Luther Vandross Update

[Raven Fox]

http://www.vh1.com/shared/media/images/artist/v/vandross_luther/canon/18425_426x104.jpg

Nothing to report yet.

I felt that the We Lost Luther post was very misleading.

Please pray for his full recovery!

[Fletch]

Raven,

I believe that the post may have been originated due to published reports (sonymusic's webstite), and the radio (I'll let the originator speak on that). In fact, I was at a club last night, and all Luther was played before the DJ started his set. In fact, I saw message boards all over the place, including MTV.com and Soulfuldetroit.com, talk about "Oh, my God, say it ain't true".

Rumors about his death were already blowin up nationwide. So the "We Lost Luther" post was not the cause of the problem. Whoever did start this rumor, though (sony?, etc) has caused a very unfortunate situation. Peace.

[ May 02, 2003, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: einnod23 ]

[Raven Fox]

J Records, or his business manager, Carmen Romano have not said anything other than he's recovering - thats the ONLY source that can be believed.

This just might be a classic case of using the press to draw attention to his new upcoming album release in June "Dancing With My Father (which I hope will NOT be post-mortem).

Otherwise - this is some morbid prank on a message board (I should talk right graemlins/stupid.gif )
The Sony page doesn't exist anymore so, I don't know WHAT to think about that.

I'm sure Leslie didn't mean to just start a rumor.

We will have to keep a close track on this one.

He's definetly in the hospital recovering. Whats scary is that he's in critical condition and could go anytime.

Prayers go up - blessings come down.

[MC]

Originally posted by Raven Fox:
I felt that the We Lost Luther post was very misleading.It sure was graemlins/nono.gif

[DJ Timmy Richardson]

rememebr years ago there was a rumor that Luther was dead.

[Jamie 3:26]

They said the same thing about Tupac.Rumors flowed for a while.

[JMNYC]

is J records a Sony Sub ?

[Raven Fox]

Luther Vandross: Here and Now, Better Than Ever
By Tonya Pendleton

Meeting Luther Vandross is akin to meeting royalty, commanding the respect that anyone with a history of stellar achievement is due. And to his many faithful fans, he is certainly the Earl of Love.

His voice is synonymous with love in all its facets from the unrequited kind to the forever kind. From his great hits with Change (like "Glow of Love" recently sampled on Janet Jacksons "All for You") to his debut single "Never Too Much," to his string of classic ballads: "So Amazing," "Superstar," and "Here and Now," Vandross occupies a rarified place in Black music. He's sold millions of albums worldwide since his career began two decades ago. Even without a record deal, Vandross toured extensively to sellout audiences in the United States and overseas.

Despite that, he was without a record deal for some time after he ended his long-term relationship with Epic, and released an album on Virgin to lackluster response. "I just didn't record for a few years," he says, without a hint of regret. "I wasn't in any particular hurry to sign with a new label until the circumstances that I was going to sign to would just throw me. And that [happened] when Clive called me. I love his dedication to his artists."

Clive Davis is, of course, the head of J Records, a boutique label he formed after years of success at Arista. Always enamored with beautiful voices, Davis is best known for signing artists such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and newly-minted divas Angie Stone and Deborah Cox. But this marks one of the first times that Davis has worked with a beautiful male voice. On Vandross' new still-untitled album, due out June 19, he is working with longtime collaborators Marcus Miller and Nat Adderly Jr., but has branched out to including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and new jack R.L. in his mix.

He laughs heartily when it's suggested that a relative newcomer like R.L. might have a difficult time directing the admittedly diva-ish Vandross. But he says he's not that difficult.

"Remember, I was a session singer," he says with a smile. "I was a jingles singer, so taking direction is what I pride myself on. I can take direction like you wouldn't believe. There's no melodic structure that you can throw at me that would throw me for a loop."

Well, of course, we knew that, given the breadth of his recorded work. It is what prompted BET to reward Luther with a star on its Walk of Fame coupled with a TV special. It was one of the best moments of his career. So much so that he sent flowers to the artists (R.L., Chante Moore, Chaka Khan and others) who sang in tribute to him. It was all the more special because BET and Vandross began their careers at around the same time, 20 years ago. "I had a lump in my throat the size of a grapefruit, figuratively speaking," he says.

It was made even more of a triumphant moment because he was able to accept the award as a noticeably slimmed down version of his former self.

"That same award may have been presented to me at 330 pounds, and I would not have enjoyed it to the same degree. I would have been so preoccupied with feeling inferior because of that, that I would have allowed myself to be distracted."

Despite the speculation his thinner look has created, it's basically a combination of healthy eating and dual gym memberships. Despite Vandross being an excellent cook and a spoon bread devotee, he's kept the weight off for over three years. After being diagnosed with diabetes a while back, Vandross finally made the connection between his compulsive eating and his health. Fortunately, he was able to overcome the disease with diet and a new addiction to step class.

Happy, healthy and looking forward to his new musical life at J, Vandross is not bitter about the last few years when it seemed that true vocalists like himself were being phased out for young guys stealing his riffs and layering them over hip-hop beats. And he's not mad at hip-hop; in fact, yes, he likes it and listens to it regularly.

"Rap is an art form just like what I do is," he says emphatically. "If people set out to have one thing at the expense of another then it's a problem. What I do is not that different than what Puffy does. When I grew up, it was a melting pot of musical styles. Just because Patti can hit a high "C" doesn't mean that altos like Mavis Staples or Gladys Knight aren't equally as fabulous.

Thankfully, love will never go out of style. And Vandross' blend of emotional sensitivity and vocal dexterity can't be successfully imitated. There is only one Luther.

So what does he see in his future?

"Luther Vandross," he says, with a big smile, "age 70, still singing his butt off."

[Raven Fox]

Just picked this off the net / no other press sources carried yet:

1010WINS.com (http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_128141541.html)

Vandross Breathing on His Own; Still Critical

May 8, 2003 2:12 pm US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK) Luther Vandross, who had a tube inserted in his throat to help him breathe after a stroke, is breathing on his own, his publicist said Thursday.

However, the Grammy-winning singer remains in intensive care and has not regained consciousness since the April 16 stroke, publicist Lois Najarian said.

"There's been no radical change is his condition," she told The Associated Press.

The 52-year-old singer, whose hits include "Here and Now" and "Superstar," has been in critical condition at Weill-Cornell Medical College since suffering the stroke at his Manhattan home.

He underwent a tracheotomy and had a tube inserted in his throat to assist his breathing, in part because he had contracted pneumonia.

However, Najarian said Vandross' mother told her Thursday that Vandross was now breathing again on his own.

Najarian said doctors remain hopeful the singer will regain consciousness.

[ May 08, 2003, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[Raven Fox]

May 9, 2003 6:52 am US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) NEW YORK Luther Vandross remained in critical condition and still needs assistance to breathe, his publicist said Thursday.

The Grammy-winning singer, hospitalized at Weill-Cornell Medical College since his April 16 stroke, has not regained consciousness, publicist Lois Najarian said.

''There's been no radical change is his condition,'' she told The Associated Press.

Earlier Thursday, Najarian said Vandross' mother had told her that Vandross was now breathing on his own. However, Najarian later said that information was incorrect.

Following his stroke, Vandross underwent a tracheotomy and had a tube inserted in his throat to assist his breathing, in part because he had contracted pneumonia.

Najarian said doctors remain hopeful the 52-year-old singer, whose hits include ''Here and Now'' and ''Superstar,'' will regain consciousness.

[Raven Fox]

Luther Vandross' Mother Says Her Son Steadily Improving

Singer has not regained consciousness in three weeks.

by Gil Kaufman 5/12/03

Luther Vandross was "touch and go" following his stroke three weeks ago, but is steadily improving, according to his mother, Mary Vandross.

"Right after the stroke, he was in grave danger; it was very touch and go," Mary Vandross said in a statement issued Monday (May 12). "But I feel that it is just a matter of time before he improves and to me, his appearance gets better daily. It's a very slow process."

The singer, 52, was forced to undergo a tracheotomy two weeks ago to assist his breathing after contracting pneumonia (see "Vandross Undergoes Tracheotomy, Remains In Critical Condition"). The singer remains in critical but stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson, and has shown no signs of consciousness since he was found in his New York apartment several hours after suffering a stroke on April 16.

Mary Vandross makes the trip to the intensive care unit at New York's Weill Cornell Medical College hospital every few days from her home in Philadelphia. She said she's been overwhelmed by the support from the singer's friends and admirers, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom she calls "almost every day to pray with me."

Though Vandross remains unresponsive, Mary Vandross said she and the singer's nieces play music and talk to him all day long, spinning such favorites as Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick as well as his own music. Among the songs they play for Vandross is the title track to his upcoming album, Dance With My Father, which Mary said her son told her was the best song he has ever written. "In fact, right after he wrote 'Dance With My Father' he called me and he said, 'Mama, I wrote a song for you and daddy, I'm going to bring it and see what you think,' " she said.

The album is still slated for release on June 10. "Knowing how he loves this new album, I believe Luther would want it to come out now and I'm so grateful that he can get this chance," she said. "He is going to recover and when he does, I want him to be greeted with a big success story. He has to recover, he's all I have left, he's my last surviving child."

Aretha Franklin is hosting a candlelight vigil and prayer service for Vandross May 19 at 6:30 p.m at the Little Rock Baptist Church in Detroit. Joining Franklin will be the Ebenezer Mass Choir, her sons, Eddie and Kecalf, and the Four Tops.

This report is from MTV News.

[Sharp Eye Washington]

Thanks for the update Raven.

[Raven Fox]

TONIGHT

Aretha Franklin Prepares Vigil For Luther
By Chuck 'Jigsaw' Creekmur , BET.Com Staff Writer

Soul Diva Aretha Franklin is preparing a religious service and candlelight vigil for stricken singer Luther Vandross, who has yet to regain consciousness after suffering a stroke on April 19. Advertisement


Franklin's vigil will be held on May 19, the one month anniversary of the singer's ailment at the Little Rock Baptist Church in Detroit. The Four Tops, the Ebenezer Mass Choir and others will accompany Franklin as they pray and sing for Vandross, an Associated Press story reports.

Should there be any overcrowding at the event, the adjacent Northern High School Pavilion will be set up up to allow others to attend. According to Franklins reps, they expect a two-hour ceremony to raise the spirits of Vandross.

Since suffering from a massive stroke, the 52-year-old Vandross remains in critical condition and, despite conflicting reports, has yet to awaken or breath on his own. He underwent a tracheotomy to aid breathing after contracting pneumonia.

Nevertheless, his doctors still remain optimistic that the singer will wake up soon.

The Franklin-inspired vigil will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Little Rock Baptist Church located at 9000 Woodward and Northern High School Pavilion at 9026 Woodard in Detroit.

J Records has already begun to service radio and internet with Vandross songs and still intends to drop the Grammy Award winning singers album, Dance With My Father, on June 10.

[ May 19, 2003, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: Raven Fox ]

[Raven Fox]

Mrs. Mary Vandross speaks about her son Luther Vandross for the first time since his stroke on April 16.

"Since I live in Philadelphia I go to the hospital every two or three days to have a prayer with my son. I hold his hand and pray with him. Right after the stroke, he was in grave danger; it was very touch and go. But I feel that it is just a matter of time before he improves and to me, his appearance gets better daily. It's a very slow process. But I believe there is nothing too hard for God.

I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of phone calls from people who love Luther. Jesse Jackson calls almost every day to pray with me. There is just a small group of us that are allowed to visit Luther who is still in Intensive Care. His nieces Chanece and Seveda who live in New York come every day so when I'm not there, it's comforting to know they are.

We play music for Luther all day long and we talk to him too. We play all his favorites - Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, and we play his music too. His friend Fonzi puts the new song Dance With My Father on his pillow - we play that one a lot since Luther told me that he thought that was the best song he ever wrote. In fact, right after he wrote Dance With My Father he called me and he said, 'Mama, I wrote a song for you and daddy, I'm going to bring it and see what you think.'

When I heard it, I felt like I was going to, well, scream. I played it over and over and I cried and cried. I was amazed how well Luther remembered his father, how we used to dance and sing in the house. I was so surprised that at 7 1⁄2 years of age, he could remember what a happy household we had. It was always filled with a lot of music. Luther's father - who was also named
Luther - had a beautiful voice and he would sing and sing. That is where Luther got his gift.

Knowing how he loves this new album, I believe Luther would want it to come out now and I'm so grateful that he can get this chance. He is going to recover and when he does, I want him to be greeted with a big success story. He has to recover, he's all I have left, he's my last surviving child."

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from www.luthervandross.com (http://www.luthervandross.com)