He would produce her follow-up album and its title track, “Get it Right,” which also topped the soul charts. 1 on the soul chart and to the pop top 40. He wrote and produced Aretha’s 1982 album, including the title track, “Jump To It,” which returned Re-Re to No. But he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to moonlight with one of his biggest idols, who happened to be the most successful female soul singer in history. After the success of his debut solo effort, Vandross was busy in 1982 recording his second album.
It had been five years since she’d had either a No. In 1982, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin’s career was in need of a jumpstart. Luther produces his idols Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick. Luther’s distinctive tenor can be heard most prominently on the songs “You Can Get By” and “Strike Up the Band,” although he also sang on the classic singles “Dance, Dance Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” and “Everybody Dance.” Here he is with Chic on “You Can Get By” (with lead vocals by the late Bernard Edwards). The legendary disco band Chic – led by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Nile Rodgers and partner Bernard Edwards – commissioned Vandross to contribute background vocals on their self-titled debut album in 1977. Luther connects with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards’ Chic. But they were clearly just the tip of the iceberg.įive. These gigs made him a nice living even before he launched his solo career in 1981. In the mid-to-late 1970s, he sang commercial jingles for such popular consumer brands as Kentucky Fried Chicken (now just KFC), Pepsi Cola, and the US Armed Forces – among many others. Luther Vandross could have made a career singing in ads. Luther does Kentucky Fried Chicken other jingles. Luther Vandross’ first big break was when he was asked to sing – along with his group Listen My Brother – on the first episode of the children’s learning program Sesame Street, which aired in November 1969 when Luther was just 18 years old. Luther Vandrossįifteen years after his passing, DJROBBLOG commemorates Luther’s career and his legacy with a look back at his 15 most career-defining moments…in chronological order: 1 single on the Hot 100 – something he admits drove him throughout his career. He want on to sell millions of albums, began crossing over to the pop charts, although he never achieved that elusive No. Luther honed his craft before setting the R&B world ablaze with his solo debut album in 1981, Never Too Much, which topped the Billboard soul album charts and generated a No. Having worked his way from the humblest of beginnings, Luther put in his dues while taking bit jobs (a stint on the fledgling Sesame Street TV program, a commercial jingle singer, and a backup singer for many other artists – David Bowie, Chaka Khan and Chic among them) while becoming a prominent lead vocalist in his own right (first in his own group Luther, then on a Bionic Boogie album and later with the group Change). For more than 30 years, Luther wowed us with that velvety smooth tenor and baritone voice, the one that graced hundreds of songs from 1975 to 2005…the one DJROBBLOG commemorates with this anniversary tribute. Luther Vandross (1951-2005)įifteen years after his untimely death at age 54, we still remember the man and his vast musical legacy.
It was fifteen years ago today – on J– that we lost one of the greatest voices of a generation in Luther Vandross.
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