Luther Vandross – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Luther Vandross Biography

American singer, songwriter, and record producer Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. His vocals are praised for being soulful and lovely. Vandross was in high demand as a backup vocalist for many musicians throughout his career in addition to his success as a solo recording artist. These artists included Todd Rundgren, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, and Donna Summer.

On April 20, 1951, in Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan’s Kips Bay district, New York City, Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. was born. With his own phonograph at age three, Vandross started teaching himself how to play the piano by ear.

When Vandross was eight years old, his father passed away from diabetes.The song “Dance with My Father,” which Vandross wrote in 2003 and dedicated to his father, was named after his mother’s memories of the family singing and dancing in the house as a child. When he was nine years old, his family relocated to the Bronx. His sisters, Patricia “Pat” and Ann, started taking Vandross to see Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin at the Apollo Theater and a theatre in Brooklyn. Patricia contributed vocals to the songs “My Juanita” and “Sweetest One” by The Crests.

Following his 1969 graduation from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx, Vandross spent a year studying at Western Michigan University before quitting to concentrate on his musical career.

Vandross established the first Patti LaBelle fan club while still in high school and served as its president. Additionally, he was a member of the band Shades of Jade, who once played at the Apollo Theater. He frequently participated in the famed amateur night at the Apollo during his early career in show business. He participated in the songs “Only Love Can Make a Better World” and “Listen My Brother” while he was a member of the theater workshop Listen My Brother. In late August 1969, the ensemble gave a performance in front of tens of thousands of people at the Harlem Cultural Festival. He then joined the ensemble in the pilot episode and additional episodes of Sesame Street’s first season in the years 1969–1970.

He later rose to prominence as the lead vocalist for the band Change, whose 1980 Warner/RFC Records debut album, The Glow of Love, earned a Gold certification. Following his departure from the Beatles, Vandross secured a solo recording contract with Epic Records. His first solo album, Never Too Much, was released in 1981.

“Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” “Any Love,” “Power of Love/Love Power,” “I Can Make It Better,” and “For You to Love” are some of his top hits. Many of his songs, including “If This World Were Mine” (a duet with Cheryl Lynn), “Since I Lost My Baby”, “Superstar”, “I (Who Have Nothing)”, and “Always and Forever,” were versions of original songs by other musicians. His career included successful duets with Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson, including “The Closer I Get to You,” “Endless Love,” and “The Best Things in Life Are Free.

Throughout his career, Vandross sold more than 40 million records worldwide, had eleven consecutive Platinum albums—a feat never before accomplished by an R&B artist—and won eight Grammy Awards, including four times for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. He received four Grammy Awards in total in 2004, including the Song of the Year award for the song “Dance with My Father,” which was released not long before he passed away.

Luther Vandross Discography

Dance with My FatherSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Luther VandrossSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I KnowSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Your Secret LoveSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Any LoveSpotifyAppleYouTube
Busy BodySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Never Too MuchSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Luther Vandross Most Famous Song?

Luther Vandross is most famous for his song “A House Is Not a Home.

How Many Songs Does Luther Vandross Have?

Luther Vandross has released 13 studio albums, accumulating over 81 million album sales worldwide. He has numerous hit songs, including “Power of Love/Love Power”, “Never Too Much”, and “Here and Now”. Vandross is considered one of the greatest R&B singers of all time.

What Is Luther Vandross Most Famous Song?

Luther Vandross was most famous for his song “A House is Not a Home.” The song peaked at number four on the Billboard R&B chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Who Originally Wrote The Luther Vandross?

Luther Vandross originally wrote the song, “The Best Things in Life are Free.” However, it was later covered by many other artists, including Janet Jackson and Usher.

What Genre Is Luther Vandross?

Luther Vandross is a soul and R&B singer.

Most Searched For Luther Vandross Songs

Never too muchSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Dance with may fatherSpotify
So AmazingSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The glow of loveSpotifyYouTubeAmazon
Always and foreverSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Here and nowSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Give me the reasonSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon