Luther Vandross

USA, 1972–2005

American singer (1951-2005). A session and backing singer for a decade before Never Too Much (1981), he built his own records on an unhurried, immaculately controlled tenor modelled on the great female soul voices.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Luther Vandross and 0 artists Luther Vandross influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Luther Vandross?

• Aretha Franklin — Vandross built his approach on the great female soul singers, Aretha Franklin first among them - he sang backing for her before he had records of his own.
• Dionne Warwick — Warwick's cool, exact delivery is the other model for Vandross's singing; he later made a hit of her 'A House Is Not a Home'.