Luther Vandross hospitalized after stroke in NY

Jet, May 5, 2003

Singer Luther Vandross was recovering in a New York hospital at JET press time after he suffered a stroke at his New York City home, his spokeswoman said.

"He is under medical care and his family and friends are hopeful for a speedy recovery," said his business manager, Carmen Romano. No other information was given on Vandross' condition.

However, Vandross, who turned 52 after the stroke, had long battled weight problems. At one point, he weighed more than 330 pounds and his weight fluctuated dramatically over the years.

Vandross has said his excess weight had led to diabetes and high blood pressure, but he had been able to keep his weight down for three years through diet and exercise. However, he recently regained the weight.

Vandross is known for such romantic hits as Here And Now, A House Is Not A Home and Any Love and has sold 20 million albums in the U.S.

His fans are awaiting his next album, set for release in June. On his new album, Vandross performs his trade mark love songs but also gets more personal and biographical than ever. In the title tune, Dance With My Father, Vandross describes his vivid memory of his father dancing with his mother in the house. His father, Luther Sr., died when the singer was 8. He also teams up with Beyonce Knowles on the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway classic The Closer I Get To You. The album also features appearances by Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah and Foxy Brown.