LV
Luther Vandross
Actor
Born April 20, 1951Died July 1, 2005 (54 years)
Designated the "heartbeat" of R&B during the 1980s and 1990s, Luther Vandross led a productive singing and song writing life.
At age 30, he finally recorded his first solo album with the No. 1 R&B and "Top 20" pop chart maker, "Never Too Much". He continued steadily with such albums as "Forever, for Always, for Love" in 1982 and "Give Me the Reasons" (1986), but it wasn't until 1989 that he had his first "Top 10" single with "Here and Now" (No. 6), which finally placed him securely on the love song pedestal. Such other No. 1 R&B singles would include "Stop to Love", "There's Nothing Better than Love" and "Any Love".
The 1990s seemed, career-wise, stronger than ever again with a Top 40 hit duetting with Mariah Carey in 1994 on "My Endless Love" and the release of his No. 1 R&B signature version of "Always and Forever" (1994).
On camera film and TV acting appearances include a cameo in Robert Townsend's motion picture The Meteor Man (1993) and episodes of "Beverly HIlls 90210 (as himself) and "Touched by an Angel." A documentary, Luther Vandross: Always and Forever (1994), is also available. Throughout his career, Luther continued to write and produce for other artists including Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Teddy Pendergrass, Cheryl Lynn and Aretha Franklin. Following his massive April 2003 stroke, he made a phantom return to the spotlight with the release of his 2003 CD "Dance With My Father", which was recorded prior to his illness. At the awards show, the absent Luther was rewarded with four Grammys, including song of the year. The success also gave him his first No. 1 album on the pop chart and four NAACP Image Awards.
The beloved 54-year-old musician died at JFK Medical Centre in Edison, New Jersey, of his lingering complications and was survived by his Evangelist mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who was instrumental in promoting her son's last work to Grammy glory following his severe debilitation.
At age 30, he finally recorded his first solo album with the No. 1 R&B and "Top 20" pop chart maker, "Never Too Much". He continued steadily with such albums as "Forever, for Always, for Love" in 1982 and "Give Me the Reasons" (1986), but it wasn't until 1989 that he had his first "Top 10" single with "Here and Now" (No. 6), which finally placed him securely on the love song pedestal. Such other No. 1 R&B singles would include "Stop to Love", "There's Nothing Better than Love" and "Any Love".
The 1990s seemed, career-wise, stronger than ever again with a Top 40 hit duetting with Mariah Carey in 1994 on "My Endless Love" and the release of his No. 1 R&B signature version of "Always and Forever" (1994).
On camera film and TV acting appearances include a cameo in Robert Townsend's motion picture The Meteor Man (1993) and episodes of "Beverly HIlls 90210 (as himself) and "Touched by an Angel." A documentary, Luther Vandross: Always and Forever (1994), is also available. Throughout his career, Luther continued to write and produce for other artists including Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Teddy Pendergrass, Cheryl Lynn and Aretha Franklin. Following his massive April 2003 stroke, he made a phantom return to the spotlight with the release of his 2003 CD "Dance With My Father", which was recorded prior to his illness. At the awards show, the absent Luther was rewarded with four Grammys, including song of the year. The success also gave him his first No. 1 album on the pop chart and four NAACP Image Awards.
The beloved 54-year-old musician died at JFK Medical Centre in Edison, New Jersey, of his lingering complications and was survived by his Evangelist mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who was instrumental in promoting her son's last work to Grammy glory following his severe debilitation.
Filmography
| 2024 | Luther: Never Too Much · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | Roberta · as Self |
| 2022 | Moonage Daydream · as Self |
| 2021 | Under the Volcano · as Self |
| 2021 | MTV 90s - Top 50 Biggest Voices of the 90s! · as Luther Vandross |
| 2021 | Greatest Hits of the 70s · as Self |
| 2017 | Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives · as Self |
| 2013 | Twenty Feet from Stardom · as Self |
| 2013 | David Bowie: Five Years · as Self |
| 2009 | O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2006 | Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades · as Self |
| 2004 | Funky Dance Grooves · as Self |
| 2004 | The 46th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self |
| 2002 | Best of Bowie · as Self (segment "young Americans") |
| 2002 | |
| 2001 | |
| 2001 | 7th Annual BET Walk of Fame · as Self - Performer |
| 2001 | 7th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 2001 | 1st Annual BET Awards · as Self |
| 2001 | The 15th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self |
| 2000 | 106 & Park (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2000 | 2nd Annual Celebration of Black Music · as Self - Performer |
| 2000 | The BET 20th Anniversary Celebration · as Self |
| 2000 | 31st NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1999 | The 13th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1998 | Motown 40: The Music Is Forever · as Self |
| 1998 | Essence Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | Super Bowl XXXI · as Self - National Anthem Performer |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1995 | The History of Rock 'n' Roll (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Luther Vandross: Always and Forever · as Self - Vocals |
| 1993 | Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | The 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1992 | Later... with Jools Holland (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The Big Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | Out All Night (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest |
| 1992 | Comic Relief V · as Self |
| 1992 | The 6th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1992 | The 19th Annual American Music Awards · as Self |
| 1992 | The 34th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self - Performer |
| 1991 | The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Host |
| 1991 | Voices That Care · as Self - Choir Member |
| 1991 | The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1990 | Night of 100 Stars III · as Self |
| 1990 | In Living Color (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1990 | The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1989 | Geld oder Liebe (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1988 | Flitterabend (TV Series) · as Self - Singer |
| 1988 | Family Feud (1988) (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1988 | 20th NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Performer |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1987 | 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1985 | Motown Returns to the Apollo · as Self |
| 1981 | Wetten, dass..? (TV Series) · as Self - Musician |
| 1980 | Solid Gold (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | A Capitol Fourth (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | America's Top 10 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | An Audience With (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest |
| 1971 | Soul Train (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1964 | Top of the Pops (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1954 | The Early Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1952 | American Bandstand (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |