 chart, while the post-disco track crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking inside the top 40. Its follow-up single, "Don't You Know That?×Don't You Know That?1981 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksADon't You Know That?4:03BI've Been Working4:20", peaked at number 10 on the Billboard soul charts. The album marked the beginning of a songwriting collaboration with bassist Marcus Miller, who played on many of the tracks and would also produce or co-produce several tracks for Vandross. The Never Too Much album was arranged by Vandross's high school classmate, Nat Adderley Jr., a collaboration that would last throughout Vandross's career. It was also notable for his reinterpretation and "radical" re-arrangement of Dionne Warwick's "A House Is Not a Home", which while it didn't chart, became one of his well known songs and would remain a showstopper in Vandross's concert tours for the remainder of his career. Never Too Much would eventually be certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and its success led to Vandross winning one of his first Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist in 1982. During 1982, Vandross began producing for other artists, most notably Cheryl Lynn's Instant Love and Aretha Franklin's Jump to It. On the former, Vandross and Lynn released a slow jam rendition of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "If This World Were Mine×If This World Were Mine1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAIf This World Were Mine3:57BI Just Wanna Be Your Fantasy4:04", which peaked at number four on the newly renamed Black Singles chart. Vandross' work on Franklin's Jump to It led to the title track topping the R&B chart and the album itself became Franklin's first gold-certified album in six years.
His sophomore album, Forever, For Always, For Love×Forever, for Always, for Love1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Bad Boy / Having a Party5:17A2You're the Sweetest One4:48A3Since I Lost My Baby5:33A4Forever, for Always, for Love6:23B1Better Love6:27B2Promise Me4:44B3She Loves Me Back6:13B4Once You Know How4:34, was released in 1982 and topped the R&B Albums chart, going platinum thanks to hits such as "Bad Boy/Having a Party" and his rendition of the Temptations' "Since I Lost My Baby×Since I Lost My Baby1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASince I Lost My Baby3:50BYou're the Sweetest One4:25". The song, "She Loves Me Back×She Loves Me Back1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAShe Loves Me Back3:54BBad Boy / Having a Party3:57", was later covered by New Zealand band DD Smash, who had a local hit cover with the song two years later. The title track and "Promise Me×Promise Me1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAPromise Me4:40BBetter Love4:10" also became popular songs on R&B radio. In 1983, Vandross produced Aretha Franklin's Get It Right, which featured the title track, which topped the R&B charts. In the same year, Vandross worked with his main musical influence, Dionne Warwick, producing Warwick's album, How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye. The title track duet was Vandross's second top 40 pop hit and also reached the top five of the Adult Contemporary chart. On the same album, Warwick recorded the Vandross ballad, "So Amazing×So Amazing1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1So Amazing3:412So Amazing (instrumental)3:513If Only for One Night4:154Forever, for Always, for Love6:24", which became a Vandross solo hit several years later. "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" was featured on Vandross' third album, Busy Body×Busy Body1983 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1I Wanted Your Love5:422Busy Body4:463I’ll Let You Slide5:214Make Me a Believer5:275For the Sweetness of Your Love7:266How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye3:277Superstar / Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)9:15, released in November 1983 and became his third consecutive number one R&B album and was notable for the ballad "Make Me a Believer×Make Me a Believer1983 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMake Me a Believer3:44BBusy Body4:30" as well as "Superstar"/"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", which reached the top five of the Black Singles chart in 1984 and became another signature staple for Vandross. Vandross was the voice of a cartoon character named Zack for ABC's Zack of All Trades, a three Saturday morning animated PSA spots.

Vandross followed that up with The Night I Fell in Love in 1985, which topped the R&B Albums chart and went double platinum due to singles such as "Til My Baby Comes Home", "It's Over Now", "Wait for Love×Wait for Love1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWait for Love3:58BMy Sensitivity (Gets in the Way)4:10" and his rendition of Brenda Russell's "If Only for One Night", which was sometimes accompanied by his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Creepin'", that immediately followed the song on the album. That same year, Vandross added background vocals and ad-libs on Wonder's 1985 hit, "Part-Time Lover". Not too long afterwards, Vandross first spotted the talent of Jimmy Salvemini, who was 15 at the time, on Star Search. He thought Salvemini had the perfect voice for some of his songs and contacted him. He was managed by his brother, Larry Salvemini. A contract was negotiated with Elektra Records for $250,000 and Vandross agreed to produce the album. He contacted longtime friends Cheryl Lynn, Alfa Anderson (of Chic), Phoebe Snow and Irene Cara to appear on the record. Salvemini's album, Roll It, was released in 1986. That same year, he reunited with David Bowie after he added background vocals on Bowie's single "Underground", from the movie Labyrinth. In September 1986, Vandross' fifth solo album, Give Me the Reason×Give Me the Reason1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Stop to Love5:112See Me5:313I Gave It Up (When I Fell in Love)4:474So Amazing3:435Give Me the Reason4:486There’s Nothing Better Than Love4:457I Really Didn’t Mean It5:448Because It’s Really Love6:149Anyone Who Had a Heart5:46, was released and like his previous albums before it, went to number one on the R&B Albums chart, while reaching number 14 on the Billboard 200, his highest peak at the time. The dance-pop song, "Stop to Love×Stop to Love1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAStop to Love5:27BStop to Love (instrumental)5:05", became Vandross' first song to cross over to the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100, partially due to the success of its music video, which achieved rotation on MTV, a channel Vandross had struggled to get on in the past. It also became his first top 40 hit in the UK peaking at number 24. The title track was a moderate pop success in the US but reached the top 40 in the UK, resulting in the album going two-times platinum in the country, his first album to do so. The album's follow-up hits included "There's Nothing Better Than Love×There's Nothing Better Than Love1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThere's Nothing Better Than Love4:15BThere's Nothing Better Than Love (instrumental)4:40" with Gregory Hines, "I Really Didn't Mean It×I Really Didn't Mean It1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1I Really Didn't Mean It (12" Mix)6:35A2I Really Didn't Mean It (7" Mix)3:59B1I Really Didn't Mean It (Dub Mix)6:00B2I Really Didn't Mean It (A Cappella Mix)5:22" and "So Amazing" which, despite its low peak on the US R&B chart, became a well known song in his catalog.
In 1987, Vandross wrote and produced "It's Hard for Me to Say" for Diana Ross from her Red Hot Rhythm & Blues album. Ross performed the song as an a cappella tribute to Oprah Winfrey on her final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show. She then proceeded to add it to her successful 2010–12 "More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour. Vandross also recorded a version of this song on his Your Secret Love album in 1996. In 1988, Vandross' sixth album, Any Love×Any Love1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1I Wonder5:132She Won't Talk to Me4:373I Know You Want To4:314Come Back4:165Any Love5:056Love Won't Let Me Wait7:197Are You Gonna Love Me5:118For You to Love5:409The Second Time Around6:21 became his sixth consecutive number one R&B album and also became his first to reach the top ten of the Billboard 200. It went platinum off the strength of the autobiographical title track, the Grammy-nominated dance single "She Won't Talk to Me×She Won't Talk to Me1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1She Won't Talk to Me (12" extended version)7:322She Won't Talk to Me (LP version)5:163Creepin'4:01" and "For You to Love×For You to Love1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAFor You To Love4:28BFor You To Love (Instrumental)5:35". Vandross ended the decade by releasing the double-disc compilation, The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love, which produced Vandross's biggest pop hit at the time, "Here and Now×Here and Now1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Here And Now5:22A2For You To Love5:35B1The Mix By Ben Liebrand - Mega Remix: Never Too Much / Sugar & Spice ( I Found Me A Girl) / I Really Didn't Mean It / The Glow Of Love / She's A Super Lady8:44", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first top ten pop single. The ballad later won Vandross his first Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991, nearly a decade after his first nominations. Upon hearing his name called as the winner, Vandross stood up to accept as the audience gave the singer a standing ovation, noting of Vandross' earlier struggles of winning a Grammy.

Later solo career

In 1990, Vandross wrote, produced and sang background for Whitney Houston in a song titled "Who Do You Love" which appeared on her album I'm Your Baby Tonight. In the same year, he guest starred in the series finale of the television sitcom 227. In 1991, Vandross' seventh studio album, Power of Love×Power of Love23 April 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1She Doesn’t Mind4:072Power of Love / Love Power6:433I’m Gonna Start Today6:144The Rush6:455I Want the Night to Stay5:266Don’t Want to Be a Fool4:367I Can Tell You That5:268Sometimes It’s Only Love4:559Emotional Love3:5510I Who Have Nothing7:29, was released and became his seventh consecutive number one R&B studio album. The album produced two crossover top ten hit ballads, "Power of Love/Love Power" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool" and became his fourth multi-platinum album, with the former track winning Vandross two Grammy Awards at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in 1992. That same year, Vandross scored an international hit duet with Janet Jackson on the song, "The Best Things in Life Are Free", from the movie Mo' Money. It topped the Hot R&B Singles chart and peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, while also reaching number two in the United Kingdom. It's notable for being Vandross' final song to top the R&B chart. In 1993, he had a brief non-speaking role in the Robert Townsend movie The Meteor Man. He played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's title character. His next album, Never Let Me Go×Never Let Me Go1993 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)4:442Heaven Knows5:013Love Me Again6:084Can’t Be Doin’ That Now4:475Too Far Down6:146Love Is on the Way (Real Love)4:427Hustle5:458Emotion Eyes4:569Lady, Lady5:3410Medley: How Deep Is Your Love / Love Don’t Love Nobody3:1211Never Let Me Go4:30, broke Vandross' streak of number one R&B albums, peaking at number three, though it continued Vandross's streak of platinum albums. That following year, with production from Walter Afanasieff, Vandross released the covers album, Songs×Songs20 September 1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Love the One You're With5:042Killing Me Softly5:333Endless Love4:214Evergreen3:555Reflections3:216Hello4:437Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now4:538Always and Forever4:549Going in Circles5:1110Since You've Been Gone4:1511All the Woman I Need4:5412What the World Needs Now5:1913The Impossible Dream5:16, which featured his top ten hit cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's duet "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey, which peaked at number two.
Despite his success with Epic, however, Vandross was beginning to feel neglected by the label as it focused on younger pop artists rather than him. In 1996, he released what would be his final studio release with the label, Your Secret Love. The title track reached the top five of the R&B singles chart and reached number 14 in the UK, while only being moderately successful on the Billboard Hot 100 though it still resulted in another Grammy win in 1997 for Vandross. On January 26, 1997, Vandross sang the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", during Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. It was included in many best-of lists as one of the best versions of the national anthem performed at the Super Bowl. Following the release of a second compilation album, Vandross left Epic that year and signed with Virgin Records, releasing the album, I Know×I Know11 August 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Keeping My Faith in You4:552Isn't There Someone4:413Religion4:364Get It Right5:265I Know5:226I'm Only Human5:297Nights in Harlem4:578Dream Lover4:329When I Need You6:4710Are You Using Me?5:2111Are You Mad at Me?4:3512Now That I Have You5:0113Nights in Harlem (A Darkchild extended remix)5:25. The album reached number 26 on the Billboard 200 and number nine on the R&B albums chart upon release, becoming his lowest charting studio release of his career and breaking his streak of platinum albums, only going gold. Vandross left Virgin shortly afterwards and remained a free agent until he signed with J Records in 2000. With the label's president Clive Davis at the helm, Vandross worked with contemporary R&B producers on his self-titled album, Luther Vandross. The lead single, "Take You Out×Take You Out31 July 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Take You Out [Original Radio Version]3:392Take You Out Tonight [Allstar Radio Edit]3:453Take You Out [Karmadelic Take You There Mix]8:204Take You Out [Nu Soul Club Mix]6:205Take You Out [Karmadelic Luther Dub]6:276Take You Out [Maurice's Nu Tribal Mix]6:447You Really Started Something4:36", reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his most successful single in several years, helping the album to go platinum.

He made two public appearances at Diana Ross's Return to Love Tour: at its opening in Philadelphia at First Union Spectrum and its final stop at Madison Square Garden on July 6, 2000. In September 2001, Vandross performed a rendition of Michael Jackson's hit song "Man in the Mirror" at Jackson's 30th Anniversary special, alongside Usher and 98 Degrees. In the spring of 2003, Vandross's last collaboration was Doc Powell's song "What's Going On", a cover of Marvin Gaye's seminal 1971 original, from Powell's album 97th and Columbus.
In 2003, Vandross released the album Dance with My Father×Dance With My Father10 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1If I Didn't Know Better4:082Think About You5:053If It Ain't One Thing4:134Buy Me a Rose3:485The Closer I Get to You6:266Lovely Day5:577Dance With My Father4:268She Saw You5:449Apologize4:5910Hit It Again4:3711Right in the Middle4:5112Once Were Lovers4:3513Lovely Day, Part II3:5514They Said You Needed Me4:40. It sold 442,000 copies in the first week and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, becoming his first album in his career to do so. The title track, which was dedicated to Vandross's childhood memories of dancing with his father, won Vandross and his co-writer, 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 his only career No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. The video for the title track features various celebrities alongside their fathers and other family members. The second single released from the album, "Think About You×Think About You2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Think About You (radio edit)3:302Think About You (instrumental)5:003Think About You (call out hook)0:10", was the No. 1 Urban Adult Contemporary Song of 2004 according to Radio & Records. In 2003, after the televised NCAA Men's Basketball championship, CBS Sports gave "One Shining Moment" a new look. Vandross, who had been to only one basketball game in his life, was the new singer, and the video had none of the special effects, like glowing basketballs and star trails, that videos from previous years had. This song version is in use today.

Posthumous releases

J Records released a song in 2006, "Shine" – an upbeat R&B track that samples Chic's disco song "My Forbidden Lover" – which reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song was originally slated to be released on the soundtrack to the movie, The Fighting Temptations, but it was shelved. A later remix of the song peaked at No. 10 on the Club Play chart. "Shine" and a track titled "Got You Home" were previously unreleased songs on The Ultimate Luther Vandross (2006), a greatest hits album on Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings that was released August 22, 2006.
On October 16, 2007, Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings released a 4-disc boxed set titled Love, Luther. It features nearly all of Vandross's R&B and pop hits throughout his career, as well as unreleased live tracks, alternate versions, and outtakes from sessions that Vandross recorded. The set also includes "There's Only You", a version of which had originally appeared on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Made in Heaven. In October 2015, Sony Music released a re-configured edition of its The Essential Luther Vandross compilation containing three unreleased songs×Songs20 September 1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Love the One You're With5:042Killing Me Softly5:333Endless Love4:214Evergreen3:555Reflections3:216Hello4:437Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now4:538Always and Forever4:549Going in Circles5:1110Since You've Been Gone4:1511All the Woman I Need4:5412What the World Needs Now5:1913The Impossible Dream5:16: "Love It, Love It" (which made its premiere a year prior on the UK compilation The Greatest Hits×The Greatest Hits7 November 2014 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Never Too Much3:492Always and Forever4:533Dance With My Father (radio version)4:254So Amazing3:405Give Me the Reason (single version)3:466Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now4:517I Really Didn't Mean It4:268Shine (radio edit)3:489The Closer I Get to You4:2410Here and Now5:2211Your Secret Love4:1312Any Love5:0013A House Is Not a Home7:0714Power of Love / Love Power (Master single version)4:2015Stop to Love5:1016Endless Love4:1817Love It, Love It (radio edit)3:25), a live recording of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Paul Simon and Jennifer Holliday, and a cover of Astrud Gilberto's "Look to the Rainbow".

Personal life

Vandross never married and had no children. His mother outlived all four of her children. Vandross was predeceased by his three elder siblings.

Sexual orientation

In 2006, Bruce Vilanch, a friend and colleague of Vandross, told Out magazine, "He said to me, 'No one knows I'm in the life.' ... He had very few sexual contacts". According to Vilanch, Vandross experienced his longest romantic relationship with a man while living in Los Angeles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In December 2017, twelve years after his death, Vandross's friend Patti LaBelle confirmed that he was homosexual and that his sexuality was an open secret in the music industry. LaBelle further stated that "[Vandross] had a lot of lady fans" and "he just didn't want to upset the world".
In December 1985, Vandross filed a libel suit against a British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss to AIDS. He weighed 325 pounds (147 kg) when he started a diet in May of that year.

1986 car crash

After signing Jimmy Salvemini and having completed his debut album Roll It, Vandross, Salvemini, and Salvemini's brother and manager Larry decided to celebrate. On January 12, 1986, they were riding in Vandross's convertible on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the north section of Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. Vandross was driving at 50 mph (80 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) zone when he veered across the double yellow center line of the two lane street, turned sideways and collided with the front of a southbound car, then swung around and hit another car head on. Vandross and Salvemini were rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Larry Salvemini, who was in the passenger seat, was killed in the collision. Vandross suffered three broken ribs, a broken hip, several bruises and facial cuts. Jimmy Salvemini, who was in the back of the car, had cuts, bruises, and contusions. Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges as a result of Larry's death, and his driving license was suspended for a year. There was no evidence that Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; he pleaded no contest to reckless driving. At first, the Salvemini family was supportive of Vandross, but later filed a wrongful death suit against him. The case was settled out of court with a payment to the Salvemini family of approximately $630,000.

Health problems and death

Vandross had diabetes and hypertension. On April 16, 2003, he had a severe stroke at his home in New York City and was in a coma for nearly two months. The stroke affected his ability to speak and sing and required him to use a wheelchair. He later regained the ability to walk as well as speak and sing.
At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross appeared in a pre-taped video segment to accept his Song of the Year Award for "Dance with My Father×Dance With My Father10 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1If I Didn't Know Better4:082Think About You5:053If It Ain't One Thing4:134Buy Me a Rose3:485The Closer I Get to You6:266Lovely Day5:577Dance With My Father4:268She Saw You5:449Apologize4:5910Hit It Again4:3711Right in the Middle4:5112Once Were Lovers4:3513Lovely Day, Part II3:5514They Said You Needed Me4:40", saying, "When I say good-bye, it's never for long, because I believe in the power of love" (Vandross sang the last six words). His mother, Mary, accepted the award in person on his behalf. His last public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Vandross died on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 from a heart attack. Like his father and his three elder siblings, Vandross died due to complications of diabetes and asthma.
Vandross's funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005. Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston were among the speakers and singers at the service. Vandross was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Artistry

Possessing a tenor vocal range, Vandross was commonly referred to as "The Velvet Voice", and was sometimes called "The Best Voice of a Generation". He was also regarded as the "Pavarotti of Pop" by many critics.

Achievements

Between Never Too Much in 1981 and Your Secret Love in 1996, all of Vandross' studio releases went platinum or more in the United States. Along with a 1989 compilation, Vandross had twelve consecutive million-selling albums, a record at the time for a male R&B artist. Except for his 1998 Virgin album, I Know×I Know11 August 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Keeping My Faith in You4:552Isn't There Someone4:413Religion4:364Get It Right5:265I Know5:226I'm Only Human5:297Nights in Harlem4:578Dream Lover4:329When I Need You6:4710Are You Using Me?5:2111Are You Mad at Me?4:3512Now That I Have You5:0113Nights in Harlem (A Darkchild extended remix)5:25, all of Vandross' studio releases were certified platinum or more. Of the thirteen, five of those albums went multiplatinum.
Vandross was also one of the most accomplished charting artists on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart throughout his career. Between 1981 and 1996, Vandross scored at least one top 40 single a year on the chart. Vandross sent 47 songs to the chart between 1981 and 2006, including two posthumous entries, of which 37 peaked inside the top 40, 27 reached the top ten, 18 reached the top five and seven of those songs topped the chart between 1981 and 1992. Between "Any Love×Any Love1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1I Wonder5:132She Won't Talk to Me4:373I Know You Want To4:314Come Back4:165Any Love5:056Love Won't Let Me Wait7:197Are You Gonna Love Me5:118For You to Love5:409The Second Time Around6:21" (1988) and "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" (1993), Vandross achieved eleven consecutive top ten singles on the chart.
Vandross had a more moderate but still significant success on the Billboard Hot 100, sending 25 songs to the chart between 1981 and 2003, including 12 songs inside the top 40 and six top ten singles.

Legacy

Vandross has been cited as an inspiration by a number of other artists, including 112, Boyz II Men, D'Angelo, Hootie & the Blowfish, Jaheim, John Legend, Mint Condition, Ne-Yo, Ruben Studdard, and Usher. Stokley Williams, the lead singer of Mint Condition, has said that he has "studied Luther for such a long time because he was the epitome of perfect tone." On his influence, John Legend has said, "All us people making slow jams now, we was inspired by the slow jams Luther Vandross was making."
Emmett Price, professor of ethnomusicology at Boston's Northeastern University, stated that Vandross's vocal range had him singing "one smooth hit after the other, without duplicating a rhythm or style", further explaining, "He was a transitory figure. He was a bridge between the era of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. He made it relate to a contemporary audience."
In 2008, Vandross was ranked No. 54 on Rolling Stone magazine's List of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Fifteen years later, in 2023, the magazine ranked him No. 31 in their list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Mariah Carey said in several interviews that standing next to Vandross while recording their duet "Endless Love" was intimidating. In 2010, NPR included Vandross in its 50 Greatest Voices in recorded history, saying Vandross represents "the platinum standard for R&B song stylings." The announcement was made on NPR's All Things Considered on November 29, 2010.
In 2014, Vandross posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, Vandross was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. Vandross' debut album, Never Too Much×Never Too Much12 August 1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Never Too Much3:51A2Sugar and Spice (I Found Me a Girl)4:57A3Don’t You Know That?4:04A4I've Been Working6:36B1She’s a Super Lady5:08B2You Stopped Loving Me5:15B3A House Is Not a Home7:10, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025. In February 2026, Vandross received his first nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 19 years after he was first eligible for induction. Vandross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2026, a few days before what would've been his 75th birthday.

Tributes

In 1999, Whitney Houston sang Vandross' "So Amazing×So Amazing1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1So Amazing3:412So Amazing (instrumental)3:513If Only for One Night4:154Forever, for Always, for Love6:24" as a tribute to Vandross as he sat in the audience during the Soul Train Awards. Johnny Gill, El DeBarge, and Kenny Lattimore provided background vocals. On July 27, 2004, GRP Records released a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, Forever, for Always, for Luther, including ten popular songs×Songs20 September 1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Love the One You're With5:042Killing Me Softly5:333Endless Love4:214Evergreen3:555Reflections3:216Hello4:437Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now4:538Always and Forever4:549Going in Circles5:1110Since You've Been Gone4:1511All the Woman I Need4:5412What the World Needs Now5:1913The Impossible Dream5:16 written by Vandross. The album featured vocal arrangements by Luther and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Rideout had co-authored songs, contributed arrangements and played keyboards on Vandross's final three albums. The tribute album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who recorded and mixed most of Luther's music over the years. It featured an ensemble of smooth jazz performers, many of whom had previously worked with Vandross.
On September 20, 2005, the album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released. The album is a collection of some of his songs performed by various artists, including Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Fantasia, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, John Legend, Angie Stone, Jamie Foxx, and Teddy Pendergrass. Aretha Franklin won a Grammy for her rendition of "A House Is Not a Home", and Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé won a Grammy for their cover of "So Amazing".
On November 21, 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a follow-up to the earlier smooth jazz GRP tribute album, this time on his own Rendezvous Entertainment label, an album called Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II, also produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Koz played on all the featured Luther Vandross tracks, which were recorded by various smooth jazz artists. On April 20, 2021, Google celebrated his 70th birthday with a Google Doodle of an animated clip that plays Vandross's song "Never Too Much×Never Too Much12 August 1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Never Too Much3:51A2Sugar and Spice (I Found Me a Girl)4:57A3Don’t You Know That?4:04A4I've Been Working6:36B1She’s a Super Lady5:08B2You Stopped Loving Me5:15B3A House Is Not a Home7:10".
The 2024 documentary Luther: Never Too Much chronicles Vandross's life, career, and legacy.