Vandross, Luther Ronzoni (1951–2005)

US R & B and soul singer, songwriter, and producer. He was popular during the 1980s and 1990s for his smooth tenor voice and both original and cover versions of romantic pop music. He released 14 albums and sold more than 25 million copies during his career, picking up eight Grammy awards.

His self-produced debut album, Never Too Much (1981), topped the R & B charts and sold more than 2 million copies. He went on to achieve several hits during the 1980s, including ‘Give Me the Reason’ (1986) and ‘Here and Now’ (1989). He also collaborated with several female vocalists on hit singles such as ‘The Best Things in Life are Free’ (1992, with Janet Jackson) and ‘Endless Love’ (1994, with Mariah Carey). His final album, the autobiographical Dance with My Father, was released in 2003.

Vandross was born and spent his first years in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. After his father died in 1959, his mother moved the family to the Bronx. He formed the vocal group Shades of Jade in high school and collaborated on the single ‘Listen My Brother/Only Love Can Make a Better World’ as part of a musical theatre workshop organized by the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He also appeared on the popular children's programme Sesame Street in 1969. After a year of university in Michigan, he moved back to New York to pursue his music career. He began to gain recognition during the early 1970s, composing and singing back-up for major stars such as David Bowie, with whom he co-wrote the song ‘Fascination’ (1975), Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, and Roberta Flack.