NEW YORK (AP) — Grammy award winner Luther Vandross, whose deep, lush voice on such hits as “Here and Now” and “Any Love” sold more than 25 million albums and provided the romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide, died yesterday. He was 54.
Mr. Vandross died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. He did not release the cause of death.
After suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home on April 16, 2003, the R&B star stopped making public appearances — but amazingly managed to continue his recording career. In 2004, he captured four Grammys as a sentimental favorite, including best song for the bittersweet “Dance With My Father.” Mr. Vandross, who was still in a wheelchair at the time, delivered a videotaped thanks.
He was arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer of his generation. He made women swoon with his silky yet forceful tenor, which he often revved up like an engine before reaching his beautiful crescendos.
Mr. Vandross was a four-time Grammy winner in the best male R&B performance category, taking home the trophy in 1990 for the single “Here and Now,” in 1991 for his album “Power of Love,” in 1996 for the track “Your Secret Love” and a last time for “Dance With My Father.”
The album, with its single of the same name, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts while Mr. Vandross remained hospitalized from his stroke. It was the first time a Vandross album had topped the charts in its first week of release.
Mr. Vandross’ sound was so unusual few tried to copy it; even fewer could. His style harkened back to a more genteel era of crooning. While many of his contemporaries and successors belted out tunes that were sexually charged and explicit, Mr. Vandross preferred soft pillow talk and songs that spoke to heartfelt emotions.
“I’m more into poetry and metaphor, and I would much rather imply something rather than to blatantly state it,” he said. “You blatantly state stuff sometimes when you can’t think of a poetic way to say it.”
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