“VRYT HVOUBE EVVMU….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: T = H
ANSWER: “EACH PERSON NEEDS HIS OR HER OWN FORMULA FOR HEALING. MY FUNCTION AS AN ENTERTAINER IS TO PROVIDE ESCAPE IF THEY NEED IT.” — LUTHER VANDROSS
LUTHER VANDROSS
APRIL 20, 1951 – JULY 1, 2005 • AGE 54 † • AMERICAN SOUL SINGER, SONGWRITER & PRODUCER
🎹 A NEW YORK BOY WITH MUSIC IN HIS HEART!
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born in New York City and grew up surrounded by gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues. He began playing piano as a young child and developed a lifelong admiration for singers such as Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick.
📺 FROM SESAME STREET TO SUPERSTARDOM!
As a teenager, Vandross performed with a musical group connected to Harlem’s Apollo Theater. The young performers appeared on early episodes of Sesame Street in 1969, years before Vandross became a household name.
🎤 BEFORE THE SPOTLIGHT, HE WAS BEHIND IT!
During the 1970s, Vandross became a sought-after background vocalist and arranger, working with performers including David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Barbra Streisand. He also contributed to Bowie’s Young Americans album, helping shape its soulful sound.
💿 NEVER TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING!
Vandross released his breakthrough solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981, introducing listeners to his unmistakably smooth singing style. Its title track became an R&B favorite, beginning a remarkable run of platinum albums and memorable love songs.
❤️ A FATHER, A MEMORY, AND A TIMELESS SONG!
His 2003 song “Dance with My Father,” co-written with Richard Marx, reflected cherished childhood memories of his father, who died when Luther was eight. The deeply personal recording won Song of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
🏆 EIGHT GRAMMYS AND A LASTING LEGACY!
Vandross won eight Grammy Awards and sold more than 40 million records worldwide before his death in 2005 at age 54. Named to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, he is scheduled to receive his posthumous induction on November 14, honoring a voice that continues to touch generations.
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