Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. net worth is $30 Million. Also know about Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. bio, salary, height, age weight, relationship and more …

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Wiki Biography

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born on the 20th April 1951, in New York City, USA, and passed away on the 1st July 2005 in Edison, New Jersey, USA. The singer-songwriter and record producer is best known as an R&B, pop and soul musician and multiple Grammy Award winner. His career began in 1974.

Have you ever wondered how rich was Luther Vandross? According to sources, it was estimated that the overall size of Bea’s net worth was over $30 million. Over 35 million copies of his 13 studio albums were sold, the main source of his fortune.

After the death of his father Luther, an upholsterer, when he was eight, Luther was raised by his mother, Mary Ida Vandross, a practical nurse, the youngest of four children. Since they were a musical family, Luther embraced music at the early age, beginning piano lessons when he was only three years old, and later by listening to black pop of that time. Patricia Vandross, his elder sister was in “The Crest” doo-wop group whose song “Sixteen Candles” was a pretty big hit.

While a teenager at William Howard Taft High School, which he graduated from in 1969, interest in girl groups as well as in gospel-based soul sound showed, as he formed his own musical group and started writing and composing. Luther enrolled at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, but dropped out after only two semesters, determined to become a professional singer, in which he succeeded and made an impressive amount of money.

Luther’s first professional engagement came in 1974, when he was the backup vocal for British rock legend David Bowie, whose connections in the music industry and Luther’s talent helped start an illustrious career – he accompanied music stars like Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Ringo Star, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. He also wrote and sang commercial jingles for companies such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Mountain Dew, Burger King and Juicy Fruit. These provided the basis for his upcoming fortune.

In 1981, Luther Vandross debuted with “Never Too Much”; the album sold over a million copies. He subsequently released several more albums throughout the 1980s – “For Ever, For Always, For Love” and “Busy Body” also sold more than a million copies, increasing the overall amount of his net worth.

Luther’s beautiful voice and eloquent renditions brought him cooperation with big names in the music industry, among whom were Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His popularity was dramatically rising as well as his net worth, and these collaborations certainly made a positive impact on Luther’s wealth.

His hard work, passion and commitment was recognized and properly rewarded in 1991 when Luther Vandross won his first Grammy Award for “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance”. In total he released 13 studio albums and sold over 35 million copies, and won eight Grammys, These achievements were the main source of his impressive overall net worth.

When it comes to his personal life, Luther Vandross never married and had no children. Allegedly he was gay. Apart from his “velvet” voice, he was also known for his weight and struggle with diabetes. In 2003, he suffered a stroke which left him in a coma for two months, after which he was barely able to speak and was confined to a wheelchair. He never fully recovered, and a 2005 heart attack proved fatal.

His mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who outlived all her children, started a diabetes awareness campaign, and raised funds for the Luther Vandross Foundation.

IMDB Wikipedia ‘For Love $30 million 1951 1951-04-20 1991 1992 1997 2005-07-01 20th Century Fox 6′ 2½” (1.89 m) ABC News Actor Africa American April 20 Atlanta Burt Bacharach Busy Body Dionne Warwick For Always For Ever Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (2004 Grammy Award for Song of the Year (2004) Hero (1992) Hudson River Kalamazoo Kips Bay Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Luther Vandross Net Worth Manhattan Michael Jackson Music Department Never Too Much (1981) New Jersey New York New York City Philadelphia Phonograph Prince (musician) Soundtrack Taurus The Goonies (1985) The Heat (2013) Think Like a Man (2012) United States USA Waiting to Exhale Western Michigan University Whitney Houston William Howard Taft High School

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Quick Info

Full Name Songs
Net Worth $30 Million
Date Of Birth 20th April 1951, in New York City, USA
Died 1st July 2005 in Edison, New Jersey, USA
Height 1.9 m
Profession Singer, songwriter, record producer
Education William Howard Taft High School, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
Nationality American
Parents Luther Vandross, Sr., Mary Ida Vandross
Siblings Ann D. Sanders, Patricia Vandross, Charles Anthony Vandross, Dance with My Father, Endless Love, Here and Now
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/luthervandross
IMDB www.imdb.com/name/nm0005526
Awards Grammy Award for Song of the Year (2004), Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (2004, 1997, 1992, 1991))
Albums Never Too Much (1981), For Ever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body
Music Groups Change
Nominations Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, BET Award for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Brit Award for Best International Solo Artist, Soul Train Music Award fo…
Movies The Meteor Man, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Luther Vandross: Live at Wembley, Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love, Luther Vandross: Dance with My Father, Luther Vandross: Always and Forever: An Evening of Songs, Patti Labelle: Live! One Night Only, Paul Simon & Friends: A Night…

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Quotes

  • It was the women [Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes] who drove me to the stereo. Men feel they have something to prove. They don’t trust their automatic pilot chops. Females do. They go on deeper dramatic trips, take more chances. Put it out there with greater flair.

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Important Facts

  • He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1717 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California on June 3, 2014.
  • In December 1985, the singer filed a libel suit against a British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss to AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Vandross said he weighed 325 pounds when he started a diet in May that year.
  • Luther’s mother, Mary Ida Vandross, passed away at age 85. She was the last surviving member of the immediate Vandross family. [April 2008]
  • In the 1970s, he sang backup for Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and Bette Midler.
  • His older sister, Patricia Van Dross, was an original member of the 1950s “doo-wop” group The Crests.
  • Biography in: “The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives”. Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 557-558. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
  • Attended and graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx, New York.
  • The youngest of all his siblings, he was also the last one to die. His mother outlived all of her children.
  • Craig Seymour wrote a biography in 2004, titled “Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross”.
  • On January 12, 1986, Jimmy Salvemini, a 15-year-old singer from Star Search (1983) talent show; and Larry, his 27-year-old brother and manager; were riding with Luther Vandross in his 1985 convertible Mercedes-Benz on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the north section of Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. Luther was driving at 48 mph in a 35 mph zone when his Mercedes veered across the double-yellow center line of the two lane street, turned sideways, collided with the front of a car that was headed southbound, then swung around and hit another car head on. Luther and Jimmy were rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Vandross suffered three broken ribs, broken hip, several bruises and facial cuts. Jimmy Salvemini, who sat in the back of the car, had cuts, bruises and contusions. His older brother, Larry, who was riding on the front passenger seat, was killed during the collision. In the same year, Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges as a result of Larry’s death, and his driving license was suspended for a year. There was no evidence Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Salvemini family filed a wrongful death suit against singer. The case was quietly settled out of court with a payment to the Salvemini family for $700,000.
  • Close friends included Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.
  • Because of the stroke he suffered, resulting in a coma, he was unable to record a music video for “Dance with My Father Again”, so instead, R&B artists came together to create a ‘get well card’ as his music video.
  • Sang background vocals for Richard Marx and Chaka Khan.
  • On June 19, 2003, Luther’s CD debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 442,000 copies.
  • Is the youngest child of four children.
  • He died at 1:47 p.m. ET of July 1, 2005, at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey; surrounded by family, friends and a medical support team; from complications from a stroke. He is interred at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
  • On June 10, 2003, his CD “Dance with My Father” was released. It was dedicated to his father, Luther Vandross Sr., who died of complications of diabetes when Luther was five years old.
  • On June 12, 2003, he was moved from ICU and upgraded to stable condition.
  • On April 16, 2003, he suffered a stroke in his Manhattan apartment which left him in a coma for nearly two months. Shortly after the stroke he also had to fight both meningitis and pneumonia, which necessitated a tracheotomy to help him breathe. He emerged from his coma on June 5, 2003.
  • He had long struggled with obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
  • Luther’s mother almost didn’t give birth to him. She had a ruptured appendix and was rushed to the hospital. When the doctor asked his father which one of them to save, he told the doctor to save his wife. Fortunately, she came through the operation successfully and Luther was born, prematurely, but healthy.
  • When Vandross was born, the doctor asked his mother what the child’s first and middle names were. She had already picked Luther for a first name but had not thought of a middle name; there happened to be a box of Ronzoni spaghetti on the table next to her bed, so she told the doctor that his middle name was Ronzoni, and that is the name on his birth certificate.
  • Was discovered by David Bowie, who overheard Luther singing to his song “Young Americans”. Bowie put Luther on the recording of the song.

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Filmography

Title Year Status Character Role
Superstar Duets 2016 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Barbershop: The Next Cut 2016 performer: “Never Too Much” / writer: “Never Too Much” Soundtrack
The X Factor 2004-2015 TV Series writer – 4 episodes Soundtrack
Whitney 2015 TV Movie performer: “Never Too Much” / writer: “Never Too Much” Soundtrack
The Simpsons TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2014 writer – 1 episode, 2014 Soundtrack
Dancing with the Stars 2014 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Strictly Come Dancing 2013 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
The Heat 2013/I performer: “Dance with My Father” / writer: “Dance with My Father” Soundtrack
The X Factor Philippines 2012 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
American Idol TV Series 1 episode, 2011 writer – 3 episodes, 2005 – 2012 Soundtrack
Think Like a Man 2012 performer: “Never Too Much” / writer: “Never Too Much” Soundtrack
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2011 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
So You Think You Can Dance TV Series writer – 3 episodes, 2008 – 2009 performer – 2 episodes, 2005 – 2008 Soundtrack
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008 Video Game writer: “Fascination” – as L. Vandross Soundtrack
Skins 2008 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Idols 2005-2007 TV Series writer – 3 episodes Soundtrack
Orange Playlist 2007 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Everybody Hates Chris 2006 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2004 Video Game writer: “Somebody Up There Likes Me” Soundtrack
The Oprah Winfrey Show 2004 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
New Zealand Idol 2004 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Barbershop 2: Back in Business 2004 performer: “Never” / writer: “Never” Soundtrack
Celebridade 2003 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 2002 Video Game performer: “Never Too Much” / writer: “Never Too Much” – as L. Vandross Soundtrack
Glitter 2001 performer: “Never Too Much” / writer: “Never Too Much” Soundtrack
Dr. Dolittle 2 2001 performer: “Take You Out”, “If I Was The One” Soundtrack
The PJs TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2000 writer – 1 episode, 2000 Soundtrack
Black & White 1999/I performer: “Hold Your Head” / writer: “Hold Your Head” Soundtrack
The Wood 1999 performer: “If This World Were Mine” Soundtrack
Spice Girls: Live in Your Living Room 1998 TV Special performer: “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” Soundtrack
Stars in Their Eyes 1993-1998 TV Series writer – 2 episodes Soundtrack
Money Train 1995 performer: “The Thrill I’m In” Soundtrack
Top of the Pops 1995 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
The Cannon & Ball Gospel Show 1995 Video writer: “The Power of Love” Soundtrack
Hero 1992/I performer: “Heart of a Hero” 1992 / producer: “Heart of a Hero” 1992 / writer: “Heart of a Hero” 1992 Soundtrack
Mo’ Money 1992 performer: “The Best Things in Life Are Free” Soundtrack
In the Heat of the Night 1990 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
House Party 1990 performer: “Bad Boy / Having a Party” / writer: “Bad Boy / Having a Party” Soundtrack
Made in Heaven 1987 performer: “There’s Only You” / producer: “There’s Only You” / writer: “There’s Only You” Soundtrack
Ruthless People 1986 performer: “Give Me The Reason” / writer: “Give Me The Reason” Soundtrack
The Goonies 1985 performer: “She’s So Good to Me” / producer: “She’s So Good to Me” / writer: “She’s So Good to Me” Soundtrack
Choose Me 1984 producer: “Choose Me You’re My Choice Tonight” / writer: “Choose Me You’re My Choice Tonight” Soundtrack
WKRP in Cincinnati TV Series performer – 1 episode, 1982 writer – 1 episode, 1982 Soundtrack
Bustin’ Loose 1981 performer: “Just When I Needed You” / writer: “You Stopped Loving Me” Soundtrack
The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari 1980 TV Movie writer: “A Brand New Day” Soundtrack
Sunnyside 1979 “I Gotta Have Your Body” Soundtrack
The Wiz 1978 writer: “Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day” Soundtrack
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1977 TV Series writer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Sesame Street 1969 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Finder of Lost Loves 1984-1985 TV Series theme sung by – 23 episodes Music Department
Luther Vandross: Never Too Much 2007 Video short Luther Vandross Actor
Touched by an Angel 2002 TV Series Reggie Actor
Beverly Hills, 90210 1997 TV Series Luther Vandross Actor
In Living Color 1994 TV Series Actor
The Meteor Man 1993 Jamison Actor
Eureeka’s Castle 1991 TV Series Grand Wizard Actor
Zack of All Trades 1984 TV Series Zach (voice) Actor
The Wiz 1978 The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice, uncredited) Actor
Sesame Street 1969 TV Series Listen My Brother Actor
Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love – The Videos 2004 Video documentary Composer
Marcus Miller: Master of All Trades 2006 Himself Self
The Oprah Winfrey Show 1998-2004 TV Series Himself – Guest Self
Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love – The Videos 2004 Video documentary Himself Self
The 46th Annual Grammy Awards 2004 TV Special Himself Self
Best of Bowie 2002 Video documentary Himself (segment “Young Americans”) Self
The 29th Annual American Music Awards 2002 TV Special Himself – Performer Self
Journeys in Black 2002 TV Series documentary Himself Self
Liza and David 2002 TV Special Himself Self
The Making and Meaning of ‘We Are Family’ 2002 Documentary Himself Self
2001 Lady of Soul Awards 2001 TV Special Himself – Host / Performer Self
A Capitol Fourth 2001 TV Movie Himself Self
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration 2001 TV Special documentary Himself Self
Hollywood Squares 1999-2001 TV Series Himself Self
106 & Park Top 10 Live 2001 TV Series Himself Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1994-2001 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest / Himself – Himself – Musical Guest Self
1st Annual BET Awards 2001 TV Special Himself Self
The Rosie O’Donnell Show 1996-2001 TV Series Himself – Guest Self
A.J. After Hours 2001 TV Series Himself Self
The 15th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 2001 TV Special Himself Self
Biography 2001 TV Series documentary Himself Self
Top Ten 2001 TV Series documentary Himself Self
An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence 2001 TV Special documentary Himself Self
31st NAACP Image Awards 2000 TV Special Himself Self
1999 ALMA Awards 1999 TV Special Himself Self
America’s Millennium 1999 TV Special Self
Intimate Portrait 1998-1999 TV Series documentary Himself Self
Essence Awards 1998 TV Special Himself Self
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night 1998 TV Special documentary Himself Self
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever 1998 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
The 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest 1998 TV Movie Himself Self
An Audience with the Spice Girls 1997 TV Special Himself – Performer Self
10th Anniversary Essence Awards 1997 TV Special Himself Self
Super Bowl XXXI 1997 TV Special Himself – National Anthem Performer Self
Christmas in Washington 1996 TV Special Himself Self
Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York 1996 TV Movie Himself Self
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony Magazine 1996 TV Special Himself Self
Late Show with David Letterman 1994-1996 TV Series Himself / Himself – Musical Guest Self
The O-Zone 1993-1996 TV Series Himself Self
New York Undercover 1996 TV Series Himself Self
The 23rd Annual American Music Awards 1996 TV Special Himself Self
1995 Billboard Music Awards 1995 TV Special Himself Self
Later… With Jools Holland 1995 TV Series Himself Self
Top of the Pops 1993-1995 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest Self
A Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre 1994 TV Special Himself Self
Luther Vandross: Always and Forever 1994 TV Special documentary Himself Self
Sinatra Duets 1994 TV Special Himself Self
The Essence Awards 1994 TV Special Himself Self
The Arsenio Hall Show 1989-1994 TV Series Himself – Guest Self
The 21st Annual American Music Awards 1994 TV Special Himself Self
The Les Brown Show 1993 TV Series Himself Self
The 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 1993 TV Special Himself – Host Self
An American Reunion: The People’s Inaugural Celebration 1993 TV Movie Himself Self
Comic Relief V 1992 TV Special Himself Self
Out All Night 1992 TV Series Himself Self
American Bandstand’s 40th Anniversary Special 1992 TV Movie Himself Self
One on One with John Tesh 1992 TV Series Himself – Guest Self
The 6th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 1992 TV Special Himself – Host Self
The 34th Annual Grammy Awards 1992 TV Special Himself – Performer Self
The 19th Annual American Music Awards 1992 TV Special Himself Self
Ebony/Jet Showcase 1985-1991 TV Series Himself Self
The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 1991 TV Special Himself – Host Self
Voices that Care 1991 TV Movie documentary Himself – Lead Vocals Self
The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards 1991 TV Special Himself Self
Smokey Robinson: The Quiet Legend 1990 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
The 16th Annual People’s Choice Awards 1990 TV Special Himself – Presenter Self
Night of 100 Stars III 1990 TV Movie Himself Self
The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards 1990 TV Special Himself – Host Self
227 1990 TV Series Himself Self
Dionne and Friends 1990 TV Series Himself Self
The 31st Annual Grammy Awards 1989 TV Special Himself Self
Saturday Night Live 1979-1989 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest / Himself – Midler Backing Vocalist Self
Family Feud 1989 TV Series Himself – Contestant Self
Cissy Houston: Sweet Inspiration 1988 Documentary Himself Self
20th NAACP Image Awards 1988 TV Special Himself – Performer Self
The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards 1988 TV Special Himself Self
The 29th Annual Grammy Awards 1987 TV Special Himself – Performer Self
Solid Gold 1985-1987 TV Series Himself Self
The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards 1987 TV Special Himself – Co-Host Self
New American Bandstand 1965 1987 TV Series Himself Self
The 14th Annual American Music Awards 1987 TV Special Himself Self
Cinemax Sessions 1987 TV Series Himself Self
The 8th Annual Black Achievement Awards 1987 TV Special Himself Self
19th Annual NAACP Image Awards 1987 TV Special Himself – Presenter Self
Soul Train 1982-1986 TV Series documentary Himself / Himself – Guest Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1985-1986 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest Self
The Patti LaBelle Show 1985 TV Special Himself Self
Today 1985 TV Series Himself – Guest Self
6.20 Soul Train 1985 TV Series Himself – Performer Self
Motown Returns to the Apollo 1985 TV Special Himself Self
The 25th Annual Grammy Awards 1983 TV Special Himself Self
The 24th Annual Grammy Awards 1982 TV Special Himself Self
Sesame Street 1969 TV Series Himself Self
Peter Andre’s 90 Party Hits of the 90s 2014 TV Movie Himself (as Luther and Janet) Archive Footage
David Bowie: Five Years 2013 Documentary Himself Archive Footage
Twenty Feet from Stardom 2013 Documentary Himself (uncredited) Archive Footage
Top of the Pops 2 1994-2003 TV Series Himself Archive Footage

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie Category
2014 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Recording On June 3, 2014. At 1717 N. Vine Street Won
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Song of the Year Won
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Best R&B Vocal Performance – Male For the song “Dance With My Father.” Won
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Won
2014 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Recording On June 3, 2014. At 1717 N. Vine Street Nominated
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Song of the Year Nominated
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Best R&B Vocal Performance – Male For the song “Dance With My Father.” Nominated
2004 Grammy Grammy Awards Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated