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ELOQUENT FURY

LUTHER VANDROSS

A SUPERSTAR BURNS ETERNALLY
 

In an industry dominated by talentless clones, Luther Ronzoni Vandross was a uniquely gifted original. While most lyrics worship meaningless and raw sex, Luther’s lyrics were sheer poetry, illuminating subtle sensuality and true love. In a world where romance is a relic, Luther gave magic to those of us who still dare to believe in sacred loves.

Luther’s voice was lush. His soul was audible. He was born to compose and sing. Luther lived as divinely intended. Now, he croons eternally in a sacred and superior place...

Luther epitomized determination in every facet of his life. In every battle with his weight, his privacy, his image, his career, his health, and his gifts, Luther was an unyielding soldier until the very end. I pray that Luther knew that millions of us loved him always, just as he was, during every battle. I know that he is now in a place where he can love himself always also...

I admired so much about Luther, far beyond his magical musical gifts. He was classy in an industry that reveres vulgarity. He was discreet without being deceptive. He was private without being phony. He gave so much to the romantic lives of millions while simultaneously guarding his own love life with dignity and grace.

Luther chose to keep his sexuality private. I respect his choice. I understand it also. Luther knew that coming out would suddenly render his musical gifts invisible to droves of foolish gaybashing fans. He knew that he would suddenly be judged and despised. Like many other black closeted celebrities, Luther knew that many of us always knew he was gay and loved him anyway. He knew he earned our unconditional love eternally.

Luther’s uniqueness was never a blemish to us. It was a badge of beauty. It matched the tenderness of his musical muses. It matched the heavenly sound of his angelic voice. It matched the magic in his universally romantic lyrical messages. Everything about Luther was special. He was born special. And, he lived and loved precisely as he was born to do.

When Luther covered any classic song, it totally eclipsed the original. He took Stevie Wonder’s “Creepin’”, Barbara Streisand’s “Evergreen”, The Carpenters’ “Superstar”, Dionne Warwick’s “A House is not a Home”, Major Harris' “Love Won’t Let Me Wait", and Brenda Russell’s “If Only for One Night” to new cosmic heights. His duets with Martha Wash (“I Who Have Nothing”), Mariah Carey (“Endless Love”), Cheryl Lynn (“If This World Were Mine”), Gregory Hines (“There’s Nothing Better Than Love”), and Patti Austin (“I’m Gonna Miss You in the Morning”) were all eargasmic. His lead vocals with Change (“The Glow of Love” & “Georgy Porgy”) were legendary. Even his pre-solo career commercial jingles for Coca-Cola were timeless musical magic.

I wish Luther was still alive and crooning. I wish he had lived long enough to be braver and bolder. I wish he could have lived long enough to see homosexuality become as insignificant as eye color. I wish I could live that long too...I truly believe that day will someday come.

Life and music are eternal. Luther lives dually forever. He and his music are timeless legends. He lives forever in our souls through his soulful music...

My favorite Luther songs are:

CREEPIN’

I’M GONNA MISS YOU IN THE MORNING

GLOW OF LOVE

NEVER TOO MUCH

YOU STOPPED LOVING ME

ENDLESS LOVE

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH

A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME

LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT

EVERGREEN

ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART

BUSY BODY

BAD BOY

IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE

ANY LOVE

IT’S OVER NOW

SO AMAZING

DON’T WANT TO BE A FOOL

DANCE WITH MY FATHER AGAIN

CAN I TAKE YOU OUT TONIGHT?

DON’T YOU KNOW THAT

SUGAR AND SPICE

MY SENSITIVITY

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Dear Luther: We will miss you and cherish you forever. I hope you are loving your soulmate openly and eternally. And, I know you are dancing with your father again...Love Always, AB

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