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1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS
Luther Vandross tribute
Luther Vandross
Speaker
1Xtra pays tribute to the king of ballads Luther Vandross, who died in July 2005. What did his music mean to you?
Starting from Luther's roots in gospel to his Grammy award-winning album Dance With My Father, which was to be his last.

We talk to Luther's closest friends and artists who worked with him. 

Blak Twang, Estelle, Lemar, Omar and Nathan talk about the legacy Luther's left behind as we celebrate Luther Vandross' life and music.
Which are your favourite Luther tracks? Which artists have been influenced by Luther Vandross? What did Luther Vandross mean to you? Tell us your memories of Luther songs.

Lyndon Cole
The man of all ballads." A house is not a home" is so powerful it make you understand what people mean to each other. Luther thank you for what you have given to the world and also to music itself. RIP

Ken
The world is a poorer place after his departure. He was a perfectionist who'll never be replaced....I still can't believe that he's not here with us today! One of the last real artists has gone but is definitely not forgotten. Little Miracles, Here and Now, For You To Love.... all great songs from a great great man. Luther we miss you and your music. RIP

Neil
My heart is bleeding canny live without him anymore Ive listened to Give me a reason and cant find one!

ada(lagos,nigeria)
truth is,there can never be another luther.friends say i am fixated and obsessed with luther.i have his posters all aorund my room.if i find myself in New Jersey,US in my lifetime,i will definitely visit his grave. luther was and is still one in a million;no artist living or dead can and/or has ever rivalled him.i am overwhelmed and tears come to my eyes each time i hear him sing.luther was and is stil a blessing to this world.i know he's leading the heavenly choir.sing on,sweetheart,you are loved and will forever be. LUTHER IS NOT DEAD! HE IS ALIVE!

Leon Petrossian
The first time I heard of Luther Vandross was on the radio in 1990. Here And Now was playing and I said WOW WHAT A VOICE WHO IS THAT? From then on I had to have every recording this man sang. I have almost accomplished that task. I have his early rare albums too many to list here. I have two copies of the studio group MASCARA:See You In L.A. album only issued in U.K. A very good record produced by Chris Hill. When I heard about Luther's stroke I was devestated and wanted to do something for him. I got his rare albums to David Lasley who sent them to Luther for me. Luther got to hear them a couple of weeks before he died. Since then I have talked to David and Fonzi Thornton on the phone. We talk about the music and how much Luther meant to the world. I will continue to play his music until the day I die.

Bruce Mclean
Luther was one in a million . I heard him interviewed by steve wright on Radio one years ago . How he started ,how he sang adverts ...( he sang one about juicy fruit or something live .. it was amazing .He was truly passionate about life. Now he could belt out those funky uptempo songs but when Luther did ballads , he went to another level. Has anyone seen his video live at Wembley ,singing A house is not a home , or Superstar. It still brings tears to my eyes . May he be sampled,covered, loved and respected ..... but never forgotten. Genius . Bruce Mclean.

p.Ajogbe
Hardly do you hear of a song about fathers. I think that is what makes dance with my father so unique. Though my father is still alive, i cried the first time i heard that song. It' a very powerful delivery from luther. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

mick turner
luther words could never express the deep loss we feel.Your music expressed all the emotions we feel in life.Never to much still remains my favourate track of all time a greate friday night classic. your music shapes peoples lives ,gives hope when life seems impossible, lifts you when you are down.One regret i have in life is not seeing you live.May you rest in peace your music will live on forever

mick turner
luther you help me through good and bad times. Ive never stopped listening to your sweet voice may you rest in peace with your farther you missed so much.

brian manchester
always been a fan but only recently bought the album dance with my father. The title track is one of the most amazing ballads i have ever heard made all the more poignant now. Many classic songs and in my opinion, the most gifted male office EVER!

bella
My two favourite Luther songs are 'til my baby comes home', which will always remind me of driving in the car with my mum and dad and my sister, and 'the glow of love' which i just love his voice in. He was a truly brilliant artist and his music will live on, I am certain.

jeffrey jessop
what can you say he's just great, no-one made music like him and never will again. RIP god bless him and may god enjoy his music as much as i did

Eileen Samuels
Dance with my father expressed how much i missed my dead father...i cry ever time I hear it play.

darrin johnston
what a waste of talent, best voice of his generation. Endless Love with Mariah Carey really sticks out for me.

Jayne
Luther was an incredible man who blessed us with his amazing voice and music. His early albums remind me of my childhood and will always bring back fond memories. Luther's music will be passed on through generations, from my parents to my son. It still seems so unreal that he is dead. He will be sorely missed, God bless, R.I.P Luther

Lewis (Northampton)
Fantastic voice and presence - he will be sorely missed. His performance on "The Glow of Love" when he sung with Change still gets me everytime. And the latter work he did with Masters at Work showed that Disco/Funk/Soul will never die. "We are one, having fun, walking, kissing in the Glow of Love!" Classic.

Kim W
Luther's death hurt me and I still can't believe he has gone. But look what he has left behind...15 albums of solid quality music some of which will still be getting airplayed way after digital radio ceases to exist! What I want to know is why there hasn't been a TV documentary about Luther's legendary contribution to Soul music?

Leonard Rowe
Luther was great, I first became aware of him in the days of "Change ". I listened to the tribute album and Fantasia in particular does him proud.

Zoe
Luther was a great artist !! Never too much just reminds me of when my husband and I got togtether!!!!

Samantha
Every day I will miss Luther, his music has seen me through the happiest and saddest times of my life so far. The raw emotion felt in his songs will in my mind never be matched by anyone. "How many times can we say goodbye" with Dionne Warwick is my personal favourite. We are lucky that his music will still live on.

Kalasa
Music speaks many languages, contemporay or otherwise. Music speaks to the heart and soul of a person regardless of culture, ethnicity and religious background. Luther Vandross sang many, many wonderful songs in that distinguished unforgettable melodius voice of his.

Although I am not totally familiar with Luther Vandross's music his last award winning album Dance With My Father Again (the song named aptly thereafter) most certainly touched my heart.

A wonderful thought provoking song that could make you yearn for the "what ifs" (could, should or might have beens) in this life. Reality is very different and the world we live in easily becomes a cold unfriendly planet. It makes you want to right the wrongs so that everyone is happy. (If only one could.) It makes you realize that life is short and, that we need to make the most out of it. To enjoy what unexpected daily blessings that some of us have learn't to take for granted.

Anyone familiar with the lyrics of the song Dance With My Father Again will know what I am talking about?

David Campbell
Still can't believe he's dead. I presented a soul/funk/disco show on a volountary local radio station in Paisley.

As one of my first songs of last summer's broadcast I played "Never Too Much." Next day I found out he died. It's an unbelievable song which reminds me why I love black music and my final college nightout before starting uni.

I've nothing but love and respect for the guy and what he's done. May God bless him on high.



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