My first thought when I heard of Luther Vandross' passing was that he was in the loving arms of both his fathers. A deep sense of comfort engulfed me as I imagined him dancing with his father - his earthly father - again. I don't know about anyone else, but as one who so longs to do the same with the father I too miss so deeply, it's a beautiful thought.
Luther was the quintessential emerging artist and thus I must give him tribute here. Although most of us knew him as the artist who consistently provided us with platinum albums and CDs, not everyone knows that he got there only after a discouraging struggle. Even though he sang background for some of the greatest, including Roberta Flack and Dionne Warwick, and they urged him to go for it for himself, the industry ignored his worth.
No doubt, had Luther Vandross, the emerging artist, listened to the critics when he first sought to market himself he would have quietly slid back into the background (a background that I must say he represented with extraordinary style, sound and class) and been content. But, although he was turned down by every major label initially, rather than be stopped Luther took his own money and produced his own album. An album that ultimately went platinum.
His last CD, Dance With My Father is a most fitting and lovely exclamation point to his phenomenal career. If you haven't, you might want to dig out your Luther collection and give them all a listen.
Rest in peace and thank you, Luther!
