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Accomplished love crooner Luther Vandross dead at 54

GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Luther Vandross, the R&B crooner whose understated and sophisticated singing style made him a superstar died Friday. He was 54.

Vandross died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Robert Cavanaugh.

"Vandross died with his friends, family and medical support staff at his side," said Cavanaugh. "Luther was deeply touched by all the thoughts and wishes from his fans."

Vandross suffered a stroke just days before his 52nd birthday on April 16, 2003, at his home in Manhattan that initially left him critical in a New York hospital. The cause of death has not been released.

Vandross' golden tenor conveyed passion and vulnerability. Most recently, he received four Grammy awards for his latest record "Dance With My Father."

Each song he performed, be it his own composition or a cover of a 1960s or 1970s classic, was given the Vandross treatment: a studied suppleness, soulful flourishes and dramatic crescendos that left listeners enthralled.

"He is the Frank Sinatra of black music," rapper and actor LL Cool J said. "On a different level obviously, but he is a spectacular and special artist and with such a spectacular voice.

"He's the heart and soul of any black record listener who's 25 and up — he was amazing."

Those close to Vandross said the singer wasn't discovered until more than 10 hours after the stroke, something experts said might have contributed to his condition, which worsened in late April. That's when he had to have a tracheotomy to help him breathe. By December of 2003 however, Vandross' condition improved markedly after he had been sent to a rehabilitation facility. Friends said he was singing a little and could walk with assistance.

Shortly following the singer's stroke, hundreds of people in cities around the country paused to pray for Vandross, who had also suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

Jamie Foster Brown, publisher of Sister 2 Sister magazine and a good friend of the singer's, joked that thousands of babies were probably conceived while Vandross' love ballads played in the background.

"He has had a huge influence on other artists as well as a huge influence in helping populate the United States," she said. Vandross also brought a showmanship to his concerts — beautiful stages and choreography — that is lacking in the acts of many newer artists, Brown said.

"People love Luther," she said. "People get ready for his concerts as if they're getting ready to go to their own wedding."

Vandross sold more than 20 million albums in over two decades of recording. Indeed, his songs, such as "Here and Now" and "Power of Love" have been the soundtrack for many nuptials.

But behind Vandross' glitzy stage presence, Brown said, was a warm and self-deprecating humor. And although he was worried about his weight and health, Vandross kidded about it by sometimes bragging he could eat 10 chickens at one sitting, she said.

"He was really, really a comedian," she said.

At the time of his stroke, J Records label mates Alicia Keys and Deborah Cox both issued statements about Vandross. "I just (wanted) him to wake up and smile that smile," Keys said. "Sing that song. My prayers go out to his family."

Cox said Vandross was her mentor. "It is hard to put in words the depth of this tragedy," Cox said.

Vandross was a musician who started on the ground floor — by singing backup and writing and performing jingles for television commercials — to become the greatest at what he did.

Born in New York City's Lower East Side in 1951, Vandross began playing piano at 3 and absorbed the music of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick while in high school. His first foray into show business came in 1972 when his composition, "A Brand New Day (Everybody Rejoice)," was included in the hit Broadway musical "The Wiz." Two years later, an encounter in a recording studio resulted in English rock 'n' roller David Bowie asking Vandross to arrange and sing background on his "Young Americans" album. Vandross also scored a writing credit on the album track "Fascination." Vandross toured with Bowie, then went on the road with Bette Midler.

Soon, Vandross' talents were in demand. Vandross sang background on tracks for a range of artists, including the Average White Band and Barbra Streisand, and sang and arranged jingles for commercials.

In 1975, Vandross fronted his own R&B vocal group called Luther, which recorded two albums for the Atlantic Records imprint, Cotillion Records. He also sang lead vocals on the group Change's first two albums in the early 1980s, according to the Internet version of the "All Music Guide."

In 1981, Luther Vandross released "Never Too Much" on Epic Records, an album that ushered in the Vandross era of R&B chart hits. "Forever, for Always, for Love" (1982), "Busy Body" (1983), "The Night I Fell in Love" (1985), "Give Me the Reason" (1986), and "Any Love" (1988) all achieved at least platinum status by having more than one million copies sold.

Yet, events in the early 1990s propelled Vandross to the peak of his popularity. The late 1989 release "The Best Of Luther Vandross, The Best Of Love" produced the hit pop single "Here And Now," which earned the singer his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. In 1991, the album "Power Of Love," produced the pop smash, "Power Of Love/Love Power," which collected two more Grammys. A Vandross-led "Power of Love" tour with Lisa Fischer, Sounds Of Blackness and comedian Sinbad, played to a total of 650,000 fans and took in a box office gross of more than $15 million, including four sold-out nights at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The rest of the decade was notable for a pair of duet singles: "The Best Things in Life Are Free" in 1992 with Janet Jackson and "Endless Love" in 1994 with Mariah Carey.

Throughout his career, Vandross battled obesity, which caused his weight to fluctuate between 190 and 320 pounds. The difference even sparked debate among fans: Which Luther do you like better, the heavy Luther or the thin Luther? Vandross himself was aware that the weight was detrimental to his health.

"I, as an obese person, had high blood pressure and diabetes, high cholesterol, the whole nine yards," said Vandross in 2001 in the midst of a weight-loss period. "I now am on no medication for any reason whatsoever, none whatsoever. I have reversed all of the ailments with my weight loss. I'm one of the lucky ones who, when he loses weight, totally reverses his health pattern."

Late in his career, Vandross became the first artist to sign with J Records, along with Liza Minnelli and Angie Stone, among many others. He released the comeback album, "Luther Vandross," in 2001 to critical acclaim, if not crossover success. But a new generation of R&B crooners who discovered Vandross as children were singing his praises as their careers ascended.

"I heard that song (Vandross' "Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me") when I was like 3 years old, and I remembered it," said R&B newcomer Jaheim, who regularly performs "A House Is Not A Home," a Vandross signature song, in concert. "That stuck in my head for years. I'm listening to Luther still to this day."

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 02:39 schreef heiden6 het volgende:
Tja, je kon erop wachten. Het was al net zo langdradig als zijn zeikmuziek.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 03:22 schreef Nood-kloon het volgende:
Tjonge!
Als je het over een jaren 80 icoon hebt! Ik heb het CNN bericht vertaald en gedropt in de Frontpage submit.

Edit:
Da's snel! Het staat er al op.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 04:21 schreef Beach het volgende:
RIP, maar nog nooit van gehoord.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 02:38 schreef Cappy het volgende:
"Dance With My Father"

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NEW YORK De Amerikaanse soulzanger Luther Vandross (54) is in New Jersey overleden. Hij verkocht 25 miljoen platen, en kreeg acht Grammy's. Zijn grootste hit in Nederland was Endless Love, samen met Mariah Carey. zie TT 406

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Soulzanger Luther Vandross overleden
Vrijdag is in New Jersey de 54-jarige
soulzanger Luther Vandross overleden.
Hij was diabeticus en kampte al jaren
met gezondheidsproblemen.Twee jaar
geleden kreeg hij een beroerte.

Vandross begon zijn carrière in de
jaren 70 als achtergrondzanger op het
album Young Americans van David Bowie.
In die periode werkte hij ook samen met
Bette Midler en Barbra Streisand.

Omdat platenmaatschappijen hem geen
kans wilden geven als solo-artiest nam
hij op eigen kosten zijn debuutalbum
Never Too Much op,waarvan er 2 miljoen
werden verkocht.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 11:22 schreef armpitje_ het volgende:
[afbeelding]

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 04:26 schreef Cici het volgende:
Echt een verlies voor de muziekindustrie.
Ook al hield ik niet van zijn langzame nrs, hou meer van zijn nr met bassist Marcus Miller, She's a super lady.
Lekkere stem had hij.

RIP.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 17:26 schreef UncleFunk het volgende:

[..]

Prachtig dat er nog iemand is op FoK! die dat nummer kent! Verder zijn zijn producties met Change ook fantastisch. Z'n latere albums vind ik niks meer aan.

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:32 schreef Mr_Mysterious het volgende:
Ik kende hem niet... :$

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Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:21 schreef Cici het volgende:

[..]

Tja, mijn pa is bassist, je wil niet weten wat ik allemaal ken, qua muziek
Dacht dat het trouwens wel een bekend nr was, of het was bij ons thuis een bekend nr