She sang backup on his historic NBC special with the Blossoms and remembers, “Whenever we had a break, he would go, ‘Darlene! Do you know this one?’ He’d go get his guitar, and I’d say, ‘Yeah. “If I Can Dream” ranks as Love’s all-time favorite Elvis song. In 2015, she joined an all-star tribute to the singer to promote epilepsy awareness. With the Blossoms, Love contributed backing vocals behind many of the biggest stars of the 1960s, among them Marvin Gaye. Here’s a look back at some milestones.ĭarlene Love caught the ear of producer Phil Spector and went on to sing backup (and uncredited lead) on the most well-known “girl group” songs to come out of his hit factory.Īlong with Love, Phil Spector invited a pre-famous Cher, Sonny Bono, Bobby Sheen, and Nino Tempo to participate in the backup vocal sessions for the hit “Be My Baby.” It was the first Ronettes song produced by Spector and it exemplifies his “Wall of Sound” production technique, where he layered lots of instruments and used echo effects. His songs are his legacy and will keep him alive each time someone listens to his songs.Rolling Stone proclaimed Darlene Love “one of the greatest singers of all time,” while the New York Times declared that her “thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of rock and roll as Eric Clapton’s guitar or Bob Dylan’s lyrics.” But if Love’s name doesn’t quite have the familiar ring of Clapton’s and Dylan’s, it’s because she worked for so many years in relative anonymity in the recording studio backing up others-and in the process becoming the most successful unknown singer in rock-and-roll history. Everything about his work will continue to influence musicians who come after him. Additionally, he performed in numerous charity concerts. He worked with the United Negro College Fund and the NY Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. Not only was he a successful musician he was also extensively involved in charity work. At the time of his death, thirteen of fourteen studio albums had either gone platinum or double platinum. He released eleven consecutive platinum albums. From 1981 to 2005, he consistently topped R & R&B charts, something another artist has not achieved. His death ended a thirty-five years long career in the music and entertainment industry. Most importantly, he had the rare gift, the ability to write about love honestly. He had an incredible talent for writing lyrics, a voice that was smooth and lilting. Luther Vandross was everything a singer-songwriter should aspire to be. Over time it has become a classic song at weddings. He recorded the song at New York’s Hit Factory under Nat Adderly Jr’s direction, one of two original songs on his two-disc greatest hits album. Warwick’s son came in and asked Vandross to listen to his demo tape the second song was this smash hit. Vandross and Dionne Warwick were playing Pac-Man when this song fell into his lap. These are ten of the best songs by Luther Vandross. Posthumously, the album won four Grammy’s.
Before the release of Dance With My Father, Vandross had a stroke and passed away. The Supremes were one of his first musical influences. Besides singing, he was also a producer on albums for Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin.
As his career evolved, he became part of a crossover genre known as contemporary urban music. The following year he won a Grammy for both the song Power of Love/Love Power and the album of the same name. The album Never Too Much launched his career in 1981, giving him the beginning of a long career as an American soul and pop singer.
He also wrote the song Everybody Rejoice for the Broadway musical, The Wiz, in 1972. The first incarnation of his career was singing jingles and background vocals. While growing up on Manhattan’s Lower Eastside, his mother encouraged him to play music. Luther Vandross was born Luther Ronzoni Vandross on April 20, 1951, in New York.