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1-13 of 13
- Music Artist
- Actor
- Music Department
Designated the "heartbeat" of R&B during the 1980s and 1990s, Luther Vandross led a productive singing and songwriting life before to this preeminence. The soul balladeer's strong commitment to the art of music continued on its Grammy-winning course, even after an acute stroke in 2003 left him severely incapacitated and unable to continue public appearances.
Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York on April 20, 1951, the baby of four children. His father, also named Luther, was an upholsterer who died of diabetes when the singer was just eight years old. Despite this sadness, his mother, a practical nurse, made sure that music was prevalent in the Vandross household, particularly gospel, soul and doo-wop. Luther was influenced by his older sister Patricia, who became a member of a doo-wop group called The Crests, and scored with the 1958 single "Sixteen Candles".
In high school, Luther formed his own musical group and first started to write and compose. His first big songwriting break came with "Everybody Rejoice (Can You Feel a Brand New Day)", which was used for the Broadway stage and film productions of "The Wiz". He also sang in the film's choir selections. In the 1970s, while still working his way up, Luther voiced commercial jingles (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and provided backup vocals on tour and in session work for such notables as David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Bette Midler and Donna Summer. After performing with a short-lived singing group called "Luther", which was formed to include the talented musicians Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who later formed the group, Chic, Luther returned to the background and took part in various projects for Quincy Jones and others. Insisting on creative control, Luther had a difficult time finding the right contract for himself in record-making.
At age 30, he finally recorded his first solo album with the No. 1 R&B and "Top 20" pop chartmaker, "Never Too Much". He continued steadily with such albums as "Forever, for Always, for Love" (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".
A minimalist stylist whose eloquent, velvety renditions were accentuated by spot-on phrasing and effortless vocal control, his image quickly led to such unwelcome sobriquets as "master of bedroom music" and the restrictive label of being a "ladies only" act. He was also besieged by a wealth of other personal and health problems. A binge eater, his weight fluctuated through his career with his 6' 3" frame handling a diversity of 190 to 340 pounds at various stages, aggravated by constant career pressures and a roller coaster personal and romantic life.
The never-married crooner was besieged by persistent reports that he was gay (he never denied or acknowledged the reports), rumors that threatened his ladies' man career. Moreover, Luther suffered from a mild form of diabetes, the disease that took the life of his father. In 1986, he was the driver in automobile crash that killed one passenger (a close friend) with a charge of vehicular manslaughter finally reduced to reckless driving (speeding).
The 1990s seemed, career-wise, stronger than ever again with a Top 40 hit dueting with Mariah Carey on "Endless Love" (1994) and the release of his No. 1 R&B signature version of "Always and Forever" (1994).
On camera, film and television acting appearances include a cameo in Robert Townsend's film 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. Through 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 CD "Dance With My Father" (2003), which was recorded before his illness. At the awards show, the absent Luther was rewarded with four Grammy Awards, 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 of a heart attack on July 1, 2005 at the JFK Medical Center in Edision, New Jersey, 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.- Additional Crew
- Actor
Arvo Ojala was born on 21 February 1920 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was an actor, known for Silverado (1985), Back to the Future Part III (1990) and Three Amigos! (1986). He was married to Doris Seversen. He died on 1 July 2005 in Gresham, Oregon, USA.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Renaldo Benson was born on 14 June 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Jerry Maguire (1996), Flight (2012) and The Girl Next Door (2004). He was married to Valaida. He died on 1 July 2005 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.- Karel Glastra van Loon was born on 24 December 1962 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He was a writer, known for De passievrucht (2003), Barend en Van Dorp (1990) and Goedemorgen Nederland (2002). He was married to Karin Kuiper. He died on 1 July 2005 in Hilversum, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
- Mindy O'Toole was born on 15 March 1971 in Los Gatos, California, USA. She died on 1 July 2005 in San Jose, California, USA.
- Guillermo Patricio Kelly was born on 29 July 1921 in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died on 1 July 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Writer
- Actor
Ángel Cortese was a writer and actor, known for Hotel de señoritas (1979), Autocine mon amour (1972) and La tuerca (1965). He died on 1 July 2005 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina.- Rex Berry was born on 9 September 1924 in Moab, Utah, USA. He was married to Helen ?. He died on 1 July 2005 in Provo, Utah, USA.
- Jiri Kacer was born on 8 May 1920 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Prulom (1946) and V horách duní (1946). He died on 1 July 2005 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
- Chris was born in Chicago where he lived for a good portion of his life with his parents and brothers. Chris was actually a twin; his twin brother passed away in the 1990's. When Chris caught the acting bug, he took up a few acting workshops and then finally made his way to California, where he started acting in plays. Chris has also done work extra in several films later in his life. He spent the last years of his life in Duarte, California with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
- James L. Fisher died on 1 July 2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Anne Edwards was born on 7 October 1930 in Wales, UK. She was married to Colin Courtney. She died on 1 July 2005.
- Bessie was born in 1999 in Dover, Delaware, USA. She was an actress, known for Secondary High (2002), Glenville: Hell's Homecoming (2005) and Glenville (1999). She died on 1 July 2005 in Claymont, Delaware, USA.