Guest Blogger: Wrethwyn A Voice Like Velvet

                                               A Voice Like Velvet

                                       Luther Vandross

                                                Never Too Much

                                 April 20, 1951     -    July 1, 2005

 

                                     

His voice was like velvet and with it he could soften hearts to the possibilities of love so easily.  He was perfection pouring from the radio.  Whether you were in the arms of your lover, or just relaxing with a glass of wine (lights turned down low), he never disappointed to deliver. I was born at the end of the seventies and therefore grew up as a child of the eighties. 

 

It is not something that I knew as a fact until recently, but Luther’s solo career didn’t take off until 1981.  For me he has always simply been there, singing his soulful ballads as the background for romance, while presenting the unshakable image of a performer full of grace and charisma.  Luther’s upbeat tunes always made you want to dance, but it was the ballads that really took your breath away.  It was nice to be able to agree on music no matter what generation was in a room.  The power of his talent crossed generational, racial, cultural, and idelogical barriers.  No one could say that Luther Vandross wasn’t “good music.”

 

It was Roberta Flack who pushed Luther into his solo career, recognizing something extraordinary in her backup singer that she could not allow to  remain in the background.  He was a writer and producer as well.  One of the first features of his music writing prowess was a song Brand New Day in the musical The Wiz.    Every album that Luther released never went any less than Platinum.  A man was moving in the right direction when he pulled out the incomparable Mr. Vandross…if only for one night.

 

We are thankful that Luther rose to the challenge and broke out of his shell to become a man that almost every modern balladeer lists among the inspirations for their interest in the music business.  Luther was matchless until the end, winning Grammys well into 2004, even after being mostly immobilized due to a stroke.  He continued to sing and record music that spoke to the heart. 

 

Having lost my father in 1998, I remember the first time I heard Dance with My Father while driving.  I had to pull the car over to the side of the road.  The words touched my heart deeply, and the voice that carried them stirred emotions as if the sorrow were fresh.  I don’t say this to make anyone sad, but to illustrate that it takes a powerful musician to infuse music with soul that can touch the very heart of a person.  Luther was never just a singer he was an artist and he will be missed but never forgotten.  As long as we have music, Luther’s metaphorical chair will never just be a chair.

 

Just a few of Luther’s hits

 

Can Heaven Wait

Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
Your Secret Love
Any Love
I Really Didn't Mean It
Give Me The Reason
It's Over Now
Here and Now

Dance With My Father
Take You Out

Power of Love
Sometimes It's Only Love
Don't Want To Be A Fool
'Til My Baby Comes Home

Never Too Much

 

             

            A man was moving in the right direction when he pulled out the incomparable Mr. Vandross…if only for one night.

 

 

               Written by Wrethwyn

 

Luther Vandross : Dance With My Father : 'Dance With My Father'