Cobb: Goodbye Luther

July 02, 2005

Goodbye Luther

This time it's true, Luther Vandross is dead.

More than anyone outside of Prince and Michael Jackson, Luther's career was studded with rumors and innuendo. His talent was just too large to ignore and his battles for health are almost as legendary as his songs were fabulous.

I am probably one of the few for whom a Luther Vandross song means little personally. My favorite from him was his version of Stevie Wonder's 'Creepin', but unlike most folks I've talked to, there was no Vandross in my memories of love and romance. Maybe it's because I was just a dog, and Luther's music wasn't seductive enough - you just can't get a mack on talking about a chair just being a chair. 'Here and Now' is probably the most overused wedding song in African America. How many times have I known the groom for whom that song only resonates on that one day? But I'm being crass and cynical.

Luther was one of the good guys. He was unpretentious, and acknowledged, like few others, that his was a gift from God. Oftimes he seemed not to want to be burdened with it. Like Oprah, he was blessed with a curse of talent and still was little old me, wrestling with the demons of fame. He was too sweet to have the growling masculinity of Teddy Pendergrass or the soaring sensuality of Marvin Gaye. But he was much more genuine than characters like Freddy Jackson who seemed to work the stage purely for the opportunity to catch thrown panties from the audience. Nor was Vandross a hawker like Lou Rawls who always seemed to me to be on the make.

In this way, Vandross, no matter what was said about him, was always a class act. His example will be missed.

Posted by mbowen at July 2, 2005 12:26 PM

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Comments

Man, ain't that the truth. Great obit. He never was a Huge Presence to me either, but I sure appreciated his talents and his total, total class. I always enjoyed hearing his voice.

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at July 2, 2005 02:06 PM

His subtle nature do nothing to diminish his fantastic voice.

You ain't never lied about "Here and Now" though I haven't heard it in years, that's too funny.

Still we're going to miss you, Luther.

Posted by: Ron at July 4, 2005 02:20 AM

Wow brothers, Luther was a lesson I guess you missed. Oh well, maybe one day the majority of Black men will learn to love again like our parents and ancestors before them. Instead of acting like and calling themselves dogs. Are we all supposed to turn to white men, who are mostly about war and not love?? Luther is someone you will never understand, and that my brothers is said.Peace

Posted by: Bonnie at July 5, 2005 08:55 PM

You sound like the kind of person who would be very disappointed to find that Luther Vandross sung songs written by white men. Try not to vomit.

Posted by: Cobb at July 5, 2005 11:17 PM