> NEW YORK - Grammy award winner Luther Vandross, whose
> deep, lush voice on such hits as "Here and Now" and "Any
> Love" sold more than 25 million albums while providing the
> romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide, died
> Friday. He was 54.
Luther was one of the most talented professionals I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He came alone into the demo studio where I was chief engineer in 1979 to record some of the songs he was working on. This was back when he was still 300-plus pounds, when (among many other things) he was one of the backstage voices who did the actual singing during Village People concerts.
Because of who owned the studio I worked in, I'd recorded some pretty talented musicians, but Luther was just plain amazing. Every first take was superb; but when he occasionally wanted a second take at something, it was to make it perfect, and he did. He was the kind of guy who was so good that he made anyone working with him bring their best game, not because he demanded it in an egotistical way, but because he was just so good that he drew the best out of you, absolutely effortlessly.
And with all that professional assurance and amazing talent, Luther was also a shy person.
Just after the release of "Never Too Much", I passed him on 72nd Street, and approaching him from about 20 feet away, said "Hey, Luther! Love your new album!" Having only used me for that one demo session a couple of years earlier, he didn't recognize the tall, hippie-looking white guy addressing him, and he looked scared, like he didn't want to be recognized on the street. I just left him to his privacy. I'd guess that his shyness changed, as he worked on his physical appearance and became more self-assured as a celebrity; but Luther never lost that brilliance as an artist, as so many talented people do after they become celebrities.
We've lost a brilliant musician, much too soon.
But maybe he's finally dancing with his father...<P ID="signature">______________
also known as tombetz.</P>