Luther Vandross: four Grammy Awards give him a boost on the road to recovery - Center Stage

Ebony, April, 2004

SINCE Luther Vandross was stricken with a life-threatening stroke last

year, he has been the focus of millions of music fans who have been praying and hoping that he'll sing again, delivering the silky smooth tunes that have made him a dominant R&B star for nearly 25 years.

One of the defining figures in contemporary R&B and one of music's premier balladeers, Vandross is rallying back, making steady progress in his recovery and exhibiting a strong faith that he can return to the level that recently earned him four Grammy Awards to go with the other four he won in the '90s. As a result of his last recording, Dance With My Father, he picked up Grammys for song of the year, R&B album and male R&B vocal performance. He also grabbed an award for R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals when he teamed up with Beyonce on the remake of "The Closer I Get To You," a tune made famous by another talented duo, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. (He also received two American Music Awards for Dance With My Father.)

While speaking for the first time publicly since his stroke last year, Vandross, in an emotional, pre-recorded message, told the Grammy audience: "I want to thank everyone for your love and support. And remember, when I say goodbye, it's never for long, because I believe in the power of love."

Despite the optimism and continued support, it is agreed that Vandross has a long way to go to get back to his pre-stroke level, but observers say he has accepted the path in front of him and is working hard in therapy to rehabilitate himself so that he can return to the concert arena and the recording studio. "I believe God is going to restore him to health," says his mother, Mary Ida Vandross, an ordained interdenominational minister.

Since he suffered the stroke on April 16 of last year, Vandross, reportedly near death at one point, has undergone a tracheotomy and had to fight pneumonia, according to his mother. During his recovery, anxious fans around the country have held repeated prayer vigils as the 52-year-old singer continues to undergo intensive physical therapy at a rehabilitation center near New York.

Luther, who started out writing commercial jingles and singing backup for the likes of Chaka Khan and Barbra Streisand, has sold more than 20 million records during his career, and millions of supporters are hopeful that he will make much more memorable music with the distinctive, velvety voice that we have come to know and love--and miss.