THE LEGACY AND LAUGHTER OF LUTHER VANDROSS

Luther Vandross and My Favorite Singer, Miss Natalie Cole


Luther Vandross and I met during an interview. But we connected over Divas.




I still remember the gathering of executives and camera crews at The Sony Club (the posh and very executive restaurant/space at the top of the Sony Building). The President, VPs, publicists and other officials were gathering to make the Superstar know that he mattered. The anticipation and expectation of "Songs," his 1994 collection of remakes, was supposed to be Sony's "breaking" Luther fully into the Pop realm. Everyone was busy and on their best behavior, because Mr. Vandross had a certain level of...expectation. Everyone was worried about the lighting, the food, the positioning of the chairs and every minor and major detail, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Vandross. This was only my second interview in the "Lyrically Speaking" series that I did for BET from 1993 to 1996, and Luther was the biggest male star of our times. I was freaking out! I had sent him ALL of my questions. I had worn my best suit. I hadn't eaten for a week, and now I was seeing why. Mr. Vandross had a certain level of expectation.

Then it happened.

There was a buzz around the elevator area at the front of the Club and I knew that LUTHER VANDROSS had arrived! The buzz was Legendary and of Hollywood proportions. People were aflutter and walking and talking simultaneously, each with the simple hope of being the One to make Luther Vandross happy. He was somewhere in the midst of the diluge of people and I had yet to "see" Luther, but I could surely tell that He had arrived.



As the mass of stylist, makeup artist and overall entourage parted, THERE HE WAS! LUTHER! LUTHA! LOOFA! As a boy from DC, and a child of the Quiet Storm, I felt like royalty had just walked into the room. It was LUTHER VANDROSS and he was more than I expected and yet, not. I expected class. I got in it the manner of his intelligent and warm introduction and acknowledgement of my questions, received and approved. I expected style. I got it in the manner of his exceptional Versace top and a Gucci suit so sharp I had to tell him. I expected handsome. I got it in the manner of a tall, chocolate brown man with strong cheekbones and large hands and a smile that would have made one uncomfortable to speak but unable not to do so. I expected attitude, just by the way that the people around him were trembling. However, I got warmth and charm and a quick "Those shoes are fabulous! Are they Italian?" to my shoes, which was the beginning of a beautiful conversation. As I replied truthfully "I got these for $18 dollars at a shop in Adams Morgan in DC," Luther's mouth fell upon and he snapped "You Lie!" and it was on!

We talked about his lofty and powerful career.
We talked about his humble beginnings.
We talked about his feud with En Vogue (in detail that I have NEVER revealed!)
We talked about Anita and The Sounds of Blackness and his fabulous tours.
We talked about love and life and style.
We talked about his work with Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack and Dionne Warwick and the like.

That's when we bonded.

I played a game of "Name That Diva," where I would simply say the name of a female vocalist and Luther would say what he thought of them.



Nancy Wilson.
Patti.
Diana Ross.
Chaka Khan.
Aretha.
Rachelle Ferrell.

With each name, Luther had something detailed and dynamic, loving and laudable to say about each. It was like talking music with my best pal, who could do it all day, because we loved The Ladies With A Song!

But I hadn't mentioned by own personal favorite, and that was on purpose. Luther was on record as a HUGE Aretha Franklin fan who had carried actual albums to school with him. Luther was also on record as having watched his grades plummet when word hit the world that Diana was leaving the Supremes. So I knew that Luther and Diana and Aretha were Inseparable and since Inseparable was about Natalie and Natalie and Aretha and Natalie and Diana hadn't been the best of buddies, I thought that the mention would bring ice to our otherwise warm cup of tea. But I had to find out for myself. And so, I said:

Me: "Natalie Cole." Luther: "Let me tell you something. I think she is the most underappreciated Diva of our times. She's had more than one highly successful career. She's a Survivor. She's gorgeous and I just love her! She's a fabulous fabulous singer!"




WHAT?! I WAS IN LOVE! Luther and I bonded over Divas and afternoon tea with Bille Woodruff (reknowned director of ALL of Toni Braxton's GOOD videos and HONEY and BEAUTY SHOP!).

So I understand, as a music insider, as a music appreciator, and as a person, the loss of Luther Vandross. But what remains of him is unforgettable. Every note, every riff, every buglebead and light show of him will remain for us to revere and remember.






As Aretha and Patti, Dionne and Stevie, Usher and Cissy and Cicely and Roberta all gathered to say goodbye to him, we are reminded of WHO LUTHER VANDROSS REALLY WAS. He was classy man who came into this world and into the industry of music to make a change. His girls--Diana, Dionne and Aretha--had all had a bad turn of lack in their careers and along came Luther and "GET TO IT" and "HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE SAY GOODBYE" and stunning background vocals, to make a change. His niece took the podium to tell us that "Uncle Ronnie" (Luther's middle name was Ronzoni, yes like the Pasta!) had made them all "fabulous" and unafraid to be so! Luther Vandross was demure and refined and discreet and dignified, in ways that Black Folks and Music had forgotten about long ago.

Luther Vandross came along to remind us. To remind us that class isn't only a place in school and discretion was only for parental advisories. Luther was a man of good measure and he poured it out in wonderful portions to us all.

I will always remember that everytime I saw Luther, we would share this exchange: "Hello Mr. Vandross." "Well, Hello Mr. Taylor." And we would talk, briefly, but very joyfully, about the latest NATALIE, WHITNEY, ARETHA, PATTI, CHAKA, GLADYS, DIONNE moment and hugged and that was that. We would say Hello at industry functions and in the BET studio and he was always the same. Warm. Real. Sweet. Dignified. Funny.

All the talk about whether Luther was or wasn't is so about trying to forgot who he already was. Luther, with his fabulous shows and great suits and astonishing voice and professionalism and epic need for perfection was ALL about a NEED TO ACHIEVE THE BEST! Yes, Black people have LIVED AND BREATHED in that "twice as good to be half as successful" mentality and have since slavery. Yes, the pressure on Black Gay Men can be TWICE as lofty as that.

But Luther was already too much!


He worked the stage.
He adored his Divas.
He cared for his family.
He honored his friends.
He loved his craft.

Luther--STRONG, POWERFUL, GIFTED, CLASSY--was NEVER TOO MUCH!

He was just what we needed and we thank you LUTHER RONZONI VANDROSS for stopping by and cleaning up the mess that was R&B and returning her to DIVA STATUS!


Love Always,
Rev. Kev