Vocal Contractor/Best Friend

The story of Luther Vandross is that of a talented kid from humble beginnings in NYC’s South Bronx – that made it to the top. Along the way he deeply touched millions with his unique vocal delivery, his songwriting and magnificent stage shows and taught those of us who worked closely with him how to endure in life and the music business.

I was privileged to be his best friend for 40 plus years, meeting him at 15 yrs old at his sister Ann’s house, who lived across the street from me in the Johnson Projects, East Harlem, NYC. Recommended by a mutual friend, I joined his first vocal group, The Shades of Jade. We usually rehearsed while Luther baby sat his niece and nephew. He would be giving out vocal parts and watching them at the same time.

Seems like we started becoming buddies after the first rehearsal when he proudly showed me his hard cover notebook of lyrics he’d written and sang some of his song ideas. I was totally impressed with this guy. He was the first songwriter, vocal arranger, I’d ever met and It was clear that his silky, soulful voice was destined to be on hit records and radio. Mind you, he was only 15 years old but was already carving out his standard for musical excellence. Luther’s plan A was to write and produce his own music and be recognized as one of the premier singers of our time. He didn’t have a Plan B.

Luther and I grew up like brothers, often eating dinner at each other’s homes after rehearsal but walking around Harlem harmonizing songs by the Temptations and Aretha,  – sealed our friendship..  We worshipped the back-up vocals of Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations on Aretha and Wilson Pickett records and Luther would always teach me and our other singer friends, their intricate soulful parts.

When me and Luther hung out, there was bound to be a lot of laughter and fun. He loved to snap on you, and enjoyed it when you got a good snap back on him.  But when it was time to get down to the Music – like James Brown sang ” Papa don’t take no mess.”

In the early 80’s, when Luther signed to Epic Records, he designated me as the vocal contractor; in charge of coordinating the singers and filling out the complex AFTRA contracts for everyone to be paid properly. Through the years, I grew to expect his call to contact the troops, (his core singers) for the studio. Luther always insisted Cissy be my first call as he wanted to make sure she was available and preferred not to record without her. Cissy, Myself, Tawatha, Phil Ballou, Michelle Cobbs, Brenda White and Paulette McWilliams – sang on all the records Luther produced including Aretha, Dionne Warwick and Teddy Pendergrass. Although Luther was meticulous about getting the background performances down, we were all in Heaven, singing the parts he created – unable to believe how fortunate we were to be in the studio, making great music.

One of my most memorable times with Luther, was in 1991 when he received a Grammy Nomination for “Here and Now”. He’d been nominated 9 times before but hadn’t won. He called me up and said “The Grammys are in NY this year. Why don’t you come hang with me, cause I ain’t gonna win anyway.”  Surprisingly, the Stars were aligned that night. There’s a clip of Regina Bell and Michael Bolton announcing Luther as winner for Best RnB Male. You can see how stunned we both were and then you see that mischievous smile cross his face as he dumps his coat on me and goes to stage to accept his first Grammy. What a triumph. Our team was finally up at bat.

I want to applaud, support and congratulate Luther’s niece, Seveda Williams, for the ideas, energy and effort involved in her dream and desire to ensure her uncle’s legacy continues. Also thanks to our FANDROSS team, Alfa Anderson, Nat Adderly Jr., Max Szadek and others who contribute their talents as a labor of love, supporting her mission to put on events that celebrate Luther’s music, his legacy and to embrace and increase his fanbase.