By Shirley Hawkins
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — An exhibit celebrating the life and legacy of singer Luther Vandross is now on display at the Grammy Museum downtown.
“Luther Vandross: Artistry and Elegance” offers a glimpse into Vandross’ creative process and showcases his stage wardrobe, handwritten notes of his songs, exclusive performance footage and a never-before-heard recording of him in the studio. It will be on display at the museum through June 15.
“Luther Vandross is a cherished icon who defined the smooth, jazz-inspired era of R&B and whose timeless love songs have graced countless weddings, graduations and family reunions for the past several decades,” said Grammy Museum curator Kelsey Goelz. “The Grammy Museum is thrilled to provide fans a close look into his incredible achievements in the studio and onstage.”
An eight-time Grammy Award winner, Vandross was a songwriter, arranger, producer and performer whose stirring vocals and heartfelt songs have continued to transcend time.
“My songs deal with relationships, and whether they make you happy and whether you are happy with yourself, they are introspective and deal with self-realization,” Vandross once told Ebony. “They aren’t just ‘baby you done me wrong’ songs.”
Vandross’ earliest successes came as a background vocalist and arranger for David Bowie, followed by Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Donna Summer, Carly Simon, Judy Collins, Ben E. King, Ringo Starr and Chic.
He also produced records for Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston.
“(Luther’s music had) a haunting loneliness,” said biographer David Ritz. “He’s an archetypal soul balladeer. The very top. He had this kind of cry in his voice which is penetrating. Very few people had it. Marvin [Gaye] had it, Sam Cooke had it.”
Many in the music industry say Vandross was a strict perfectionist, ensuring that every detail of his shows displayed excellence, from the well-rehearsed vocals of his backup singers to his show stopping wardrobe choices.
“Some called him ‘tough’ in the industry, but several who have worked with him explain that he is tough because he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best effort,” said one industry insider.
The exhibit highlights include hand-beaded suits and jumpsuits worn by Vandross and his background singers during the Power of Love Tour in 1991; an emerald green hand-beaded suit and two matching gowns worn by Vandross’ background singers, alongside Vandross’ black tuxedo from his 1993-94 performances; original fashion sketches of Vandross’ tour wardrobe; handwritten lyrics and studio notes for “I Can Make It Better,” featuring an exclusive recording of Vandross crafting the song; and six of Vandross’ Grammy Awards.
During his lifetime, Vandross achieved remarkable success, charting a Top 10 R&B hit every year from 1981 to 1994 and releasing 11 consecutive platinum records, with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide.
Vandross’s 1991 album “Power of Love” and the “Power of Love/Love Power” both received Grammys, as did the song “Your Secret Love” in 1996.
In 2003, Vandross suffered a debilitating stroke shortly before the release of what proved to be his last studio album, “Dance with My Father,” which earned four Grammy Awards, including best R&B album, while the title track took the award for song of the year. The album gave him the only No. 1 album on the pop charts during his long career.
Vandross died in 2005 due to a combination of stroke, diabetes and hypertension.
His niece, Seveda Williams, told People magazine, “He was singing up to the last minute. I hope people see him as a human, a man who had a great career, but a man who lived a life.”
After his death, tributes poured in from people in the industry that he worked with over the years.
“Words cannot express the heavy heart and sadness I felt learning of the passing of my dear friend Luther,” Warwick said. “He was more than just a friend, he was family. I, like so many others will miss that wonderful voice and joy brought through his music, but I will also miss that wonderful sense of humor, that hearty laugh, and his bigger than life sense of caring.
“He is in a place now where there is no suffering or pain, and knowing Luther, he has already joined the heavenly choir, giving that silky smoothness that was missing. May God bless his soul and my prayers.”
“He had one of the greatest voices that ever sang a song,” said Patti Labelle. “He was one of the sweetest men I have ever known and he was one of the best friends I have ever had. I’m so happy his legacy will live on forever. Luther was one of a kind and will never be forgotten. I miss him more than words could ever say.”
The exhibition coincides with the release of award-winning director Dawn Porter’s “Luther: Never Too Much,” a documentary on Luther’s life and legacy which will premiere on CNN, the Oprah Winfrey Network and Max in 2025.
Shirley Hawkins is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at metropressnews@gmail.com.
