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WASHINGTON - I join my constituents and fans around the world in celebrating the life of Luther Vandross, and I call on the US Congress to remember the legacy of the legendary R&B singer, humanitarian, and community activist, Mr. Luther Vandross, who died on Friday July 1st from health problems resulting from a stroke in 2003.
Luther Vandross was a Grammy award winning artist whose deep, lush voice on such hits as Here and Now and Any Love sold more than 25 million albums. Arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer of his generation, his music provided the romantic backdrop for millions of lovers. In an era of sexually charged and explicit lyrics, Mr. Vandross spoke to love and romance with heartfelt emotions.
Even without gaining the crossover success which he sought, Mr. Vandross won eight Grammy Awards and many other accolades including the American Music Award., Soul Train, BET, and NAACP Image awards. He ranked as one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1980's and broke through to even wider commercial success in 2003 with his last album, Dance With My Father, which earned four Grammy Awards and has generated worldwide sales exceeding 3 million copies.
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was born in 1951 into a New York City family steeped in the musical traditions of gospel and soul. He was the youngest of four children, reared by a single mother after the death of his father when Luther was still a boy. He began his career writing and performing jingles for television commercials. But his biggest early break came when he landed a job as a backup singer for the British artist David Bowie, who later hired him to work on vocal arrangements for the album Young Americans.
Luther soon became a sought-after backup vocalist and arranger, working for artists from Bette Midler to Barbra Streisand. His 1981 debut album, Never Too Much, reached the top of the R&B charts and sold more than one million copies. Through the 1980's, he recorded a string of platinum albums, including Forever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body and The Night I Fell in Love.
Luther Vandross had a career that most singers only dream of, and inspired even some of his most accomplished peers, including musical greats Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick, who all benefited from his skills as a songwriter.
Known for his kindness and generosity as well as his musical accomplishments, his life reflected his talent, character and personality. He leaves to cherish and celebrate his life his loving and devoted mother, Mary Ida Vandross, and several nieces and nephews.
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