Luther Vandross was born on 20th April 1951. He was a multitalented musician and record producer. Vandross worked among many big names and was a choice background vocalist for artists such as Diana Ross, Judy Collins, David Bowie, and more. Before the release of his solo album Never Too Much in 1981, Vandross was the lead singer of a group named Change. He even won several Grammy awards throughout his career.
Vandross grew up in Lower Eastside Manhattan and taught himself the piano by ear at a very young age. Music was a prominent aspect of his family. When the family moved to the Bronx Luther would take trips to the various theatres with his sisters. He attended university for only a year before dropping out and pursuing music.
Vandross had become part of different music groups since high school. Those groups eventually helped him rise in the music industry and act as background vocals for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. From there he gained more and more fame up until releasing his solo album.
Diabetes was a common illness in his family. His father had previously died of diabetes when Vandross was a child. Much like his father, Vandross suffered from diabetes and hypertension. In 2003, the singer suffered a stroke which sent him into a coma for two months. This hindered his vocal capabilities and left him unable to speak, much less sing.
In the 2004 Grammy Awards, it was his mother who received his Song of the Year award for the song Dance with My Father. Vandross had written this song in 2003 and dedicated it to his father.
He made his last appearance in the Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2004. Almost a year after that, he died from a heart attack on July 1st, 2005.
Luther Vandross was born on 20th April 1951. He was a multitalented musician and record producer. Vandross worked among many big names and was a choice background vocalist for artists such as Diana Ross, Judy Collins, David Bowie, and more. Before the release of his solo album Never Too Much in 1981, Vandross was the lead singer of a group named Change. He even won several Grammy awards throughout his career.
Vandross grew up in Lower Eastside Manhattan and taught himself the piano by ear at a very young age. Music was a prominent aspect of his family. When the family moved to the Bronx Luther would take trips to the various theatres with his sisters. He attended university for only a year before dropping out and pursuing music.
Vandross had become part of different music groups since high school. Those groups eventually helped him rise in the music industry and act as background vocals for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. From there he gained more and more fame up until releasing his solo album.
Diabetes was a common illness in his family. His father had previously died of diabetes when Vandross was a child. Much like his father, Vandross suffered from diabetes and hypertension. In 2003, the singer suffered a stroke which sent him into a coma for two months. This hindered his vocal capabilities and left him unable to speak, much less sing.
In the 2004 Grammy Awards, it was his mother who received his Song of the Year award for the song Dance with My Father. Vandross had written this song in 2003 and dedicated it to his father.
He made his last appearance in the Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2004. Almost a year after that, he died from a heart attack on July 1st, 2005.