Luther Vandross Net Worth

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. net worth is
$30 Million

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born on the 20th April 1951, in New York City, USA, and passed away on the 1st July 2005 in Edison, New Jersey, USA. The singer-songwriter and record producer is best known as an R&B, pop and soul musician and multiple Grammy Award winner. His career began in 1974.

Have you ever wondered how rich was Luther Vandross? According to sources, it was estimated that the overall size of Bea’s net worth was over $30 million. Over 35 million copies of his 13 studio albums were sold, the main source of his fortune.

Luther Vandross Net Worth $30 Million

After the death of his father Luther, an upholsterer, when he was eight, Luther was raised by his mother, Mary Ida Vandross, a practical nurse, the youngest of four children. Since they were a musical family, Luther embraced music at the early age, beginning piano lessons when he was only three years old, and later by listening to black pop of that time. Patricia Vandross, his elder sister was in “The Crest” doo-wop group whose song “Sixteen Candles” was a pretty big hit.

While a teenager at William Howard Taft High School, which he graduated from in 1969, interest in girl groups as well as in gospel-based soul sound showed, as he formed his own musical group and started writing and composing. Luther enrolled at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, but dropped out after only two semesters, determined to become a professional singer, in which he succeeded and made an impressive amount of money.

Luther’s first professional engagement came in 1974, when he was the backup vocal for British rock legend David Bowie, whose connections in the music industry and Luther’s talent helped start an illustrious career – he accompanied music stars like Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Ringo Star, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. He also wrote and sang commercial jingles for companies such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Mountain Dew, Burger King and Juicy Fruit. These provided the basis for his upcoming fortune.

In 1981, Luther Vandross debuted with “Never Too Much”; the album sold over a million copies. He subsequently released several more albums throughout the 1980s – “For Ever, For Always, For Love” and “Busy Body” also sold more than a million copies, increasing the overall amount of his net worth.

Luther’s beautiful voice and eloquent renditions brought him cooperation with big names in the music industry, among whom were Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His popularity was dramatically rising as well as his net worth, and these collaborations certainly made a positive impact on Luther’s wealth.

His hard work, passion and commitment was recognized and properly rewarded in 1991 when Luther Vandross won his first Grammy Award for “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance”. In total he released 13 studio albums and sold over 35 million copies, and won eight Grammys, These achievements were the main source of his impressive overall net worth.

When it comes to his personal life, Luther Vandross never married and had no children. Allegedly he was gay. Apart from his “velvet” voice, he was also known for his weight and struggle with diabetes. In 2003, he suffered a stroke which left him in a coma for two months, after which he was barely able to speak and was confined to a wheelchair. He never fully recovered, and a 2005 heart attack proved fatal.

His mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who outlived all her children, started a diabetes awareness campaign, and raised funds for the Luther Vandross Foundation.


Full NameSongs
Net Worth$30 Million
Date Of Birth20th April 1951, in New York City, USA
Died1st July 2005 in Edison, New Jersey, USA
Height1.9 m
ProfessionSinger, songwriter, record producer
EducationWilliam Howard Taft High School, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
NationalityAmerican
ParentsLuther Vandross, Sr., Mary Ida Vandross
SiblingsAnn D. Sanders, Patricia Vandross, Charles Anthony Vandross, Dance with My Father, Endless Love, Here and Now
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/luthervandross
IMDBwww.imdb.com/name/nm0005526
AwardsGrammy Award for Song of the Year (2004), Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (2004, 1997, 1992, 1991))
AlbumsNever Too Much (1981), For Ever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body
Music GroupsChange
NominationsGrammy Award for Best New Artist, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, BET Award for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Brit Award for Best International Solo Artist, Soul Train Music Award fo...
MoviesThe Meteor Man, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Luther Vandross: Live at Wembley, Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love, Luther Vandross: Dance with My Father, Luther Vandross: Always and Forever: An Evening of Songs, Patti Labelle: Live! One Night Only, Paul Simon & Friends: A Night...
#Quote
1It was the women [Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes] who drove me to the stereo. Men feel they have something to prove. They don't trust their automatic pilot chops. Females do. They go on deeper dramatic trips, take more chances. Put it out there with greater flair.
#Fact
1He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1717 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California on June 3, 2014.
2In December 1985, the singer filed a libel suit against a British magazine after it attributed his 85-pound weight loss to AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Vandross said he weighed 325 pounds when he started a diet in May that year.
3Luther's mother, Mary Ida Vandross, passed away at age 85. She was the last surviving member of the immediate Vandross family. [April 2008]
4In the 1970s, he sang backup for Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and Bette Midler.
5His older sister, Patricia Van Dross, was an original member of the 1950s "doo-wop" group The Crests.
6Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 557-558. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
7Attended and graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx, New York.
8The youngest of all his siblings, he was also the last one to die. His mother outlived all of her children.
9Craig Seymour wrote a biography in 2004, titled "Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross".
10On January 12, 1986, Jimmy Salvemini, a 15-year-old singer from Star Search (1983) talent show; and Larry, his 27-year-old brother and manager; were riding with Luther Vandross in his 1985 convertible Mercedes-Benz on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the north section of Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. Luther was driving at 48 mph in a 35 mph zone when his Mercedes veered across the double-yellow center line of the two lane street, turned sideways, collided with the front of a car that was headed southbound, then swung around and hit another car head on. Luther and Jimmy were rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Vandross suffered three broken ribs, broken hip, several bruises and facial cuts. Jimmy Salvemini, who sat in the back of the car, had cuts, bruises and contusions. His older brother, Larry, who was riding on the front passenger seat, was killed during the collision. In the same year, Vandross faced vehicular manslaughter charges as a result of Larry's death, and his driving license was suspended for a year. There was no evidence Vandross was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Salvemini family filed a wrongful death suit against singer. The case was quietly settled out of court with a payment to the Salvemini family for $700,000.
11Close friends included Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.
12Because of the stroke he suffered, resulting in a coma, he was unable to record a music video for "Dance with My Father Again", so instead, R&B artists came together to create a 'get well card' as his music video.
13Sang background vocals for Richard Marx and Chaka Khan.
14On June 19, 2003, Luther's CD debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 442,000 copies.
15Is the youngest child of four children.
16He died at 1:47 p.m. ET of July 1, 2005, at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey; surrounded by family, friends and a medical support team; from complications from a stroke. He is interred at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
17On June 10, 2003, his CD "Dance with My Father" was released. It was dedicated to his father, Luther Vandross Sr., who died of complications of diabetes when Luther was five years old.
18On June 12, 2003, he was moved from ICU and upgraded to stable condition.
19On April 16, 2003, he suffered a stroke in his Manhattan apartment which left him in a coma for nearly two months. Shortly after the stroke he also had to fight both meningitis and pneumonia, which necessitated a tracheotomy to help him breathe. He emerged from his coma on June 5, 2003.
20He had long struggled with obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
21Luther's mother almost didn't give birth to him. She had a ruptured appendix and was rushed to the hospital. When the doctor asked his father which one of them to save, he told the doctor to save his wife. Fortunately, she came through the operation successfully and Luther was born, prematurely, but healthy.
22When Vandross was born, the doctor asked his mother what the child's first and middle names were. She had already picked Luther for a first name but had not thought of a middle name; there happened to be a box of Ronzoni spaghetti on the table next to her bed, so she told the doctor that his middle name was Ronzoni, and that is the name on his birth certificate.
23Was discovered by David Bowie, who overheard Luther singing to his song "Young Americans". Bowie put Luther on the recording of the song.

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Superstar Duets2016TV Series writer - 1 episode
Barbershop: The Next Cut2016performer: "Never Too Much" / writer: "Never Too Much"
The X Factor2004-2015TV Series writer - 4 episodes
Whitney2015TV Movie performer: "Never Too Much" / writer: "Never Too Much"
The SimpsonsTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
Dancing with the Stars2014TV Series writer - 1 episode
Strictly Come Dancing2013TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Heat2013/Iperformer: "Dance with My Father" / writer: "Dance with My Father"
The X Factor Philippines2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
American IdolTV Series 1 episode, 2011 writer - 3 episodes, 2005 - 2012
Think Like a Man2012performer: "Never Too Much" / writer: "Never Too Much"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno2011TV Series writer - 1 episode
So You Think You Can DanceTV Series writer - 3 episodes, 2008 - 2009 performer - 2 episodes, 2005 - 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV2008Video Game writer: "Fascination" - as L. Vandross
Skins2008TV Series performer - 1 episode
Idols2005-2007TV Series writer - 3 episodes
Orange Playlist2007TV Series performer - 1 episode
Everybody Hates Chris2006TV Series performer - 1 episode
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004Video Game writer: "Somebody Up There Likes Me"
The Oprah Winfrey Show2004TV Series performer - 1 episode
New Zealand Idol2004TV Series writer - 1 episode
Barbershop 2: Back in Business2004performer: "Never" / writer: "Never"
Celebridade2003TV Series performer - 1 episode
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City2002Video Game performer: "Never Too Much" / writer: "Never Too Much" - as L. Vandross
Glitter2001performer: "Never Too Much" / writer: "Never Too Much"
Dr. Dolittle 22001performer: "Take You Out", "If I Was The One"
The PJsTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2000 writer - 1 episode, 2000
Black & White1999/Iperformer: "Hold Your Head" / writer: "Hold Your Head"
The Wood1999performer: "If This World Were Mine"
Spice Girls: Live in Your Living Room1998TV Special performer: "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
Stars in Their Eyes1993-1998TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Money Train1995performer: "The Thrill I'm In"
Top of the Pops1995TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Cannon & Ball Gospel Show1995Video writer: "The Power of Love"
Hero1992/Iperformer: "Heart of a Hero" 1992 / producer: "Heart of a Hero" 1992 / writer: "Heart of a Hero" 1992
Mo' Money1992performer: "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
In the Heat of the Night1990TV Series performer - 1 episode
House Party1990performer: "Bad Boy / Having a Party" / writer: "Bad Boy / Having a Party"
Made in Heaven1987performer: "There's Only You" / producer: "There's Only You" / writer: "There's Only You"
Ruthless People1986performer: "Give Me The Reason" / writer: "Give Me The Reason"
The Goonies1985performer: "She's So Good to Me" / producer: "She's So Good to Me" / writer: "She's So Good to Me"
Choose Me1984producer: "Choose Me You're My Choice Tonight" / writer: "Choose Me You're My Choice Tonight"
WKRP in CincinnatiTV Series performer - 1 episode, 1982 writer - 1 episode, 1982
Bustin' Loose1981performer: "Just When I Needed You" / writer: "You Stopped Loving Me"
The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari1980TV Movie writer: "A Brand New Day"
Sunnyside1979"I Gotta Have Your Body"
The Wiz1978writer: "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day"
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1977TV Series writer - 1 episode
Sesame Street1969TV Series performer - 1 episode

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Finder of Lost Loves1984-1985TV Series theme sung by - 23 episodes

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Luther Vandross: Never Too Much2007Video shortLuther Vandross
Touched by an Angel2002TV SeriesReggie
Beverly Hills, 902101997TV SeriesLuther Vandross
In Living Color1994TV Series
The Meteor Man1993Jamison
Eureeka's Castle1991TV SeriesGrand Wizard
Zack of All Trades1984TV SeriesZach (voice)
The Wiz1978The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice, uncredited)
Sesame Street1969TV SeriesListen My Brother

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love - The Videos2004Video documentary

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Marcus Miller: Master of All Trades2006Himself
The Oprah Winfrey Show1998-2004TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Luther Vandross: From Luther with Love - The Videos2004Video documentaryHimself
The 46th Annual Grammy Awards2004TV SpecialHimself
Best of Bowie2002Video documentaryHimself (segment "Young Americans")
The 29th Annual American Music Awards2002TV SpecialHimself - Performer
Journeys in Black2002TV Series documentaryHimself
Liza and David2002TV SpecialHimself
The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'2002DocumentaryHimself
2001 Lady of Soul Awards2001TV SpecialHimself - Host / Performer
A Capitol Fourth2001TV MovieHimself
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration2001TV Special documentaryHimself
Hollywood Squares1999-2001TV SeriesHimself
106 & Park Top 10 Live2001TV SeriesHimself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1994-2001TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest / Himself - Himself - Musical Guest
1st Annual BET Awards2001TV SpecialHimself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996-2001TV SeriesHimself - Guest
A.J. After Hours2001TV SeriesHimself
The 15th Annual Soul Train Music Awards2001TV SpecialHimself
Biography2001TV Series documentaryHimself
Top Ten2001TV Series documentaryHimself
An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence2001TV Special documentaryHimself
31st NAACP Image Awards2000TV SpecialHimself
1999 ALMA Awards1999TV SpecialHimself
America's Millennium1999TV Special
Intimate Portrait1998-1999TV Series documentaryHimself
Essence Awards1998TV SpecialHimself
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night1998TV Special documentaryHimself
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever1998TV Movie documentaryHimself
The 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest1998TV MovieHimself
An Audience with the Spice Girls1997TV SpecialHimself - Performer
10th Anniversary Essence Awards1997TV SpecialHimself
Super Bowl XXXI1997TV SpecialHimself - National Anthem Performer
Christmas in Washington1996TV SpecialHimself
Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York1996TV MovieHimself
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony Magazine1996TV SpecialHimself
Late Show with David Letterman1994-1996TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Musical Guest
The O-Zone1993-1996TV SeriesHimself
New York Undercover1996TV SeriesHimself
The 23rd Annual American Music Awards1996TV SpecialHimself
1995 Billboard Music Awards1995TV SpecialHimself
Later... With Jools Holland1995TV SeriesHimself
Top of the Pops1993-1995TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre1994TV SpecialHimself
Luther Vandross: Always and Forever1994TV Special documentaryHimself
Sinatra Duets1994TV SpecialHimself
The Essence Awards1994TV SpecialHimself
The Arsenio Hall Show1989-1994TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The 21st Annual American Music Awards1994TV SpecialHimself
The Les Brown Show1993TV SeriesHimself
The 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards1993TV SpecialHimself - Host
An American Reunion: The People's Inaugural Celebration1993TV MovieHimself
Comic Relief V1992TV SpecialHimself
Out All Night1992TV SeriesHimself
American Bandstand's 40th Anniversary Special1992TV MovieHimself
One on One with John Tesh1992TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The 6th Annual Soul Train Music Awards1992TV SpecialHimself - Host
The 34th Annual Grammy Awards1992TV SpecialHimself - Performer
The 19th Annual American Music Awards1992TV SpecialHimself
Ebony/Jet Showcase1985-1991TV SeriesHimself
The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards1991TV SpecialHimself - Host
Voices that Care1991TV Movie documentaryHimself - Lead Vocals
The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards1991TV SpecialHimself
Smokey Robinson: The Quiet Legend1990TV Movie documentaryHimself
The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards1990TV SpecialHimself - Presenter
Night of 100 Stars III1990TV MovieHimself
The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards1990TV SpecialHimself - Host
2271990TV SeriesHimself
Dionne and Friends1990TV SeriesHimself
The 31st Annual Grammy Awards1989TV SpecialHimself
Saturday Night Live1979-1989TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest / Himself - Midler Backing Vocalist
Family Feud1989TV SeriesHimself - Contestant
Cissy Houston: Sweet Inspiration1988DocumentaryHimself
20th NAACP Image Awards1988TV SpecialHimself - Performer
The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards1988TV SpecialHimself
The 29th Annual Grammy Awards1987TV SpecialHimself - Performer
Solid Gold1985-1987TV SeriesHimself
The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards1987TV SpecialHimself - Co-Host
New American Bandstand 19651987TV SeriesHimself
The 14th Annual American Music Awards1987TV SpecialHimself
Cinemax Sessions1987TV SeriesHimself
The 8th Annual Black Achievement Awards1987TV SpecialHimself
19th Annual NAACP Image Awards1987TV SpecialHimself - Presenter
Soul Train1982-1986TV Series documentaryHimself / Himself - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1985-1986TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
The Patti LaBelle Show1985TV SpecialHimself
Today1985TV SeriesHimself - Guest
6.20 Soul Train1985TV SeriesHimself - Performer
Motown Returns to the Apollo1985TV SpecialHimself
The 25th Annual Grammy Awards1983TV SpecialHimself
The 24th Annual Grammy Awards1982TV SpecialHimself
Sesame Street1969TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Peter Andre's 90 Party Hits of the 90s2014TV MovieHimself (as Luther and Janet)
David Bowie: Five Years2013DocumentaryHimself
Twenty Feet from Stardom2013DocumentaryHimself (uncredited)
Top of the Pops 21994-2003TV SeriesHimself

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2014Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameRecordingOn June 3, 2014. At 1717 N. Vine Street
2004GrammyGrammy AwardsSong of the Year
2004GrammyGrammy AwardsBest R&B Vocal Performance - MaleFor the song "Dance With My Father."
2004GrammyGrammy AwardsBest R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2007GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Male R&B Vocal PerformanceFor the song "Got You Home" (Nominated posthumously).
1993GrammyGrammy AwardsBest R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group

Known for movies

Source
IMDB Wikipedia

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