http://insider.tv.yahoo.c...600002625/

i found this link on the yahoo.com homepage, but it's taking its sweet time loading - here's the text:

BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 6:40 p.m. ET July 1, 2005
Grammy-winning singer Luther Vandross died Friday at age 54. Vandross' deep, lush voice on hits like "Here and Now" and "Any Love" sold more than 25 million albums and provided a romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide.

Vandross died at 1:47 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh did not release the cause of death.

Since suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home on April 16, 2003, the R&B crooner stopped making public appearances -- but amazingly managed to continue his recording career. In 2004, he captured four Grammys as a sentimental favorite, including best song for the bittersweet “Dance With My Father.”

After the stroke, he was forced to spend several weeks in a hospital before he transferred to a rehabilitation facility. And despite being nominated for five awards for “Dance With My Father,” and ultimately winning four, his condition left him unable to attend the 2004 Grammies.

Released in 2003, “Dance With My Father” became the fast-selling album of Vandross' career, selling some two million copies.

This is a breaking story. Check back soon for additional details.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

JFK hospital is right down the road from me...R.I.P Luther. God now has a great lead vocalist in his band.

rest in peace ...

Damn. R.I.P., Luthor.

He's on his way to a better place.

violator said:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...t_vandross

Yahoo Music is playing catch up.

Rest In Peace LV.

he will be sadly missed

Omg no! This is the first time that I heard this news. I am shocked. Why didnt I see this on the news? God rest his soul.


Thank you Luther for your voice and your songs. Thanks for sharing your precious gift. You wont be forgotten.

May the Lord bring him peace. I was hoping for a recovery.

RIP Luther.

Sad, sad sad. Rip Brother

Thinking about the last concert I saw of Luther Vandross....



He will be missed.

My favorite personal Luther story: In the summer of 1998, I was sitting in a cafe in a little village in Morocco. There was an older couple running the joint and they had a cheap jam box playing a Luther tape. I was one of maybe four customers in the place and certainly the only American. I had been chatting with the man behind the counter, who spoke a fair amount of english, and I told him that I really like Luther Vandross and that I liked listening to his tape. At the time, his wife was standing a few feet away. Upon hearing my praise for Luther, the man turns to his wife with this huge grin and starts waving his finger and speaking rapidly in arabic. I couldn't understand a word, but it was clear what he was telling her: "See, I told you that Luther Vandross was a good singer. You never listen to me, but Luther IS THE MAN!" His wife looks at me, looks at him, and gives us both a backhanded wave, as if to say, "I've had enough of the both of you!" The man just smiled at me and turned up the music.

RIP Luther, you'll be missed.
[Edited 7/1/05 17:27pm]

BlaqueKnight said:

Very well said. The music world has lost a true legend. I am so saddened by this.

R.I.P. Luther.

This hit me like a ton of bricks. Not Luther....damn.

BlaqueKnight said it best...the modern era KING of R&B. There'll never be another.

Love ya, brother....RIP

This is just so overwhelming for me. I can still remember the first time I heard "Never Too Much" on the radio. I knew Luther was someone special from day one. I'm puttin on my best of Luther CDs as I'm posting this.

First time I heard the KING was on Change's "The Glow of Love" and "Searching". I was immediately hooked.

Anxiety said:

They're playing non-stop Luther music as well here in Cleveland, Ohio, on WZAK 93.1 FM.

Should have known something was up when I kept hearing one Luther song after the other. When the DJ came on the radio and said that Luther had died, I was like, "Nooooo!!!". At first I was stunned, then I got tears in my eyes. Can't believe that yet ANOTHER great artist has been taken from us, I'm in a bit of a shock right now. I knew that Luther's health has not been the same since he suffered that stroke 2 years ago, but I was hoping that he would recover.

RIP, Luther, your inspirational music, words, and talent will most definitely be missed!
[Edited 7/1/05 16:45pm]

Stax said:

Thanks for the story, Stax, it made me laugh, which I needed right now.

And your guitar
And you sound so sweet and clear
But you're not really here
It's just the radio

I am sorry this is too very sad. We love ya' luther peace be still

June19 said:

That song makes me cry.

TonyVanDam said:

Luther your brillant voice will be missed. R.I.P.

Remembering with fondness

This is so sad..

Great sadness here. Many years ago I was driving on a dark country road listening to one of those late night radio stations. Thay played "Wait For Love" ~ the first song I heard by him. I fell in love with it instantly and knew this man was very blessed. Peace to his family. He will be greatly missed.

One of the first songs that I ever remember hearing in my life was "The Glow of Love". Luther's voice is one of the most beautiful things Ive ever heard in my life.

Damn!

In my short 31 years, there's only been two times I was truly saddened by the death of a celebrity/ musician. The first time was when I found out one of my true musical heroes, the late great (and still under-recognized)Roger Troutman, was murdered, and two hours ago when I heard about Luther.

Damn...I agree with the earlier comments. R&B music has just suffered another major setback due to the loss of this soulful, genuine, and gifted artist.

By the way..."Jump To It", by Aretha and written and produced by Vandross/ M. Miller, is my jam.

I can't fathom how sad it is to hear this, I am shocked by it all. The stroke he had must have really damaged him to where he didn't really recover. GOD BLESS His Mother's pain and his family, plus we should all take a quiet moment to say thanks to Luther's legacy in this world, May GOD bless his family in this time of mourning.