![]() ![]() In the mid-1960s, he went to work for the Apollo. He also promoted the Monday-night jazz and Latin concerts at the Village Gate and the other Miles Davis–Gil Evans collaborations. He had staged Billie Holiday’s Lady Sings the Blues concert in 1957 and produced the Miles Davis–Gil Evans Carnegie Hall concert in 1960. Peter Long had a storied career before coming to the Apollo. Those Apollo days served as Vandross’s conservatory, the place that taught him the skills he needed (vocal arranging, production) to be a professional in the competitive world of New York City. Vandross took lessons at how they stood, how they handled the microphone, and how they worked the audience and the stage. A bigger fan of the divas than the male artists, Vandross often stood on the stage sidelines and watched as his favorite females (Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Nancy Wilson, and Dionne Warwick) rehearsed. However, first there were dues to be paid, songs to be sung, and professionals to be studied. Practicing in the basement of the famed theater, these kids would all eventually become soul shakers in the music industry. Vandross’s daddy, Luther Sr., who died when he was eight, had been a singer when he was young, so junior came by his vocal skills naturally and had no problem rehearsing so he could be perfect. ![]() Overseen by Peter Long, who produced weekly variety shows and developed young music talent, Listen My Brother included other members Nat Adderley Jr., Robin Clark, Fonzi Thornton, and Patrick Adams. The ensemble ended when the boys were accepted into Listen My Brother, a group that worked out of the Apollo Theater. He was always that same singer, that same interpreter.” “Luther was a visionary, even when we were young,” Thornton, who has sung backup for Chic and Roxy Music, said in a 2012 interview. Other members included vocalists Anthony Hinton and Fonzi Thornton. The entire ensemble performed in emerald green shirts and patent leather shoes. That would be the kind of stuff going through our minds.”ĭuring his teen years, Luther formed his first group, A Shade of Jade, which featured his friend, guitarist Carlos Alomar. “We wondered what it was like backstage at an Aretha Franklin concert or wonder if Diana Ross and Aretha, since they were both from Detroit, went to lunch together and then got their nails done. “My friends and I would sit in our apartments listening to music and daydreaming about the singers we loved,” Vandross explained to me in 1996. Smith housing projects, he knew he wanted to be involved in the world of music. I think we can safely say that Luther's lifetime achievements are far from over.From the time Luther Vandross was a young boy growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in Alfred E. He was recently awarded the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Lifetime Achievement Award. Luther is undisputedly still the king of soul ballads but he is also recognised as a force to be reckoned with on the new r & b scene. He's combined his classic soul sound with the new digitised r & b beat, therefore cleverly pleasing his die-hard fans and also paving the way for a new generation of followers. With this album Luther has stepped into the 21st century with style. He doesn't forget his roots either we are taken on a trip down memory lane with "Let's make tonight the night", a track reminiscent of the funky soul of the 80's, the music that really brought him to our attention. However don't be fooled into thinking that this is just another album of romantic love songs Luther forges his way into the new millennium with the upbeat, no messing r & b track "How do I tell her". "Bring your heart to time" is the stand out ballad of the album, closely followed by the haunting "Heaven can wait". The opening track "Take You Out" (already a big hit in the clubs), sets the mood as Luther takes you through a journey of love, sorrow and life. Luther Vandross, his 15th solo album, doesn't disappoint. Mr Vandross is also a renowned producer, songwriter and arranger and has penned soul classics such as "Power of Love/Love Power" and "Secret Love". He has had several successful collaborations over the years with the likes of Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, just to a name a few. He made his first breakthrough with "Everybody Rejoice (A Brand New Day)", which he wrote for the hit Broadway musical 'The Wiz' which was later remade for the big screen with an all star cast which included Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. Luther's career has spanned three decades. After five Grammy awards and multi-Platinum selling albums, the pressure's on for Luther Vandross to pull another smash hit out of the bag with his latest offering, simply titled Luther Vandross. ![]()
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