Tag: Kevin Owens

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Luther Vandross Listening Party & More

We presented two back-to-back Luther Vandross events, live and virtual, this past April.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, we presented the first-ever Luther Vandross: Never Too Much Music & Style Celebration at Thread Lounge in New York, NY.

Our goal was to spotlight the glamour and elegance of Luther Vandross’ performances, including every sparkling rhinestone, crystal bugle bead, luminous pearl, and shiny metallic thread on his breathtaking encrusted tuxedos. Designer Tony Chase’s wonderous mix of sweeping Art Noveau and geometric Art Deco designs helped Luther transport his audience to a magical place. 

Since every show had to look like the first show, these costumes were worn, and their upkeep was a nightmare for Luther’s experienced wardrobe department. Beads would break, threads would snag and pull, and collars would get stained. It was aggravating! 

But, looking back, we can appreciate Luther’s keen eye for detail and his unique way of putting on a spectacular show. Combine these costumes with graceful choreography, sophisticated orchestration, and glorious backing vocals, and you get every heart in the audience melt. 

It’s incredible to think about the level of detail that went into each show, from the costumes and lighting to the choreography and chrome sets, not to mention the phenomenal talents of his band members and backing vocalists. I’m sure Luther’s performances left a lasting impression on everyone in the audience.

This fabulous free event will feature a Panel Discussion with Luther’s backing vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s choreographer, James Ervin, a live performance by Keith Anthony Fluitt and Christopher Faison, a Fashion Show curated by Catherine Schuller with Harlem’s Heaven Hats and Modafluer, DJ DAN.C.E, a vendor bazaar with True Serenity Teas, and an inspiring health and weight loss journey with Graffiti Glamour founder, Alicia Mitchell.

The FANDROSS Luther Vandross Listening Party on Saturday, April 20th, spotlighted songs from the recently re-released first album, LUTHER.

Hosted by Luther’s former personal assistant, Max Szadek, we were joined by family, friends, and colleagues: Seveda Williams, Fonzi Thornton, Nat Adderley, Jr., and Carlos Alomar, plus trivia with Robin Clark, Kevin Owens, Michelle Cobbs, Lisa Fischer, and commentary from Luther historian, Leon Petrossian. Additionally, we had rare interviews with Luther Vandross, discussing the early years of his musical legacy.

All photos by Carol Seitz Photography.

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Quiet Storm Fans Listening Party Today On Zoom At 3 PM

Join other Quiet Storm Fans for this fun, free listening party on Zoom featuring music from Luther Vandross. Our DJ, Luther historian, Leon Petrossian plays tracks from the group Luther’s second album, This Close To You, released on Cotillion Records in 1977.

Cotillion, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, signed Luther Vandross as part of the group, including fellow vocalists Anthony Hinton, and Diane Sumler.

Luther Vandross performs the lead vocals on the majority of the album. He also wrote and produced all of the songs. This Close to You was the Luther group’s final album, and by 1980 Luther Vandross signed a solo deal with Epic Records, leading to the release of his debut album Never Too Much in 1981

Quiet Storm is a radio format and genre of contemporary R&B, performed in a smooth, romantic, jazz-influenced style.

Quiet Storm Fans is part of diabetes nonprofit, Divabetic’s ongoing outreach efforts. Our aim is to help music fans at risk, living with, and affected by diabetes prevent diabetes health-related complications such as stroke. We want you to ‘Keep Your House A Home’ by staying healthy and on track with your diabetes self-care.

Hear for yourself how the Luther album serves as the blueprint for establishing Luther Vandross as the premier balladeer of his generation.

The happy healthcare host, Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek, who worked with Vandross for more than 14 years, hosts this tribute podcast featuring Luther’s vocalists Paulette McWilliams, Pat Lacy, Tawatha Agee, Cindy Mizelle and Kevin Owens, band member Bryon Miller, Luther’s niece Seveda Williams, friends Darren Margo and David Jones, the Luther Vandross historian, Leon Petrossian and Luther super fan, Jane Goodman from Great Britain.

Keep Your House A Home!

Since Luther’s sudden and unexpected stroke in 2003, I have been committed to helping Luther fans at risk, affected by and living with diabetes to stay healthy and upbeat about their health. Help me to honor Luther’s legacy by learning how to prevent diabetes health-related complications from occurring. Stay well, speak up, and get the help you need to take care of yourself and your diabetes health.

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The Making of the FANDROSS Take You Out Cautiously Chic Remix

I had a great time working with my Luther Vandross family on this remake of Luther’s hit song, Take You Out,  to encourage others to take the necessary precautions.

The concept popped into my head when Keith Anthony Fluitt mentioned that one of his favorite Luther songs is Take You Out. My immediate reply was, “we should update the lyrics to reflect what was happening with the pandemic.”

A few days later, I was hosting our weekly FANDROSS zoom call. At the end of the session, we took turns pitching project ideas. When it was my turn, I pitched the idea of remaking Take You Out. I shared how I wanted to change some of the lyrics to emphasize COVID precautions. Keith jumped in and said he would do it, and shortly after, everyone agreed to participate.

The next thing I knew, Ivan Hampden Jr. had created a track for us to work with. Then, to my complete surprise, I was gifted the fantastic experience of songwriting with Lisa Fischer!! We collaborated over the phone. I texted Lisa my initial lyric ideas, she sang them back, and then we tweaked and altered them as needed.

Lisa, Ivan, and I played the track and shared new lyrics with everyone in the next zoom session.

From there, Keith, Kevin Owens, and Clayton Bryant took turns singing the lead, and Lisa Fischer, Alfa Anderson, Tawatha Agee, and Cindy Mizelle sang the backgrounds.

Once the song was finished, we were challenged with how to share it. Everyone wanted to do a video, but New York City’s health protocols prevented us from getting together. I decided to take a stab at producing a video by myself. I ran around the streets of New York shooting videos on my i-Phone. FANDROSS producer and longtime Divabetic collaborator Leisa Chester Weir provided me with royalty-free videos I altered in iMovie.

Of course, none of it would have happened with the love and support of Luther’s niece, FANDROSS CEO, Seveda Williams. Seveda heard my initial idea and loved it. She fully supported the project from the jump. You can’t ask for a better friend!

It will always be an honor and privilege to support and continue Luther’s musical legacy. I feel so fortunate to have known and worked for such a musical genius. Luther Vandross was SO AMAZING.

Enjoy our chic FANDROSS twist on one of Luther’s iconic songs, Take You Out as we urge you and your loved ones to take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Take You Out written by Warryn Campbell, Harold Lilly, and John Smith

Lead Vocals: Keith Anthony Fluitt, Kevin Owens, Clayton Bryant

Backing Vocals: Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Tawatha Agee, Alfa Anderson Music Remix: Ivan Hampden, Jr.

Vocal Arrangements: Lisa Fischer

Mixer: Aaron Whitby

Luther Vandross Archival Footage: Thornworld

Hats & Masks Images: Harlem Heaven’s Hats

Revised Lyrics: Max Szadek, Lisa Fischer

Video Compilation: Leisa Chester Weir, LGK Marketing

Video Production: Max Szadek

FANDROSS CEO: Seveda Williams

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Luther Vandross’s Vocalists Remake Take You Out with COVID Safety Message

R & B Legend, Luther Vandross and his love songs are synonymous with Valentine’s Day and he had a long tradition of performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on that special day. The glamour and glitz of his stage productions was captured in his only live album, Live Radio City Music Hall 2003, recorded on Valentine’s weekend.

Enjoy this cautiously cheek-to-cheek twist on one of Luther’s iconic songs, “Take You Out” with a reminder to take the necessary precautions to stay safe.  we urge you and your loved ones to take the necessary precautions to stay safe. Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you. Avoid crowds. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.

Diabetes is known to be a risk factor for severe cases of COVID-19

Early studies have shown that about 25% of people who went to the hospital with severe COVID-19 infections had diabetes. Those with diabetes were more likely to have serious complications and to die from the virus.

Now new evidence suggests some people who’ve recovered from COVID-19 are developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes according to research published November 2020 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

More than one in 10 coronavirus patients  (14.4%) were newly diagnosed with diabetes after recovering from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the analysis of 3,711 patients across eight different studies.

On a personal note, this project is near and dear to my heart because several of my family members contracted COVID over the Christmas holiday. I am so grateful to the care, kindness and treatment that my family members received from the healthcare workers at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, SC. I was thrilled to lend a hand in helping Luther Vandross’s Former Vocalists & Band remake his iconic ‘Take You Out’ song with #COVID safety message.

CREDITS: “Take You Out” written by Warryn Campbell, Harold Lilly, and John Smith Lead Vocals: Keith Anthony Fluitt, Kevin Owens, Clayton Bryant Backing Vocals: Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Tawatha Agee, Alfa Anderson. Music: Ivan Hampden, Jr. Vocal Arrangements: Lisa Fischer Mixer: Aaron Whitby Luther Vandross Archival Footage: Fonzi Thornton for Thorn World Hats & Masks Images: Harlem Heaven’s Hat FANDROSS CEO: Seveda Williams Revised Lyrics: Max Szadek, Lisa Fischer Video Production: Max Szadek

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