Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. ( / ˈ v æ n d r oʊ s / VAN -drohss ; April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. During his career, he earned eleven RIAA-certified platinum albums and sold more than 25 million records worldwide. Vandross was named one of the 200 greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone (2023) and was listed among the greatest R&B artists by Billboard. NPR also honored him as one of its 50 Great Voices. He won eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2004 for "Dance with My Father." He was 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 by performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City with a local musical group. The group later appeared on the television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s. He became a highly requested backing vocalist, contributing to albums by artists such as 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, and Roxy Music. In 1980, he was the lead vocalist for the post-disco group Change on their Gold-certified album The Glow of Love, released by Warner/RFC Records.

After leaving the group, Vandross signed with Epic Records as a solo artist and released his first solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981. In 1982, he was the primary producer for Aretha Franklin’s album Jump to It, which reached the top of the Billboard R&B Albums chart. His popular songs include "Never Too Much," "Here and Now," "Any Love," "Power of Love/Love Power," "I Can Make It Better," and "For You to Love." He also recorded covers of songs originally performed by other artists, such as "A House Is Not a Home," "Since I Lost My Baby," "Superstar," "I (Who Have Nothing)," and "Always and Forever."

Vandross worked 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. The latter two songs were major hits in his career. A tribute album titled So Amazing: 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," which honored Vandross and included a sample of his version of "If This World Were Mine," a duet with Cheryl Lynn. That same year, a documentary titled Luther: Never Too Much was released, highlighting his life, career, and legacy. In 2026, Vandross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early life

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr., who was African American, was born on April 20, 1951, at Bellevue Hospital in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. His birth happened at the same time as General Douglas MacArthur’s ticker-tape parade in the same city. He was the fourth and youngest child (his older siblings were Patricia, Ann, and Anthony) and the younger son of Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross Sr. His father was an upholsterer and singer, and his mother was a nurse. Vandross grew up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the Alfred E. Smith Houses public housing development. At age three, with his own phonograph, Vandross taught himself to play the piano by ear.

His father died from diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. In 2003, Vandross wrote the song "Dance with My Father" and dedicated it to him. The song’s title was inspired by his childhood memories and his mother’s recollections of the family singing and dancing at home. His family moved to the Bronx when he was nine. His older sisters, Patricia "Pat" and Ann, took him to the Apollo Theater and a theater in Brooklyn to watch 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 leaving to pursue a career in music.

Career

While in high school, Vandross created the first fan club for Patti LaBelle and was its president. He formed a group with other students and won a summer talent show. However, the group members attended different schools, so they separated. Vandross then formed a new group called Shades of Jade, which performed at the Apollo Theater. In his early years in the music industry, he sang at the Apollo's famous amateur night several times.

Vandross joined a group called Listen My Brother, which was part of a workshop at the Apollo Theater. The group released a single titled "Only Love Can Make a Better World." They performed in front of thousands at the Harlem Cultural Festival in August 1969. Soon after, they appeared in the pilot episode and other episodes of the first season of Sesame Street in 1969–1970.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Vandross moved to Michigan to attend college. However, he left college, returned to New York, and tried to enter the music industry.

Starting in 1972, Vandross worked as a session vocalist, adding background vocals to songs by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. He also worked on Delores Hall's album Hall-Mark (1973), singing a song he wrote called "Who's Gonna Make It Easier for Me" and contributing another song, "In This Lonely Hour." In 1974, he worked with British musician David Bowie on his album Young Americans. Vandross added background vocals, especially on the title track, and allowed Bowie to use his song "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)," which they later rewrote as "Fascination." Vandross joined Bowie's tour as a backing vocalist in September 1974. He also contributed a song called "Everybody Rejoice" to the Broadway musical The Wiz (1975). During this time, Vandross sang background vocals for many 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. He also worked with bands such as Mandrill, Chic, Roxy Music, and Todd Rundgren's Utopia.

In 1975, Vandross formed his own band, Luther, which included former members of Shades of Jade, Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, as well as Theresa V. Reed and Christine Wiltshire. The band signed with Cotillion Records and released their first album, Luther, in 1976. The album included the R&B hits "It's Good for the Soul" and "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)." A year later, the band released their second album, This Close to You (1977), which included the R&B hit "The Second Time Around." In 1977, the band performed at Radio City Music Hall with Marvin Gaye. Neither album sold enough copies to appear on the charts. After Cotillion Records dropped the group, Vandross bought the rights to the albums to prevent them from being re-released. Both albums were re-released in 2024. From 1977 until the early 1980s, Vandross sang jingles for companies like NBC, Mountain Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and Juicy Fruit. In 1976, his song "Everybody Rejoice" was used in a Kodak commercial.

Vandross was known for his work with the disco group Chic, where he added background vocals to many of their songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," "Everybody Dance," and "Le Freak." In 1978, he sang lead vocals on a song called "Hot Butterfly" for Gregg Diamond's band Bionic Boogie. That same year, he sang a duet with Patti Austin on the song "I'm Gonna Miss You in the Morning" for Quincy Jones's album Sounds…and Stuff Like That!! Later, Chaka Khan covered "Hot Butterfly" on her 1980 album Naughty, and Vandross added background vocals. Around the time of working on Khan's album, Vandross met Whitney Houston, who was brought to the studio by her mother and Vandross's fellow session singer Cissy Houston. The two singers became close friends. In 1980, Vandross had a major career breakthrough when he became the lead singer for the pop-dance group Change, which was created by businessman Jacques Fred Petrus. Vandross sang lead vocals on the group's hits "The Glow of Love" and "Searching," both from their debut album The Glow of Love. In a 2001 interview, Vandross said "The Glow of Love" was "the most beautiful song I've ever sung in my life." He was originally supposed to perform on the group's second album Miracles (1981) but declined the offer because Petrus did not pay enough money. This decision led to Vandross signing a contract with Epic Records in 1981. He also provided background vocals on "Miracles" and for the new act B. B. & Q. Band in 1981.

Vandross signed a solo deal with Epic Records after his time with Change. In 1981, he released his debut album Never Too Much, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The self-written and produced title track was a success, reaching the top of the Hot Soul Singles chart and number four on the National Disco Action Top 80 chart. The song also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the top 40. His follow-up single, "Don't You Know That?," reached number 10 on the Billboard soul charts. The album marked the start of a songwriting partnership with bassist Marcus Miller, who played on many tracks and later produced or co-produced Vandross's music. The album was arranged by Vandross's high school classmate, Nat Adderley Jr., a collaboration that continued throughout Vandross's career. The album also included a re-arranged version of Dionne Warwick's "A House Is Not a Home," which became one of Vandross's well-known songs. Never Too Much was certified double-platinum and earned Vandross his first Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1982. In 1982, Vandross began producing music for other artists, including Cheryl Lynn's Instant Love and Aretha Franklin's Jump to It. On Instant Love, Vandross and Lynn released a slow jam version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "If This World Were Mine," which reached number four on the Black Singles chart. Vandross's work on Jump to It led to the title track topping the R&B chart and the album becoming Franklin's first gold-certified album in six years.

His second album, Forever, For Always, For Love, was released in 1982 and topped the R&B Albums chart, going platinum due to hits like

Personal life

Vandross never married and did not have any children. His mother lived longer than all four of her children. Luther, along with his three older siblings and his father, all died before him. They passed away due to health problems caused by diabetes and asthma.

In 2006, Bruce Vilanch, a friend and coworker of Vandross, told Out magazine that Vandross once said, "No one knows I'm in the life." He had few romantic relationships. According to Vilanch, Vandross had 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 Vandross died, his friend Patti LaBelle confirmed that he was homosexual. She said his sexuality was a well-known secret in the music industry. LaBelle also noted that Vandross had many female fans and did not want to cause controversy.

In December 1985, Vandross sued a British magazine for saying his 85-pound weight loss was because of AIDS. At the start of his diet in May of that year, he weighed 325 pounds (147 kg).

After signing Jimmy Salvemini and completing his debut album Roll It, Vandross, Salvemini, and Salvemini’s brother and manager, Larry, decided to celebrate. On January 12, 1986, they were in Vandross’s car on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. Vandross was driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone when he crossed the center line, hit a car, and then hit another car head-on. Vandross and Salvemini were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Larry Salvemini, who was in the passenger seat, died in the crash. Vandross suffered broken ribs, a broken hip, bruises, and facial cuts. Jimmy Salvemini, who was in the back seat, had cuts, bruises, and contusions. Vandross was charged with vehicular manslaughter because of Larry’s death, and his driver’s license was suspended for one year. There was no evidence that Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He agreed to the charges without a trial. At first, the Salvemini family supported Vandross, but later they sued him for wrongful death. The case was settled out of court with Vandross paying the family about $630,000.

Health problems and death

Vandross had diabetes and high blood pressure. On April 16, 2003, he suffered a serious stroke at his home in New York City and remained in a coma for almost two months. The stroke made it difficult for him to speak or sing and required him to use a wheelchair. Later, he was able to walk and speak again.

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross appeared in a video that was recorded ahead of time to accept his Song of the Year Award for "Dance With My Father." In the video, he said, "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 final public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Vandross passed away on July 1, 2005, at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 due to a heart attack.

Vandross's funeral took place at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005. Speakers and singers at the service included Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and Cissy Houston. He was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Artistry

Leonard Vandross had a type of singing voice called tenor. He was often called "The Velvet Voice" and sometimes referred to as "The Best Voice of a Generation." Many critics also called him "The Pavarotti of Pop."

Achievements

From 1981 to 1996, all of Vandross' studio albums in the United States were certified platinum or higher. Along with a 1989 compilation album, Vandross had twelve albums in a row that sold millions of copies, a record for a male R&B artist at that time. Except for his 1998 album I Know, all of Vandross' studio releases were certified platinum or higher. Of these thirteen albums, five sold multiple times the number needed for platinum certification.

Vandross was also one of the most successful artists on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart during his career. Between 1981 and 1996, he had at least one song in the top 40 each year on the chart. From 1981 to 2006, Vandross sent 47 songs to the chart, including two songs released after his death. Of these, 37 reached the top 40, 27 reached the top ten, 18 reached the top five, and seven songs topped the chart between 1981 and 1992. Between the songs "Any Love" (1988) and "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" (1993), Vandross had eleven songs in a row that reached the top ten on the chart.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Vandross had a more moderate but still notable success. He sent 25 songs to the chart between 1981 and 2003, including 12 songs in the top 40 and six songs in the top ten.

Legacy

Luther Vandross has inspired many 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, said he studied Luther Vandross for a long time because he believed Vandross had the perfect singing tone. John Legend noted that many artists who create slow jams today were inspired by Luther Vandross's work.

Emmett Price, a professor of music studies at Northeastern University, explained that Vandross had a wide vocal range and created many unique songs without repeating rhythms or styles. He also said Vandross was a bridge between the music styles of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, helping to connect older and newer audiences.

In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Luther Vandross at number 54 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2023, the magazine ranked him at number 31 on their updated list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Mariah Carey said she felt nervous when she sang with Vandross on their duet "Endless Love." In 2010, NPR included Vandross in its list of the 50 Greatest Voices in recorded history, calling him a top example of R&B singing.

In 2014, Vandross received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after his death. In 2021, he was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. His debut album, Never Too Much, was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025. In 2026, Vandross received his first nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 19 years after he became eligible. He was inducted in April 2026, just days before his 75th birthday would have been celebrated.

In 1999, Whitney Houston performed Vandross's song "So Amazing" as a tribute to him during the Soul Train Awards. Johnny Gill, El DeBarge, and Kenny Lattimore provided background vocals. In 2004, GRP Records released a smooth jazz tribute album called Forever, for Always, for Luther, featuring songs written by Vandross. The album included vocal arrangements by Vandross and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Rideout had worked with Vandross on his last three albums. The album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who had worked on most of Vandross's music.

In 2005, an album titled So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released. It featured songs performed by artists such as 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 version of "A House Is Not a Home," and Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé won a Grammy for their cover of "So Amazing."

In 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a follow-up smooth jazz tribute album called Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II. The album was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner, and Koz performed on all Vandross songs. In 2021, Google honored Vandross's 70th birthday with a special animated image on its website that played his song "Never Too Much."

A 2024 documentary titled Luther: Never Too Much highlights Vandross's life, career, and lasting influence.

Discography

• Never Too Much (1981)
• Forever, for Always, for Love (1982)
• Busy Body (1983)
• The Night I Fell in Love (1985)
• Give Me the Reason (1986)
• Any Love (1988)
• Power of Love (1991)
• Never Let Me Go (1993)
• Songs (1994)
• This Is Christmas (1995)
• Your Secret Love (1996)
• I Know (1998)
• Luther Vandross (2001)
• Dance with My Father (2003)

Tours

• Luther Tour in 1981
• Forever, for Always, for Love Tour from 1982 to 1983
• Busy Body Tour in 1984
• The Night I Fell in Love Tour from 1985 to 1986
• Give Me the Reason Tour in 1987
• The Heat Tour (with Anita Baker) in 1988
• Any Love World Tour in 1989
• Best of Love Tour in 1990
• The Power of Love Tour in 1991
• Never Let Me Go World Tour from 1993 to 1995
• Your Secret Love World Tour in 1997
• Luther & Vanessa Live! Tour (with Vanessa Williams) in 1997
• Take You Out Tour from 2001 to 2002
• BK Got Music Summer Soul Tour (with Gerald Levert, Angie Stone, and Michelle Williams) in 2002