Black History on the PLUS Side: Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross is the modern blueprint for an R&B/Soul songwriting superstar. Prior to Luther paying his dues early in his illustrious career Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was a Harlem, New York City-born youth who had dreams of making his name in the entertainment business. Both of his parents, his mother Mary Ida and father Luther Sr., had backgrounds which included periods of being gospel and big band singers. Luther would self-teach himself the piano and immerse his musical curiosity into numerous singers of the time, such as Dionne Warwick, a regional area singer. Vandross created several harmony vocal groups while he was in high school. The famous Apollo Theater in Harlem would be a training ground and incubator where Luther would spend many hours watching and waiting alongside his contemporaries for his opportunity to take the famous stage.

Luther would try to go the college route in Michigan, but realized the pull of being a singer and songwriter was his true calling. He would return to New York and participate in jingle music writing and singing. Among the commercials people would be surprised to know he voiced were Miller Beer, Juicy Fruit Gum, The U.S. Armed Forces, NBC, and many more. In between jingle gigs, Luther would assist in some of Broadway’s most iconic classics on stage. He composed songs for stage productions such as The Wiz. Luther would also participate in background vocal session work for budding stars like David Bowie and studio album producers for the early 1980s group Change, as well as established singers such as Roberta Flack. It would be with Flack that Vandross would go on tour. Roberta Flack would also be indirectly responsible for Luther embarking upon his career. She felt Luther was an amazing singer whose talents were higher in value than remaining in the background. Her push would be just the catalyst he would need to jumpstart him into writing and producing his own material.

Luther’s first album would be released in 1981, entitled Never Too Much. The album would leap to number one on the R&B charts. It would feature the title track, Never Too Much, Don’t You Know That, and what would be his signature song, a remake of a Dionne Warwick hit, A House Is Not a Home. Luther Vandross was on his way. His next albums, Forever, for Always for Love 1982, Busy Body 1983, The Night I Fell in Love 1985, Give Me the Reason 1986, and Any Love 1988, and Power of Love in 1991 would not only chart number one on the R&B Charts but solidify him within more mainstream Top 10 pop album status as well.

It would be during this prolific period that Luther was at his best. He would win his first Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Here and Now.” Luther Vandross cemented his legacy as The premier male R&B singer. Just because he was recognized in the world of R&B, does not mean members of the emerging genre known as Hip Hop did not aspire to be thought of a romantic leading men just like Luther. Several artists would take their vocal, limited as they were, to use their most sincerest form of flattery to sing like and sample the R&B aura. Below are just a few selections.

Excuse Me Miss
Sampled by Jay-Z feat. Pharrell Williams for the album The Blueprint²: The 2002 Sample appearing at the 0:35 second mark features Jay-Z giving his best attempt during the chorus to sing Luther’s famous lyric from the song Take You Out, which was released a year earlier in 2001.

Sunshine
One of Vandross’ most famous and familiar track introductions, this sample is featured on the single (The Light), by Fat Joe feat. Amorphous RNG. The single was released by Fat Joe in 2021. Fat Joe reimagines Luther’s famous bass-line from his 1981 epic Never Too Much. The sample appears in the chorus of The Light a the 0:27 mark and throughout the rest of the song.

Let Me Hold You
Once again, leaning into the power of love, and more importantly, the power of love music featuring Luther, the song Let Me Hold You is featured on Bow Wow’s single featuring Omarion from 2005. Bow Wow’s song sample features soul singer’s original velvet voice from his 1985 hit, If Only for One Night and appears at 1:02 mark in the song and is delicately placed throughout the song.

Though rappers might not like to acknowledge their softer side, it’s undeniable the impact of infusing some loving Luther to give an otherwise edgier artist an uplift of smooth sex symbol appeal by just adding a dash of dashing Luther Vandross, which, if placed in the right spots, continues his powerful loving legacy and that is something which is never too much to ask.