[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 96 (Friday, July 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF R&B SINGER LUTHER VANDROSS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
legacy of legendary R&B singer, humanitarian, and community activist, 
Mr. Luther Vandross, who died on Friday July 1st after health problems 
resulting from a stroke in 2003. Mr. Vandross was a Grammy award 
winning artist whose deep, lush voice on such hits as Here and Now and 
Any Love sold more than 25 million albums.
  Arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer of his generation, his 
music provided the romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide. 
In an era of sexually charged and explicit lyrics, Mr. Vandross spoke 
to love and romance with heartfelt emotions.
  Even without gaining the crossover success which he sought, Mr. 
Vandross sold over 25 million records. He won eight Grammy Awards and 
many other accolades including the American Music Award, Soul Train, 
BET, and NAACP Image awards. He ranked as one of the most successful 
R&B singers of the 1980's and broke through to even wider commercial 
success in 2003 with his last album, Dance With My Father, which earned 
four Grammy Awards and has generated worldwide sales exceeding 3 
million copies.
  Luther Ronzoni Vandross was born in 1951 into a New York City family 
steeped in the musical traditions of gospel and soul. He was the 
youngest of four children, reared by a single mother after the death of 
his father when Luther was still a boy. He began his career writing and 
performing jingles for television commercials. But his biggest early 
break came when he landed a job as a backup singer for the British 
artist David Bowie, who later hired him to work on vocal arrangements 
for the album Young Americans.
  After breaking into the music business Luther worked for artists from 
Bette Midler to Barbra Streisand as a highly sought-after backup 
vocalist and arranger. His 1981 debut album, Never Too Much, reached 
the top of the R&B charts and sold more than one million copies. 
Through the 1980's, he recorded a string of platinum albums, including 
Forever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body and The Night I Fell in Love.
  Luther Vandross had a career that most singers only dream about and 
has served as a source of inspiration for people throughout the world. 
Especially among his musical peers, writing songs for musical icons 
such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Dionne 
Warwick.
  He was a native New Yorker and before his funeral services on Friday, 
July 8th, a hearse carrying the singer's remains took him for one last 
tour of Harlem, pausing outside the Apollo Theater before heading west 
to the church. Before achieving stardom, Vandross had twice finished 
second at Harlem's famed Apollo theater and both the city and theater 
always maintained a special place in his heart.
  Luther Vandross' accomplishments in life speak to his character and 
personality. He was a loving individual known for his kindness and 
generosity as well as his musical accomplishments.
  He leaves to cherish and celebrate his life, his loving and devoted 
mother, Mary Ida Vandross, several nieces and nephews and millions of 
loyal fans.

            Official Obituary Submitted From Label J Records

       Luther Ronzoni Vandross, the silky-voiced R&B crooner who 
     spun romance into hits like ``Here and Now and ``Any Love,'' 
     died on Friday, July 1st, 2005 at John F. Kennedy Medical 
     Center in Edison, NJ. He was 54.
       With a smooth yet soulful delivery, the highly admired 
     singer/songwriter/producer has sold in excess of 30 million 
     records worldwide, winning eight Grammy Awards, numerous Soul 
     Train, BET, NAACP Image and American Music Awards.
       He ranked as one of the most successful R& B singers of the 
     1980s and broke through to even wider commercial success in 
     1989 with the Best of Luther Vandross, the Best of Love, 
     which included the new song ``Here and Now,'' his first 
     Grammy winning hit which became a signature wedding song.
       Born in New York City in 1951, Luther was the youngest of 
     four children. In 1972, a song Vandross wrote, ``Everybody 
     Rejoice,'' was included in the Broadway musical ``The Wiz.'' 
     But his biggest early break came when he landed a job as a 
     backup singer for David Bowie and created vocal arrangements 
     for the hit album Young Americans.
       Luther soon became a sought-after backup vocalist and 
     arranger, working for artists from Bette Midler to Barbra 
     Streisand, and he helped pay the bills as one of the most 
     popular jingle singers of the time. His 1981 debut, Never Too 
     Much, reached the top of the R&B charts and sold more than 
     one million copies. Through the 1980s, he recorded a string 
     of platinum albums, including Forever, For Always, For Love, 
     Busy Body and The Night I Fell in Love. His last album, Dance 
     With My Father received 4 Grammy Awards (including Song of 
     the Year for the title song ``Dance With My Father'') and has 
     generated worldwide sales exceeding 3 million copies.
       Luther was also a prolific writer and producer for such 
     musical icons as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston 
     and Dionne Warwick thereby fulfilling a lifelong dream. 
     ``When history books are written, I'd like it to be said that 
     I am one of the premiere singers of our time,'' said Vandross 
     in an interview with BET.
       He leaves to cherish and celebrate his life, legacy, and 
     wonderful memories a loving and devoted mother, Mary Ida 
     Vandross, nine nieces as well as eight great nephews, three 
     great nieces and a circle of close friends and colleagues, 
     his musical family and millions of loyal, supportive fans.

                          ____________________