Luther Vandross: RIP

July 1, 2005 7:31 PM

Luther Vandross is gone. The great R&B balladeer died today, apparently due to complications from a stroke he suffered two years ago. Believers in an afterlife can hope he's enjoying a dance with his father. After all, he did believe in the "Power of Love". RIP.
posted by trip and a half (45 comments total)

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posted by WolfDaddy at 7:36 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by cavalier at 7:36 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by rxrfrx at 7:46 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by runningdogofcapitalism at 7:56 PM on July 1, 2005

This man's song made me weep. And my dad is still alive.
posted by bugmuncher at 7:57 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by WaterSprite at 8:05 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by maryh at 8:06 PM on July 1, 2005

The voice of an angel.
posted by netbros at 8:07 PM on July 1, 2005

RIP Luther. You will be missed.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:19 PM on July 1, 2005

I will always remember the episode of the PJs based on "A Clockwork Orange" where Thurgood was obsessed with "My Beloved Luther Van." Good times.
posted by Eideteker at 8:24 PM on July 1, 2005

This man is directly responsible for my conception.

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posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:34 PM on July 1, 2005

So sad to hear about this.

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posted by Radio7 at 8:45 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by fenriq at 8:53 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by scottymac at 9:00 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by ericb at 9:02 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by numlok at 9:09 PM on July 1, 2005

A House Is Not A Home - without some Luther.
posted by mikeinclifton at 9:14 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by LeeJay at 9:19 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by oflinkey at 9:19 PM on July 1, 2005

We must all eat Luther Burgers this July 4 weekend.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:24 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by liquid54 at 9:47 PM on July 1, 2005

One of the best voices in music...I am grateful that we have his music to listen to forever.
posted by davidmsc at 10:27 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by kamikazegopher at 10:37 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by Samizdata at 11:27 PM on July 1, 2005

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posted by sdrawkcab at 11:49 PM on July 1, 2005

Ok, so celebrities die in triplets. Ronald Regan, Ray Charles, and Christopher Reeves, for instance. Also, Princess Di, Mother Teresa, and JFK Jr. Old Dirty Bastard, Arafat, and Jerry Orbach were a trifecta.

Of course, the Trifecta of our decade, Johnny Cochran, Terri Shiavo and Pope John Paul II.

So, any bets on the other two celebrities that will accompany Luther Vandross across the River Styx?
posted by Jon-o at 12:25 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by LinusMines at 12:39 AM on July 2, 2005

Jon-o:

Jackson. And Philbin.

and also,
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posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:00 AM on July 2, 2005

no triplets, stotooooooooooooop say8hg
posted by corpse at 1:03 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by ramix at 1:31 AM on July 2, 2005

awww, I so loved his singing, he brought me such joy.
posted by nickyskye at 1:45 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by grrarrgh00 at 2:22 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by TheDonF at 2:24 AM on July 2, 2005

R.I.P. I really like his live version of "Love the One You're With" by CS&N.
Also, a plea to stop trotting out the "celebrities die in threes" shtick.
posted by planetkyoto at 3:27 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by Smart Dalek at 3:28 AM on July 2, 2005

"I'd like to be remembered as a premier singer of songs, not just a popular act of a given period."

As you wish.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:32 AM on July 2, 2005

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(jon-o: you mean losing Tigger and Piglet isn't enough?)
posted by jlkr at 5:30 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by the cuban at 6:02 AM on July 2, 2005

Dance With My Father was one of the most touching songs I've ever heard, and Luther had a beautiful voice. I think I'll play some Luther Vandross songs now.

You will be missed, Luther.
posted by madman at 6:43 AM on July 2, 2005

The lifelong bachelor never had any children, but doted on his nieces and nephews. The entertainer said his busy lifestyle made marriage difficult; besides, it wasn't what he wanted.

That seems to be saying way too much about someone not being married unless they really want to say something else. Is it newspaper speak for Vandross was gay? (Yes, I know he was gay, or at least that everyone thinks he was. I'm just talking about the phrase in the article -- am I reading something into it or were they nudge-nudging?)

Anyway, a long time ago he sang and arranged the backing vocals on one of my favorite records, Bowie's Young Americans, and wrote one of the songs, so I liked him before I even knew who the hell he was.
posted by pracowity at 8:11 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by mattr at 9:37 AM on July 2, 2005

Sorry to hear about your dad, Baby_Balrog.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 10:12 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by May Kasahara at 10:27 AM on July 2, 2005

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posted by First Post at 12:30 PM on July 2, 2005

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posted by tristeza at 4:21 PM on July 2, 2005