Luther Vandross was born on December 8, 1919. 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.' The stroke affected his ability to speak and sing, and required him to use a wheelchair. At the Grammy Awards of 1997, he won his third Best Male R&B Vocal for the track "Your Secret Love". He was the only child of Jesse and Ida Geraldine (née Epps) Pendergrass. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [4][9][10] In 2003, Vandross wrote the song "Dance with My Father" 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. Alluding to the stroke, "which he never fully recovered from," hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh said, "Throughout his illness, Luther received excellent medical care and attention from his medical team. In 2003, after the televised NCAA Men's Basketball championship, CBS Sports gave "One Shining Moment" a new look. The legendary singer passed away in 2005 at the age of 54. When he was 3-years-old, Asimov’s family immigrated to the United States. What Was Luther Vandross’ Net Worth at the Time of His Death?Luther Vandross was praised for his smooth R&B sound. [33] Ross performed the song as an a cappella tribute to Oprah Winfrey on her final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show. The quintet consisted of former Shades of Jade members Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, as well as Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire, signed to Cotillion Records. CNN's Brooke Anderson and Todd Leopold contributed to the report. When he was eight years old, his father died of diabetes after which his family moved to the Bronx. Luther’s legacy lives on, with his music frequently being sampled, covered, or remixed to this day. In 1997, Vandross sang the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", during Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana. He weighed 325 pounds when he started a diet in May of that year.[34]. Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, sang at the service. Luther Vandross, Sr. died on October 5, 1959 after suffering from diabetes. In 1983, the opportunity to work with his main musical influence, Dionne Warwick, came about with Vandross producing, writing songs, and singing on How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye, her fourth album for Arista Records. [citation needed] Having co-written "Fascination" for David Bowie's Young Americans (1975), he went on to tour with him as a back-up vocalist in September 1974. Luther is 68 years old and is about 188 cm tall or about 1.9 meters or 74 cm high. The youngest of 4 children, Luther was sadly until his death, his mother’s only living child. 5: His older sister, Patricia Van Dross, was an original member of the 1950s "doo-wop" group The Crests. The younger Vandross was raised on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the Alfred E. Smith Houses, a public housing development which is part of the New York City Housing Authority. Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Luther Vandross’s Height. Selected discography. He was 54 years old when he died. Luther Vandross (1951-2005) was born in New York City. All his celebrity, and cash couldn’t afford the girl of his dreams. Discography. Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, sang at the service. He won his first Grammy award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1991. & Q. He was 54. His last public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Mary Ida Vandross, his wife took care of Luther Vandross Jr and their three other children, moving them to the Bronx a year after his death. During his career, he … [citation needed]. On April 16, 2003, Vandross suffered a severe stroke at his home in New York City and was in a coma for nearly two months. His image was included as a tribute along with various other deceased people with whom Carey had collaborated. It went on to top the R&B charts and sold 2 million copies. The popular crooner suffered a debilitating stroke in April 2003. Vandross also appeared on the group Charme's 1979 album Let It In. He died not long after releasing this beloved song. Vandross suffered from diabetes and hypertension. He taught himself to play the piano by ear when he was three years old and had his own phonograph. Luther Vandross Net Worth: Luther Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer who had a net worth of $40 million at the … Jason King, writing in Vandross' obituary in The Village Voice, said: "Though he never came out as gay or bisexual, you had to be wearing blinders." He appeared with the group in several episodes of the first season of Sesame Street during 1969–1970. [52] In December 2017, twelve years after his death, Vandross's friend Patti LaBelle confirmed that he was gay. Dave Koz played on all the featured Luther Vandross tracks, which were recorded by various smooth jazz artists. The young Luther was only 7 or 8 years old when his father passed away. He died a few short years later. And he performed during a half-time show at the 1997 Super Bowl. 1 on the Billboard album chart. Vandross' family praised Google's tribute for capturing the essence of his songs. TODAY'S Google Doodle celebrates what would be Luther Vandross' 70th birthday. He contacted Salvemini, who was managed by his brother Larry. [4], Vandross' father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. He was managed by his brother, Larry Salvemini. When the young performer auditioned for Luther, who, by the way, was sitting behind a piano eating a bucket of fried chicken, he was blown away by her vocal agility. [45] It was included on the album Songs, a collection of songs which had inspired Vandross over the years. [44] He played a hit man who plotted to stop Townsend's title character.[42]. [50], Vandross was never married and had no children. Vandross' songs and emotionally charged ballads carry a signature sound. He passed away in 2005.Born Luther Ronzoni Vandross on April 20, 1951 in Manhattan, New York, United States. 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. The following year, that album won three Grammy Awards, including song of the year. How did he know so much about his father? Vandross bought back the rights to those albums after Cotillion dropped the group, preventing them from being re-released. Luther Vandross: Early Life, Childhood, and Education. [citation needed], Vandross has been cited as an influence on 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. He never married or even had a public relationship with a woman. [7][13], Vandross graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx in 1969,[12] and attended Western Michigan University for a year before dropping out to continue pursuing a career in music. He was 54 years old. There was no evidence Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; he pleaded no contest to reckless driving. This song version is in use today. With multiple Grammy Awards, 14 platinum-selling albums, and over 25 million total albums sold, Vandross rode high from 1980 until his death. Even in death, folks don’t give him the tribute and props like other artists of his caliber. Luther’s legacy lives on, with his music frequently being sampled, covered, or remixed to this day. Despite this sadness, his mother, a practical nurse, made sure that music was prevalent in the Vandross household, particularly gospel, soul and doo-wop. Luther Vandross was … His family moved to the Bronx when he was nine. He released 13 studio albums, all of which achieved Gold, Platinum, or Silver status. He was created in the entire year 1951 on 20th of April but he unfortunately passed away in the entire year 2005 on 1st of July at age 54. Pendergrass grew up in Philadelphia and often sang at church. Garcelle Beauvais eventually married Mike Nilon, a low-life Agent for the Creative Artists Agency. Birthday: April 20, 1951 Date of Death: July 1, 2005 Age at Death: 54 Multiply that pain by four fro 82-year-old Mary Ida, who lost all of her children to diabetes.Luther, who she always called ?Ronny,? He was survived by his mother Mary Ida, who passed away in 2008. [61], By popular vote, Vandross was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December 2012. Luther's mother Mary Ida Vandross, died in 2008. Born Luther Ronzoni Vandross, April 20, 1951, in New York, NY; died July 1, 2005, in Edison, NJ. [citation needed], In 2008, Keyshia Cole sang the outro to "Luther Vandross" on "Playa Cardz Right", which featured rapper Tupac Shakur from her 2008 album, A Different Me. He was also regarded as the "Pavarotti of Pop" by many critics. Old enough to be her daddy, Luther Vandross was married to the Illuminati. He died a few short years later. During his career, Vandross sold over 35 million records worldwide,[1] and received eight Grammy Awards[2] including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four different times. ?He was quite young when his father passed away, wasn’t he?? [7][42], More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991's Power of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. A later remix of the song peaked at No. 54 on Rolling Stone magazine's List of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. [39] In 1986, he voiced a cartoon character named Zack for ABC's Zack of All Trades, a three Saturday morning animated PSA spots.[40]. During that hectic year Vandross jump-started his second attempt at a solo career with his debut album, Never Too Much. [25], In 1978, Vandross sang lead vocals for Greg Diamond's disco band, Bionic Boogie, on the song titled "Hot Butterfly". The album is a collection of some of his songs performed by various artists, including Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Fantasia, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Angie Stone, Jamie Foxx, Teddy Pendergrass, and Aretha Franklin. Band in 1981. It was apparent Luther was a child prodigy of sorts because he taught himself how to play the piano at only age 3. July 2, 2005 • Luther Vandross has died. It was after a chance meeting with David Bowie at a recording studio in 1975 that Vandross was asked to sing backup on Bowie's hit album, "Young Americans.". [62], In 1999, Whitney Houston sang Vandross's "So Amazing" as a tribute to Vandross as he sat in the audience during the Soul Train Awards. [14] Vandross died on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 of a heart attack.[55]. ?I miss him tremendously as he was the last of my four children to pass away,? Access Hollywood?s Tim Vincent asked. How old is Luther Vandross: 54 years Male Birthday: April 20, 1951 Sun sign: Taurus Nationality: New York City, New York, United States How tall is Luther Vandross: 6 ft 2 in (1.905 m) Luther Vandross siblings: Ann D. Sanders, Patricia Vandross, Charles Anthony Vandross Death … For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. When he was 8, his father, an upholsterer and a singer, died from diabetes. 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". The singer died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. Luther Vandross won eight Grammy Awards and sold over twenty-five million albums. Two years ago, the R&B legend suffered a stroke in his New York apartment. R&B band 112 sampled Vandross's "Don't You Know That" to make their song "Love Me" on their second album Room 112. [citation needed], On April 20, 2021, Google celebrated his 70th birthday with a Google Doodle. She then proceeded to add it to her successful 2010–12 "More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour. Image: Jim Steele/Popperfoto Source: UGC 2. Luther had a soothing voice and one of his most popular albums, Dance With My Father, won four Grammys out of five nominations. She was 82-years-old and she died from natural causes. Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges as a result of Larry's death, and his driving license was suspended for a year. In 1992, "The Best Things in Life Are Free", a duet with Janet Jackson from the movie Mo' Money became a hit. "Luther Vandross had a peaceful passing under the watchful eye of friends, family and the medical support team," said a spokesperson at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. Sources. [7] The song also won Vandross his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. On July 27, 2004, GRP Records released a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, Forever, for Always, for Luther, including ten popular songs written by Vandross. As he grew older, Asimov was interested in science-fiction and creative writing. Even so, his album "Dance With My Father," co-written with Richard Marx, sold nearly a million copies in its first month of release that June. A throwback to the smooth soul stylings of the 1960s, Vandross has been a fixture on the rhythm and blues charts since his solo recording debut in 1981. [47][48] The title track of the same name, which was dedicated to Vandross' 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 mother of late music icon Luther Vandross spoke out about his health battle and final words to her before he passed away in 2005.. As reported by ILOSM, Mary Ida Vandross lost her all … He had very few sexual contacts". His first big break came in 1975, when he performed as a backing singer on David Bowie's Young Americans album, and received a co-writer credit after his song "Funky Music" was adapted by Bowie to become "Fascination". [46] His first album on Clive Davis's new label, entitled Luther Vandross, was released in 2001, and it produced the hits "Take You Out" (#7 R&B/#26 Pop), and "I'd Rather" (#17 Adult Contemporary/#40 R&B/#83 Pop). [60], In 2008, Vandross was ranked No. His funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005. To this day, Luther Vandross is considered one of the best vocalists of all time. Although the singles "It's Good for the Soul", "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)",[20] and "The Second Time Around" were relatively successful, their two albums, the self-titled Luther (1976) and This Close to You (1977), which Vandross produced, did not sell enough to make the charts. The tribute album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who recorded and mixed most of Luther's music over the years. Vandross died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey at 1:47 p.m. [19] Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice" for the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz. The violin duo Nuttin' But Stringz did a remix of the song "Dance with My Father" for their album Struggle from the Subway to the Charts, which was released on October 3, 2006. CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. Vandross' decision led to a recording contract with Epic Records that same year,[7] but he also provided background vocals on "Miracles" and on the new Petrus-created act, the B. In addition to the hit title track it contained a version of the Bacharach & David song "A House Is Not a Home". As well as that, Vandross produced Billboard Top 10 albums. 2 on the pop charts. His mother Mary Ida was a nurse and his father, Luther Vandross Sr, was an upholsterer and singer, who died of diabetes when he was eight. It featured an ensemble of smooth jazz performers, many of whom had previously worked with Vandross.[63]. Vandross' funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005. Vandross suffered three broken ribs, a broken hip, several bruises and facial cuts. He was the fourth child and second son of Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross, Sr. He had suffered a stroke in April 2003 from which he never quite recovered. All his celebrity, and cash couldn’t afford the girl of his dreams. Vandross scored at least one top 10 R&B hit every year from 1981 to 1994. And I don’t think the man got as many props as he deserved while he was alive (although he did win 7 Grammys). Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York on April 20, 1951, the baby of four children. [51], Vandross' sexual orientation was a subject of media speculation. After Luther, Sr. passed away from diabetes complications, the Vandross family moved to the Bronx; Luther was 8-years-old at the time. After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records as a solo artist and released his debut solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981. He died “following complications from a stroke he suffered in 2003”. His aforementioned song "Everybody Rejoice", sometimes called "A Brand New Day", was used in a Kodak commercial during the mid-1970s. Vandross wrote and produced "It's Hard for Me to Say" for Diana Ross from her Red Hot Rhythm & Blues album. [11] His 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. [38] Jimmy Salvemini's album, Roll It, was released later that year. [citation needed] "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. 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. It’s not clear if Vandross ever did find that fairytale love by the time he passed, but even if he did, it’s a shame that he struggled to simply be who he was out front and center. Vandross struggled with health and image problems, claiming that he lost 100 pounds -- 13 times. She was the last surviving member of the immediate Vandross family. He was 54 years old. Many of his earlier albums made a bigger impact on the R&B charts than on the pop charts. [3], Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr.[4] was born on April 20, 1951, at Bellevue Hospital, in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Best of Love, So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross, Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, When You Call on Me / Baby That's When I Come Runnin', Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement, Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo, "Luther Vandross Receives Star on Walk of Fame", "Luther Vandross' Mother Thanks Fans For Prayers; Says Singer Is Making Progress", "Luther Vandross: R&B Superstar 1951–2005", "Luther Vandross' Mother Becomes Spokesperson For Diabetes", "Luther Vandross Inducted into Bronx Walk of Fame", "Luther Vandross, 54; 'Soul Balladeer' Sang With Eloquence and Restraint", "Luther Vandross, Smooth Crooner of R&B, Is Dead at 54", "Miss LaBelle's Kitchen: Hot Sauce and Gold Lamé", "Luther Vandross Leading soul singer of the disco age", "Todd Rundgren's Utopia Live At Hammersmith Odeon '75", "Barry may be the walrus of love. Vandross was raised by his mother in the NYCHA Alfred E Smith Houses public housing complex on Manhattan's Lower East Side. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts: "Stop to Love", in 1986, and a duet with Gregory Hines—"There's Nothing Better Than Love. The album featured vocal arrangements by Luther, and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Died July 1, 2005 in Edison, New Jersey, United States. [7][9] He continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 1970s. He was 54 years old. During the 1980s, two of Vandross' singles reached No. [14] His mother, Mary, accepted the award in person on his behalf. [53] In addition, Vandross was well aware that officially coming out as gay while he was actively making music would have been detrimental to the projection of his career, given the majority of his target audience was women seeking some mode of emotional engagement from his words. Soon after music icon, Luther Vandross, passed away in 2005, his beloved mother, Mary Ida Vandross, was gracious and brave enough to speak out. Like all his siblings, he suffered from diabetes for much of his life. 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. The album featured Beyoncé, Foxy Brown, … … The legendary singer passed away in 2005 at the age of 54. It literally killed Vandross. [7] The album was his only career No. 1 on the R&B charts. When Vandross was eight years old, his father died from diabetes. In December 1985, Vandross filed a libel suit against a British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss to AIDS. He thought Salvemini had the perfect voice for some of his songs, and contacted him. Luther Vandross was born on this day in 1951 in New York City. LaBelle shared that "[Vandross] had a lot of lady fans" and "he just didn’t want to upset the world". He began his career writing and performing jingles for television commercials. Saxophonist Boney James covered his rendition on his final track "The Night I Fell in Love" on Backbone in 1994. According to CDC, the average American men’s height is 5′9 “(175 cm or 69”), while women’s average American height is 5′4 “(162 cm or 64”). His mother Mary Ida was a nurse and his father, Luther Vandross Sr, was an upholsterer and singer, who died of diabetes when he was eight. Williams said that she recorded the song to say "I love you" to her old friend. [70], On October 16, 2007, Epic Records/J Records/Legacy Recordings released a 4-disc boxed set titled Love, Luther. Larry, who was in the passenger seat, was killed during the collision. By the end of the 1980s Vandross had nearly two dozen smash singles, including "Give Me the Reason," "Stop to Love" and "There's Nothing Better Than Love," made with Gregory Hines. He was Luther Vandross. Today marks 14 years since the death of Luther Vandross in 2005. Luther Vandross, Sr. died in 1959 when Vandross was only eight years old, leaving the famous musician under his mother's care. His mother outlived all her children, and his older siblings all predeceased him. During his career, he won eight Grammy Awards after being nominated 33 times. [4][34] Jimmy, who was in the back of the car, had cuts, bruises and contusions. [4] Patricia sang with the vocal group The Crests[12] and was featured on the songs "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One". His father, Luther, and his mother, Mary Ida, raised him and his older siblings in a house filled with love and music. He was survived by his mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who died in 2008. Vandross was entombed at the George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. Throughout his career, Vandross was an in-demand background vocalist for several different artists including Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Barbra Streisand, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer. Mary Ida Vandross told Tim.A mother?s ultimate heartbreak is burying a child. The momentum carried into the 1990s, with Vandross recording "The Best Things In Life Are Free," a pop duet with Janet Jackson that hit the Top 10 and No. Lisa and Luther’s working relationship cemented, and she became a backup vocalist fixture on his every tour and album until he passed away in 2005.