1951–1979: Early life and career
Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City in Smith Housing Project. At age three he began playing the piano. Vandross grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was thirteen. His sister Patricia sang with vocal group The Crests who had a number two hit in 1958 with "Sixteen Candles", though she left the group before the recording. Vandross' father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old.
Luther Vandross was in a vocal group in high school, Shades of Jade, that once played at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He was also a member of a theater workshop, "Listen My Brother" who released the singles, "Only Love Can Make a Better World" and "Listen My Brother", and appeared on the second and fifth episodes of Sesame Street in November 1969.
Vandross attended Western Michigan University for a year before dropping out to continue pursuing a career in music.
His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. He was t
More about Luther Vandross (From Wikipedia)
1951–1979: Early Life And Career
Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City in Smith Housing Project. At age three he began playing the piano. Vandross grew up in a musical family that moved to the read more...
1980–2003: Career Success
Luther Vandross finally made his long desired career breakthrough as a featured singer with the vaunted pop-dance act Change, a studio concept created by French-Italian businessman read more...
2003–2005: Illness And Death
Vandross had diabetes, a disease that ran in his family, as well as hypertension. On April 16, 2003, just four days before his 52nd birthday, Vandross suffered a stroke in his home read more...
Luther Ronzoni Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five read more...