By: Julio Olmo

Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Luther Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide.

Vandross was never married and had no children.

His mother outlived all of her four children, and his three older siblings predeceased him due to diabetes and asthma.

 “Though he never came out as gay or bisexual, you had to be wearing blinders not to see it.”

In December 2017, 12 years after his death, Vandross’s close friend Patti LaBelle indeed confirmed that he was gay.

Possessing a tenor vocal range, Vandross was commonly referred to as “The Velvet Voice” in reference to his vocal talent, and was sometimes called “The Best Voice of a Generation”. He was also regarded as the “Luciano Pavarotti of Pop” by many critics.

In 2008, Vandross was ranked No. 54 on Rolling Stone magazine’s List of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Vandross had diabetes and hypertension. On April 16, 2003, he had a severe stroke at his home in New York City and was in a coma for nearly two months. The stroke affected his ability to speak and sing and required him to use a wheelchair.

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross appeared in a pre-taped video segment to accept his Song of the Year Award for “Dance with My Father”.

Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father

Saying, “When I say goodbye it’s never for long because I believe in the power of love” (Vandross sang the last six words). His mother, Mary, accepted the award in person on his behalf.

His last public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Vandross died on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 due to a heart attack.

Vandross’s funeral was held at Riverside Church in New York City on July 8, 2005. Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston were among the speakers and singers at the service. Vandross was entombed at the George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

His mother, Mary Ida Vandross, died in 2008.

19th NAACP Image Awards Performance – Luther Vandross.