The Verve Music Group and The American Diabetes Association Join Forces to Combat Diabetes Through the Release of "Forever, For Always, For Luther" an All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross

Market Wire, July, 2004

On Tuesday, August 3rd Verve/GRP will release "Forever, For Always, For Luther." Produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner, this rapturous tribute to R&B living legend Luther Vandross showcases eleven of smooth jazz's heaviest singers (Lalah Hathaway, Ledisi) and players (George Benson, Kirk Whalum, Paul Jackson, Jr., Boney James, Mindi Abair, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun) lifting ten of his most cherished songs to new levels of emotional healing.

The Verve Music Group will join with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), to help raise funds and awareness for their mission of diabetes care and research on behalf of Luther Vandross, as he continues to recover from the diabetes-related stroke he suffered in 2003. This charitable organization was designated by the Vandross family.

A major element of the Verve/ADA initiative will be the "Write a Love Letter to Luther" campaign, which will be launched on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004. This call to action will invite fans to send a note to Luther with a contribution to the ADA's "Forever, For Always, For Luther" Fund. The ADA will collect all the letters to Luther and present them to him and his family on a special occasion. The ADA will also promote the "Love Letter" campaign to their members and constituency online, at events, and through mailings.

Secondly, a major radio-sponsored concert is being organized to take place in New York to benefit the ADA on October 22nd The concert will feature the artists from the CD and special guests from the R&B world.

More than 18 million Americans are affected by diabetes. Many people are not even aware they have diabetes until the onset of life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and nerve damage that can lead to amputations. The American Diabetes Association is committed to providing information and support to people with diabetes, their families and friends, and health care professionals.

On behalf of Luther Vandross and family, The Verve Music Group is proud to support the American Diabetes Association. A portion of the proceeds from this recording will be donated to the American Diabetes Association on behalf of Luther Vandross.

For more information, contact: J'ai St. Laurent-Smyth 212.331.2047 jai.stlaurent-smyth@umusic.com