Luther Vandross

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr., born on April 20, 1951, was a celebrated American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. His remarkable career spanned several decades, during which he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA-certified platinum albums and sold over forty million records worldwide. Recognized as one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023, Vandross also earned accolades from Billboard as one of the top R&B artists and was included in NPR's list of 50 Great Voices.

Vandross began his musical journey in the late 1960s, performing at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York City as part of a local ensemble. This group later made an appearance on the beloved television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s. He quickly became a sought-after backing vocalist, lending his talents to albums by renowned artists such as Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Diana Ross, among others. In 1980, he took on the role of lead vocalist for the post-disco group Change, contributing to their Gold-certified album, The Glow of Love.

Transitioning to a solo career, Vandross signed with Epic Records and released his debut album, Never Too Much, in 1981. His production prowess was showcased in 1982 when he produced Aretha Franklin's album Jump to It, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. His extensive catalog of hit songs includes classics like "Never Too Much," "Here and Now," and "Power of Love/Love Power," as well as memorable covers of tracks originally performed by other artists.

Throughout his career, Vandross collaborated on several iconic duets, including "The Closer I Get to You" with Beyoncé and "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey. Following his passing in 2005, a tribute album titled So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released. His legacy continues to resonate, with Kendrick Lamar and SZA paying homage to him in 2024 with their chart-topping single "Luther," which samples his rendition of "If This World Were Mine." In January of that year, a documentary titled Luther: Never Too Much was released, chronicling his life and career.