Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Luther Vandross

Role / Field:

Iconic R&B and Soul singer, songwriter, and producer known for smooth vocals.

Born:

1951-04-20

Died:

2005-07-01

Century / Era:

1951s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. ( VAN-drohss; April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA-certified platinum albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide. Vandross was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time (2023) and was named one of the greatest R&B artists by Billboard.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

NPR also included him among its 50 Great Voices. He won eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2004 for "Dance with My Father". He has been inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Vandross began his music career in the late 1960s performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City as part of a local musical ensemble. The group later appeared on the television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He eventually established himself as a sought-after backing vocalist, contributing to albums by Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Todd Rundgren, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, Laura Branigan, Donna Summer, Chic...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abanindranath Tagore — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Agrippina Vaganova — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Foundational Russian ballerina and creator of the influential Vaganova method.
• Al Franken — Contemporary (Born in 1951) (1951): Comedian, writer, and politician known for SNL and his tenure as a U.S. Senator.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Akira Yoshizawa — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): Japanese origamist, credited with elevating origami from a craft to a recognized art form.
• Alexander Gomelsky — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): Pioneering Russian basketball player and coach, revered as the Father of Soviet and Russian basketball.
• 3rd Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (04-20 · Died) (1588): Founding figure of the Dalai Lama lineage, pivotal to Gelug school's rise in Tibet.
• Aloysius Bertrand — Shared historical date (04-20 · Born) (1807): French Romantic poet, pioneer of prose poetry, and Symbolist forerunner.
• Ahmed III — Shared historical date (07-01 · Died) (1736): Sultan of the Ottoman Empire during the period leading to the Tulip Era.
• Alfonso VI of León and Castile — Shared historical date (07-01 · Died) (1109): Iberian King who expanded León and Castile, conquering Toledo and resisting Almoravids.
• 1951 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1951
• April 20 (04-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 20
• 2005 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2005
• July 1 (07-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 1

Frequently Asked Questions about Luther Vandross