Luther Vandross‘s journey into the world of entertainment was sparked by a memorable experience at the Fox Theater in Brooklyn, NY, where he had the chance to watch Dionne Warwick perform.
Luther shared with the New York Times that witnessing her magic on stage inspired him to connect with audiences in a similar way. Luther fondly remarked, “It was women like Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, and The Supremes who drove me to the stereo.” He believed that women, in their performances, were more willing to dive deep emotionally and take creative risks, showcasing their talents with flair.
A beautiful friendship blossomed between Luther and Dionne after Cissy Houston, Luther’s friend, introduced them backstage at Radio City Music Hall. They became so close that when he recorded A House Is Not A Home, Dionne was the first person he wanted to share it with. Dionne praised Luther’s ability to put his unique spin on her songs, saying, “He didn’t do Dionne Warwick. He did Luther Vandross interpreting what Dionne Warwick had done, and he was a genius.”
In 1983, Clive Davis enlisted Luther to produce Dionne’s album, How Many Times Can You Say Goodbye. The final track on the album features Dionne’s interpretation of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, a classic penned by Carole King and Gerry Grolnick.
Not everyone knows that before she left to get married, Dionne joined the Shirelles, stepping in for Shirley Owens and Doris Coley, and continued with the group starting in 1963.
Luther, a devoted fan of the Shirelles, would later share with the New York Times, “First, I was a down and desperate fan of the Shirelles. Then, when I saw Dionne Warwick at the Brooklyn Fox, my life changed. She showed me there were standards.” To honor her legacy, Luther surprised Dionne by bringing in the original Shirelles members to join her on a track.
Dionne reminisced, “We had a ball recording that song. We laughed a lot, let me tell you!” Luther even playfully told her, “See! You ARE a rock and roll singer!”
