wedding – Divabetic

01/04/202501/04/2025

Luther Vandross Stories: The Making Of The Song “Here And Now”

We’re diving into the enchanting world of R&B with one of its all-time greats, Luther Vandross, and his beloved wedding song Here and Now.

Joining our host, Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, is Terry Steele, the talented co-writer who helped bring this classic to life. Terry will take us behind the scenes of the creative process, sharing the inspiration that fueled the heartfelt lyrics and the song’s enduring legacy.

Terry Steele also reflects on Luther’s hero, Dionne Warwick’s pivotal role in Luther’s song recording.

Growing up in the Bronx, Luther Vandross was mesmerized by the magic of music, particularly by Dionne Warwick‘s enchanting voice.

Hearing her on the radio ignited a passion in him, and seeing her perform live at the Brooklyn Fox Theater left a mark on his heart. He fondly remembers, “She came on stage and just killed me,” capturing how deeply her music resonated with him. The song Anyone Who Has a Heart inspired him to pursue his own musical dreams.

Luther Vandross won his first Grammy in 1991 for Here and Now after being nominated 9 times.

Billboard magazine included Here And Now on their list of the Best 30 Wedding Songs of All Time stating, “everything about the song suggests flowing curtains and candlelight, and Luther’s voice is pure butter.”

Terry Steele is a two-time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter who has toured internationally and performed in places like Russia, Japan, and Brazil.

As a professional songwriter, he has collaborated with superstars like Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder, among others. As the principal writer of the hit Here and Now.

Terry received his first Grammy nomination for “Best Rhythm and Blues Song” in 1990. He has held esteemed songwriting roles at major music companies and even tours occasionally with the renowned jazz band HIROSHIMA as their lead singer.

Angela Bofill suffered two strokes but neither stroke could take away her positive, humorous personality and her fighter spirit. After she lost the ability to sing, she returned to the stage for “The Angela Bofill Experience” in which she skillfully narrated her life story, while her band and other singers. Enjoy our exclusive interview with this iconic singer and songwriter.

12/31/202412/31/2024

Best Of 2024: Here and Now Unconventional Wedding Dress

BEST OF 2024: Challenging myself to create an unconventional wedding dress with corrugated cardboard, magazines, newspaper, and Fed Ex envelopes for the Here and Now Fashion Show at the Luther Vandross Style & Music celebration at the Rennaissance Hotel in New York City in April 2024.

Luther Vandross’s song, Here and Now became a wedding song anthem for couples in the mid 80’s and 90s’.

Luther’s idol, Dionne Warwick played a role in her son, David Elliott and Terry Steele’s song, “Here & Now” landing in Luther’s hands.

“I was at the house of my Godmother (Dionne Warwick). Her son David and I were fooling around in the basement, playing music; and I asked him to listen to this song I had just written for my pastor’s daughter’s wedding, “said singer, songwriter Terry Steele.

“Davie heard it and said it would be really good if I put a little groove under it. Then Dionne, being the proud Momma, took it to Luther, and Luther liked it,” responds Terry Steele.

In 1985, Luther Vandross released the song, Here and Now his Greatest Hits album, The Best of Luther Vandross… The Best of Love. Luther Vandross won his first Grammy for Male R&B Vocal Performance for the song.

Special thanks to Alicia Nelson, Verna Henry, Pam Lewis, and Joe Murray for their help in bringing my creation to life. Photography: Carol Seitz

I’m looking forward to hosting the Second Annual Luther Vandross: Music & Style Celebration at the Rennaissance Hotel in New York City.

CNN Films examines the captivating story of the iconic Luther Vandross as he paves his own course to become one of the most decorated and influential artists of all time in Luther: Never Too Much. From award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter (CNN Films’ John Lewis: Good Trouble) and produced by Raindog Films and Foxxhole Productions for Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing, in association with Trilogy Films, the film will premiere on January 1, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT on CNN.

06/16/202106/16/2021

A FairyTale Wedding To Be Remembered

After a yearlong delay, my fabulous goddaughter and niece, Ashton, and her wonderful fiancé, Irby were married this past weekend at OceanCliff Inn in Newport, RI. Every moment shimmered in effortless elegance to create an ‘epic yet intimate’ celebration. Hats off to my brother and his amazing wife for hosting such an unforgettable weekend. I had the honor (and anxiety) of officiating their fairytale wedding against a spectacular backdrop of sailboats on the sunset.

I admire my niece so much for sticking to her guns and holding out to have her dream wedding in Newport rather than cancel it and host a much smaller ceremony at her home. She stayed true to her vision against the odds, and it worked out beautifully. The experience also taught me to turn off the negative talk that I say to myself. After 15+ months of not hosting a Divabetic outreach event, I felt very unsure of myself in my abilities to host such a monumental event in front of 200 people. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this phrase, “Stop being afraid of what can go wrong, start being excited about what can go right,” which I repeated to myself for two weeks leading up to the event. It worked! Everyone enjoyed the ceremony, and my niece told me, ‘it was perfect!’

By the way, it was truly a family affair. My mother, Mama Rose Marie was the flower girl, the bride’s sister was the ‘Maid of Honor’, the groom’s father was the ‘Best Man’, my nephew, Troy and his wife, Devon, were attendants, my brother, Rich designed their wedding monogram, and Joe did the bride’s hair and my mother’s makeup and hair. The Bride’s father, my brother, Bob highlighted the fact the newlyweds patiently waited over a year to exchange their vows in a speech that can only be described as ‘astonishing and mindblowing’!! I’d also like to add that there’s no way an event of this size and scope could have been presented in such a masterful way without one of the most accomplished women that I know at the helm, my fabulous sister-in-law, Laura. She rocked it!

Since my niece is also a Luther Vandross fan like her uncle, she plays his Christmas album nonstop every year (!) I used Luther’s beautiful song lyrics as inspiration for my wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, the happy couple didn’t choose ‘Here & Now’ as their wedding song, but I’d like to send this heartfelt message to them on their new journey together.

Divabetic’s Luther Vandross Tribute podcast guests include Lisa Fischer, Jason Miles, Jeff James, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Chuck Flowers.

By the time Luther Vandross headed to the studio to record his fifth album Give Me the Reason in 1986, he’d become one of the most successful soul singers of the first half of the eighties. His four previous albums have been either certified platinum or double-platinum in America.

For Luther Vandross’ fifth album Give Me the Reason, the album comprised nine tracks including the hits: So Amazing, There’s Nothing Better Than Love, Stop To Love and Give Me The Reason.

Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s Give Me The Reason album courtesy of SONY Music.

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