Luther Vandross

The Life & Legacy Of Luther Vandross

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Without a doubt, Luther Vandross is a name that will be remembered in R&B, and the music industry at large, for years to come. For decades, his enchanting voice and unparalleled vocal range have captivated audiences. Even after his untimely death, Luther Vandross’ music continues to thrive in the hearts and ears of listeners old and new. It goes without saying that he was one of the most influential R&B artists of all time.

While people have never stopped listening to his music, Vandross’ name rarely ever comes up in discussions these days. However, following a recent incident at a Madonna concert, Luther Vandross has been trending. The Queen of Pop was recently under fire since she included Vandross’ photo in an AIDS/HIV tribute during her tour. This is because Luther Vandross actually died of a stroke, and did not have either disease. While Madonna faced backlash for the error, fans have since been refreshed with Vandross’ material. Here’s a look at the life and legacy of the quintessential R&B singer.

Read More: Master P & Luther Vandross Have Google Tweaking In Hilarious Search Confusion

The Early Years

Born on April 20, 1951, Luther Vandross was raised in Manhattan until he was nine when his family moved to the Bronx. From an early age, he was immersed in the soulful sounds of gospel, blues, and R&B, and had an immense love for music. As a matter of fact, at the tender age of three, Vandross taught himself to play the piano by ear. Subsequently, the older he grew, the more his musical talent shone. His exceptional vocal abilities could not be denied and quickly caught the attention of those around him. However, while it was clear from a young age that he possessed a rare gift, it took a while before Vandross gained acclaim. 

Luther Vandross’ Ascent

Luther Vandross’ journey to musical stardom is a testament to his unwavering dedication and unparalleled talent. He put in the work for years and years before he had his shot at being in the limelight. Before his official debut in the music industry, Luther Vandross worked extensively as a backing vocalist. Throughout the ‘70s, he supplied backing vocals for many prominent artists. These include Donna Summer, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder, among many others. In the late ‘70s, Luther Vandross became a member of a singing quartet called Luther. Together, the group released two albums, Luther (1976), and This Close To You (1977). Unfortunately, the group was dropped by their label, Cotillion Records, due to low album sales. 

Subsequently, Vandross had another brief stint as the lead singer of the group Change. On April 16, 1980, the group released their debut album, The Glow of Love, to moderate commercial success. However, Luther Vandross left the group soon after, choosing to forge ahead as a solo artist. Not long afterward, he was signed to Epic Records, kickstarting his groundbreaking solo career.

Read More: 7 Best Luther Vandross Samples In Hip Hop

Outstanding Musical Contributions

Right after his 30th birthday in 1981, Luther Vandross released “Never Too Much,” his debut solo single. Subsequently, on August 12, 1981, he dropped his debut solo album of the same name. The 2x Platinum album announced Luther Vandross to the world like nothing else ever had. It marked the beginning of a very successful and influential solo career for the singer. Altogether, he released 13 solo albums between 1981 and 2003, all of which had varying levels of success. Throughout his decades-long solo career, Luther Vandross garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success. Give Me The Reason (1986), Power Of Love (1991), Songs (1994), and Dance With My Father (2003) are among his best-selling albums. The latter is the last album Vandross released before he sadly passed away in 2005.

The Legacy Of Luther Vandross

There’s no argument that Luther Vandross is among the most iconic male singers in R&B history. Almost two decades after his death, his works continue to speak for him and prove his immense talent. While the world continues to mourn the loss of the singer, his legacy undoubtedly lives on through his timeless music. In life, the man was steadfast to his craft, and his love for music can be heard all over his songs. Luther Vandross made songs that will remain evergreen, and he will continue to be celebrated for that.

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Best Luther Vandross Samples In Hip Hop

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Soul & R&B royalty Luther Vandross has long been revered for his unparalleled timeless compositions. Considering the excellence of his music, it was only a matter of time before Hip Hop artists recognized the goldmine of inspiration embedded within his catalog. For decades now, the singer’s music has been sampled in Hip Hop tracks, contributing to many unforgettable gems.

While it’s been almost two decades since he sadly passed away, Luther Vandross remains in the hearts of fans. His name recently made its way into tabloids following an incident at a Madonna show. The “Like a Prayer” singer included Luther’s photo in an AIDS/HIV tribute when, in fact, he died of a stroke and didn’t have either disease. Nevertheless, since we’re all thinking of Luther Vandross and honoring his legacy, let’s take a look at some of his best samples in Hip Hop.

“Excuse Me Miss” — Jay-Z Ft. Pharrell Williams

After releasing The Blueprint 2 in November 2002, Jay-Z dropped “Excuse Me Miss” as its third single on February 4, 2003. The track is a mesmerizing blend of smooth R&B vibes and hard-hitting rap verses. Produced by The Neptunes, it boasts an infectious groove driven by crisp percussion, lush synths, and a hypnotic bassline. In addition, it features lyrics and melodies from “Take You Out” (2001) by Luther Vandross. The sampled material appears within the first minute of “Excuse Me Miss” and is sung by Pharrell Williams.

“Things I’ve Been Through” — Jadakiss

“Things I’ve Been Through” was released as a part of Jadakiss’ third album, The Last KisI (2009). Although it didn’t get the single treatment, this is undoubtedly one of the standout tracks on the album. An introspective masterpiece, it offers a poignant glimpse into the rapper’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Additionally, it features one of the most memorable Luther Vandross samples in Hip Hop. The iconic hook of Jadakiss’s track was lifted from “Promise Me,” a song from Luther’s 1982 sophomore album. The sample comes on at the beginning of “Things I’ve Been Through” and is present throughout the song.

“Got Me Waiting” — Heavy D & The Boyz

When Heavy D & The Boyz dropped this song in 1994, it quickly rose to the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. “Got Me Waiting” is arguably the most successful single from the group’s Nuttin’ But Love album, and for good reason. The track seamlessly blends velvety R&B melodies with infectious rap verses in a way that only Heavy D could master. However, this song would not be what it is without the Luther Vandross sample that quite literally gives it life. It samples the instrumental from the 1981 Luther Vandross song “Don’t You Know That?”

“The Way Life Used To Be” — Snoop Dogg

An underrated gem in Snoop’s discography, “The Way Life Used to Be” was released in 2011. It appears on the rapper’s eleventh album, Doggumentary, and is one of its best tracks. Set against a backdrop of lush production characterized by silky melodies, the song captures the essence of West Coast Hip Hop at its finest. Another standout feature of “The Way Life Used to Be” is its excellent use of a Luther Vandross sample. The song it borrows from is “Bad Boy / Having a Party,” off of Luther’s sophomore album.

“Mind Of A Souljah” — Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is one of the most revered rap groups in the history of Hip Hop. With a discography like theirs, it’s easy to see why they have the reputation they do. “Mind of a Souljah” was released as a part of their third album, The Art of War. Like “Things I’ve Been Through” by Jadakiss, this song samples “Promise Me” by Luther Vandross. The haunting melody the sample sets the stage for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to deliver their powerful message with unflinching intensity.

“No Better Love” — Young Gunz Ft. Rell

“No Better Love” by Young Gunz is a timeless anthem of youthful exuberance and the pursuit of success. Released as the lead single from the duo’s debut album, Tough Luv, it showcases their musical strengths. The song’s hook and upbeat tempo create a vibe that is both nostalgic and irresistibly catchy. Additionally, it features a smooth sample of the instrumentals of Luther Vandross’s “Better Love.” 

“Slow Jamz” — Twista Ft. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx

On December 2, 2003, Twista released “Slow Jamz” as the lead single of his fourth album, Kamikaze. All three artists on this track bring their A-game and deliver a masterclass in storytelling. Without a doubt, Jamie Foxx and Kanye West’s contributions elevate the song to iconic status. Equally iconic is the sample of “A House Is Not a Home” by Luther Vandross featured on “Slow Jamz.” The sped-up vocals of the singer appear throughout the song and add an undeniable flavor to it.

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Madonna AIDS Tribute Has Luther Vandross’ Estate Addressing His Inclusion

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Even in her mid-60s, Madonna continues to make waves throughout the music world. She’s currently embarking on her Celebration Tour, which has consistently been in the news for everything from on-stage tumbles to now, an unnecessary tribute to the late Luther Vandross. As TMZ notes, the legendary singer passed away in 2005 due to complications from a prior stroke, not AIDS, as the Queen of Pop seemed to suggest during a recent show. While honouring friends like Freddie Mercury and Keith Haring, who openly battled the disease, an image of Vandross flashed up on the screen while Madonna was performing “Live to Tell.”

“Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier,” a representative told Page Six this week. “While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus,” they doubled down. During his life, the New York native addressed gossip about his health head-on, calling out a British magazine in the mid-80s that suggested his dramatic weight loss was related to a battle with AIDS.

Read More: Madonna’s BBL Angers 50 Cent: “Who The F**k Did This?”

Luther Vandross Didn’t Have AIDS, Despite Queen of Pop Honouring Him On Tour

Vandross’ image is no longer a part of Madonna’s tribute segment, and it seems the matter between both parties was resolved amicably. The “Le Freak” artist never came out as anything other than a straight man while in the spotlight, though his sexuality clearly remains a hot topic of conversation.

Madonna and her team might’ve missed the mark when attempting to pay homage to Luther Vandross, but hip-hop has done a great job of continuing the late vocalist’s legacy over the years. One of the most recognizable samples of his work appears on Jay-Z and Pharrell’s “Excuse Me Miss” over the years, but several other artists have cleverly interpolated Vandross too. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: 7 Best Luther Vandross Samples In Hip Hop

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Jamie Foxx Revealed as Producer of Forthcoming Luther Vandross Documentary

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White Chocolate Modern Family Photo Collage

Jamie Foxx isn’t only saving purses and riding boats; he’s reportedly back to work. Foxx is working with Colin Firth as a producer on a documentary about late R&B icon Luther Vandross.

The project is a collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content Division, Sony Music Publishing, Foxxhole Productions by Jamie Foxx, and Raindog Films by Colin Firth. According to The Hollywood Reporter, esteemed filmmaker Dawn Porter has taken the directorial helm, and production is already underway.

Vandross, an eight-time Grammy winner who sadly passed away in 2005 at the age of 54, began his career as a backup singer before achieving immense success as a solo artist. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, including numerous platinum and double platinum records, Vandross left an indelible mark on the music industry.

“Luther is one of our GOATs,” Foxx said in a statement. “He’s one of the greatest singers in the history of music. It is truly an honor to be a part of the team to help bring this incredible story to the masses.”

“Like so many, I have always loved Luther’s music, but I had no idea of the breadth and scope of his artistry. I think people will be surprised at how much he accomplished in his tragically short life. It is a joy to be able to share his true story,” said Porter.

The post Jamie Foxx Revealed as Producer of Forthcoming Luther Vandross Documentary first appeared on The Source.

The post Jamie Foxx Revealed as Producer of Forthcoming Luther Vandross Documentary appeared first on The Source.

Source Exclusive: Olivia talks new single and album, music and fashion inspiration, and mental health

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Olivia

Olivia may be one of the “First Ladies of hip-hop,” but in the span of almost two decades, she’s proven to have one of the most diverse ranges of talent of females in the industry. This week, she debuted her new single, “No Permission,” off her upcoming album, Under Pressure. Olivia sat down with The Source to talk about her upcoming album, film projects, musical and fashion inspirations, and how she manages her mental health.

The Source: What can fans expect different on this album than past albums?

Olivia: They can expect something totally different because the first album that I did was on J Records- and that’s when I first came out, which was when I was like 21 years old. And then on G-Unit, we didn’t do an album. We just did a bunch of singles and features and everything.  They can clearly hear how much my sound has evolved.

I’m a big Brandy fan, so you get a lot of those tones and we have similar tones, but I always listened to her harmonies and stuff. One of my first favorite songs that I recorded,  she was actually in a session with me because she was married to Bert (Robert ‘Big Bert’ Smith) at the time. She walked in and I was stunned because again, I’m like 22 years old and I’m like, ‘oh my God, Brandy is actually in the session.’

She is really one of my inspirations as far as the R&B side, but everybody knows I love hip-hop, so that’s infused in it as well. I have a lot of different blends in there because I don’t like to stick to one genre, but the album totally follows. You can play every track back to back and you get the same vibe.

The Source: You worked with multiple producers on this album. What do you think each of them brought to the album, in addition to your talents?

Olivia: Well of course everybody brings something different, but I have a particular producer named HV, which stands for high volume. His tracks just catch you when you hear them, like the tracks alone, you can tell those are smashes. So you have to automatically write something that matches the smash that he did. I feel like his tracks make me write even better and I try to make sure that I get producers that can come with the same type of energy, the winning type of mentality in the tracks that I want.

The Source: For sure, setting the bar high. So are there any guest artists on your new album?

Olivia: I’m keeping it a secret. I don’t want it to get out yet until we’re ready for the album [release].

The Source: Ok, so your album is called Under Pressure and May is Mental Health Awareness month. How do you deal with pressure, anxiety, stress, all the things that we all go through?

Olivia: One main thing I try to do since I live in Florida now and we’re close to the beach, I try to take long walks. We go for walks at night too in whichever city or state we’re in. Stuff like that kind of calms you down or relaxes you. I love flowers and sometimes I’ll have flowers in the house. They always bring up your energy. Also, simple things, just like sitting by yourself and with everything off, no TV, no music, just try to relax. You know, it really is the simplest things. It sounds like it’s so hard, but the simple things is what will calm you down and bring down your anxiety.

The Source: Well, you already mentioned Brandy, but who are some other musical artists that have inspired you?

Olivia: Joe is also one of my top favorite male, R&B singers. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I first came out. Also, he was down with my production crew, so he used to teach me his runs and I used to watch him and play the guitar. He’s actually why I tried to start learning to play the guitar. That’s probably why I like Lenny Kravitz. Everybody who knows me knows that I’m a big Lenny fan. My genre is all over the place, but there’s always great music. That’s all that matters- as long as it’s a great artist and they make great music.

The Source: If you could collab with any artist (past present, dead, alive, doesn’t matter), who would it be?

Olivia: One would be obviously Lenny Kravitz and the other one would be Luther Vandross. Some of my fans know this story from when I was signed to J Records. Luther was basically my godfather. He took me on my very first shopping spree when I got signed, he would take me to lunch at the Ivy, like every two weeks. I remember going into the studio with him and he has this long trench coat on with one of those big sweaters. We’re in California and it’s like 80 degrees in the studio and his engineer is sweating and I’m like, “Uncle Lou, why is it so hot in here?” He says, “that’s how I keep my vocals so warm.” And then I started doing it too because I realized that it does open up your vocals so much more. Luther and I used to walk down the street and sing so amazing together and harmonies, and I always wanted to do a record with him if I could.

The Source: In addition to being a talented musical artist, as we all know, you’re also something kind of a fashionista. We’ve seen your Instagram, your nails, and you’ve been featured in several fashion magazines. Who are some of your fashion icons or where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

Olivia: That’s a tough one because I like a lot of different things. Sometimes I like to be a really girly girl and then other times I’m very tomboy. I like color, so if I go for the color types, it’ll probably be Missoni, but if I’m going for like the clean lines and for color, it could be Versace also.

I like simple, but still classic. It’s a plethora of things. It depends on the day or on how you feel like dressing.

In addition to her upcoming album, Olivia also stars in the movie “Better than My Last,” an action-suspense film directed by Shawn Baker that is expected to be released nationwide later this year.

“No Permission” is available on most streaming platforms. More information can be found here: https://unitedmasters.com/m/625daffb4269dc24e93a1165.

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