Why do I love to cover Luther Vandross’s songs?
My wife and I both agree on this point, and trust me she loves my swooning, especially to her. However, we are in lockstep on this one fact. There will never, ever, in a trillion years, be another velvety rich, male voice, that produces the sounds that came from Luther. Just as Jennifer Hudson, who is one of the premiere “Powerhouse” vocalists of our time, acknowledges that even she can only try to do her best to represent the one and only true “Queen of Soul”, Aretha…I too bow to the uniqueness of Luther Vandross. However, I feel that God has gifted me with the power of a voice, that I believe covers a broad spectrum of ballads and musical treasures that I have come to love. Luther is one of those that allows me to at least humbly follow and interpret with my own unique style.
Now don’t get me wrong. You hear “Bad Boy”, “Til My Baby Comes Home”, “Power of Love”, or “Never Too Much”, come on the radio, your fingers are popping and you can’t help but move your feet. But when you were at the concert or saw him on television and that music started playing too, “A House Is Not A Home“, it’s over! You are about to be officially melted and transported into another place and time.
I could get carried away telling you what I love about each and every ballad that Luther has ever done. Suffice it to say, that I simply am moved to continually hear his marvelous recordings and use my voice to continue carrying the melodies, in the best way I can interpret them. I am humbled and deeply honored to be able and hopefully, if he were listening in the wings, he would say, not bad at all…now give me my song back Lamont!
Luther is one of those artists whose voice transcends space, time, and generations of music lovers. He is also one of those rare breeds of artists, that are very difficult to compartmentalize into any one genre. Pop, R&B, Soul, Easy Listening, and the list may go on. Also considering that so many of the songs that Luther covered, were those that were previously written or made popular by other artists. As an example, a song that pre-dates Luther, which was composed by Mitch Leigh in 1965, entitled “The Impossible Dream”, which Luther many years later 1994 released his rendition on his “Songs” album. In my humble opinion, I need to hear no other version beyond Luther’s vocal rendition… as far as I’m concerned, he “stole the song” and made it his very own.
It’s really difficult to tell you how mesmerizing his performances are… let me lead you to one of my all-time favorites. Check out the link below for “The Impossible Dream”…you’ll see!
Further demonstration of his ability to take just about any song and “Lutherize” it, consider these popular hits.
- Anyone Who Had a Heart
- Creepin
- Endless Love
- Evergreen
- Going in Circles
- How Deep is Your Love
- If Only for One Night
- I Who Have Nothing
- Love Won’t Let Me Wait
- My Favorite Things
- Since I Lost My Baby
- Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)
- So Amazing
- The Closer I Get to You
This is just a partial list of songs that were done by so many great artists, across the spectrum of genres, that Luther recorded and performed in his live shows, that have really become known as “Luther” songs. I’m a firm believer that not every artist could or should sing every song. I know my own limitations as a balladeer and therefore choose songs that I know my voice and spirit, are suited to carry. But Luther again is one of those artists who come along, every now and then, who could “sing the phonebook” and make your heart soar. This is why I choose to pay homage to a few Luther tributes in my Ballads by LDK studio.
