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 Best30 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.
From a fan’s deep admiration to becoming the star’s trusted producer, the friendship between Dionne Warwickand Luther Vandross blossomed beautifully over the years, much like the incredible music they created together. Here’s a delightful timeline of their remarkable musical journey.
As a young boy growing up in the Bronx, Luther Vandross was captivated by the power of music and found a hero in Dionne Warwick. Listening to her soothing voice on the radio sparked his passion. The moment he saw her perform live at the Brooklyn Fox Theater, it was like magic.
“She came on stage and just killed me,” he recalled, reflecting on how the serious nature of her music resonated with him. The song Anyone Who Has a Heart left an everlasting impact, inspiring him to chase his dreams in music.
Years later, Luther reminisced about how pivotal that experience was: “The person single-handedly responsible for me deciding to pursue artistic things was Dionne Warwick. It was at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre.” This early connection fueled his desire to create his musical legacy.
While studying in college in Michigan, Luther cleverly navigated his way backstage to meet his idol. He told the security team he was Dionne’s cousin, and when he finally got to meet her, he introduced himself with a grin. Dionne played along, and just like that, a beautiful friendship began to blossom. Their late-night phone calls often turned into lively discussions about their shared love for wrestling, showcasing the warmth and joy in their bond.
Dionne couldn’t help but praise Luther, calling him a “fantastic musician” and an “absolute joy” to work with. Their chemistry was undeniable, leading to a harmonious partnership.
The world first got to experience Luther’s incredible talent in 1981 with his debut album, Never Too Much. His breathtaking rendition of A House Is Not A Home quickly climbed the charts, becoming a staple on quiet storm radio stations nationwide. Dionne herself lauded his version, stating that Luther recorded the definitive rendition of her iconic song, making it uniquely his own.
In 1983, their collaboration deepened when Luther produced Dionne’s album How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye. He took the helm as the producer and lent his smooth vocals to a duet on the title track and co-wrote several songs for the album, including the enchanting So Amazing.
Just a few years later, Luther honorably covered So Amazing for his album Give Me The Reason in 1986, showcasing the strong influence Dionne continued to have on his career.
Interestingly, Dionne initially wanted Luther to join her on the iconic song That’s What Friends Are For, but due to scheduling conflicts, Elton John stepped in. However, the stars aligned in 1987 when Luther performed the song alongside Dionne, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder at the Soul Train Music Awards, creating a performance that would echo through time.
The heartfelt anthem raised over $3 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), exemplifying the artists’ commitment to important causes.
On that very night, Luther Vandross shined brightly, winning the Male Album of the Year award for Give Me the Reason, which featured his first top-20 pop hit, Stop to Love.
Throughout his career, Luther continued to honor Dionne’s legacy by reinterpreting her beloved songs from the legendary songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including unforgettable hits like Anyone Who Had a Heart,A House Is Not A Home, and Are You There (With Another Guy).
Their vibrant friendship and musical partnership created a lasting legacy that inspires artists and fans alike.
“I needed to explore my talents and versatility and see if I had another side of me, another sound,” says Brandy Norwood.
Singer, songwriter, and actress Brandy Norwood is from McComb, Mississippi. Brandy received her first recording contract with Atlantic Records while she was still in 9th grade of high school. Soon, she also received a role on an ABC television sitcom, Thea. Although the show was canceled shortly after its premiere, Brandy took it as a good sign to focus on her priorities. She told Vogue, “It was a good thing, because I could do what I had to do, because I wanted to sing.”
Her song “I Wanna Be Down” from her debut album, “Brandy,” reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, staying there for four weeks in 1994. The album earned Brandy two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Brandy returned to acting in the UPN sitcom “Moesha.” The popular show ran for 6 seasons, and Brandy received an NAACP Image Award.Brandy released her second album, “Never Say Never,” featuring the duet, “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica. The song reached the #1 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts and won the Grammy for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals”. Brandy’s “Never Say Never” became the bestselling R&B album of 1998 in the United States and sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
Dubbed “The Vocal Bible,” Brandy’s body of work is filled with glorious vocal moments that many have attempted to duplicate. The way she harmonizes with herself has been compared to Enya and Janet Jackson in the intricate precision and speed. “In my life right now, in my music, and just overall I feel like I’m winning. It doesn’t matter what this person is saying or what the charts are saying or what award shows are saying, the public opinion doesn’t matter. I feel like I’m winning in my spirit.”
The song, “Have You Ever?” was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. According to Wikipedia, the recording of the song marked the first time Brandy “had been in the studio with a producer like David Foster”, she said in a 2005 interview. “My voice wasn’t as developed as it is now and the song required what producers call ‘money notes’ — the kind that get you a No. 1 on the charts! I was nervous but it all worked just fine.”
Her music and acting success allowed her to work with Whitney Houston on the TV movie Cinderella. Brandy said, “Whitney Houston is my idol and my mentor and my dream forever, like she will always be my favorite artist, ever, on the planet.”
The TV movie drew over 60 million viewers during its premiere on ABC in November 1997. In 1998, it earned an Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction.
Over the years, Brandy has also dealt with heartache and tragedy. Sadly, she was involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006.
“I went through a struggle, and I really needed to get myself together and connect with my purpose which is music.”
In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.”
Most recently, Brandy announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records.
“It just feels like I’m no the right path musically and I’m in the right mindset to continue out my mission in the music because I’m not putting myself in a box.”
Join us for our Luther Vandross: Never Too Much birthday celebration featuring a Music Panel, Fashion Show, Luther Trivia Games, Live Performances, Style Vendors and Live DJ on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Come dressed in your Big 80s Bling!
Luther Vandross was known for wearing rhinestones, silk tuxedos, and tailcoats on stage and Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tom Ford off-stage! He wasn’t afraid of bright colors, animal prints, geometric patterns, and fringe. His style and incredible showmanship brought him legions of fans worldwide.
We’re celebrating the Glitz, Glamour, and Romantic Elegance that made his concerts memorable and set him apart from other entertainers.
MUSIC PANEL: Luther’s Vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s Choreographer, James Ervin, and Graffiti Glamour Makeup Artistry Founder Alicia Mitchell give us a closer look into the Shine of the Rhinestones, Big Luscious Hairstyles, Bold Makeup, Graceful Moves, and Tight Harmonies comprising Luther’s iconic stage shows. Hosted by Max Szadek.
FASHION SHOW: Designers showcase their gorgeous creations inspired by Luther Vandross’s romantic elegance. See the latest styles from Harlem’s Heaven and Modafleur, among others! Hosted by Catherine Schuller.
LIVE PERFORMANCE: Luther’s most iconic songs performed by Luther’s most iconic songs by vocalist Keith Anthony Fluitt.
STYLISH VENDORS: Shop for apparel, jewelry, and teas from a dazzling array of small entrepreneurs.
COCKTAILS & LITE BITES: Enjoy signature cocktails and delicious appetizers.
“I prefer Princess. I would love to be known as a diva later on in life when I’ve had far more experiences,” says Deborah Cox.
With six top-20 Billboard R&B singles and an impressive eleven number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play, Deborah Cox can call herself anything she wants, including a multi-platinum selling artist.
Deborah Cox, inspired by her idol Whitney Houston, began performing in television commercials at age 12. “I remember wanting to be a singer from when I was a young girl,” she recalls. “I would sing a lot in my room as a kid and just fantasize about being an entertainer.”
She was hired as a professional backup vocalist for Céline Dion.
Clive Davis was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis. Her debut album featured an infectious mix of pop and R&B and her first dance hit, “Who Do U Love.”
From there, Deborah Cox’s career hit its stride on the dance floor. he released a string of dance songs, “Things Just Ain’t The Same,” “Absolutely Not,” and “It Could’ve Been You,” that stormed the club scene. Some artists look down on being categorized as dance artists or having their songs remixed, but not her. ” I think it’s about reaching everybody on every different plane and every different level, and if I could remix the song and do a dance remix, that’s great,” she said. ” f I could do a classical version, that’ll be great too. It’s all just about expression.”
Her sophomore album produced the slow jam hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here.” The soulful ballad became an instant sensation and held the then-record for the longest-running No. 1 R&B single of all time. But then, it got a second life on the dance floor and topped the Dance Charts.
When asked about reworking her signature ballads and dance floor stompers, she said, “My opinion is that music is music. As long as you approach doing a remix with truth, I don’t see the dance remixes being any different than a hip-hop remix—it’s really a different version of the song.”
Deborah Cox lived out her fantasies when she worked with her idol, Whitney Houston, on the song “Same Script, Different Cast” for the album Whitney: The Greatest Hits. Working alongside her idol, she said, “
It gave me a chance to really sit one-on-one with her and have that mentor-to-student sisterhood moment where we could just talk, kick it, and have raw conversations about the business, family, and so much more.”
She took another leap by performing Whtiney’s role in the musical rendition of the classic film, The Bodyguard. She performed the singing vocals on the Lifetime film, ‘I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story. “I knew I had some big shoes to fill,” says Deborah Cox.
I’m looking forward to seeing Deborah Cox on Broadway, starring in the revival of ‘The Wiz.’
Luther Vandross wrote “A Brand New Day,” also known as “Everybody Rejoice,” for the musical.
Join us for our Luther Vandross: Never Too Much birthday celebration featuring a Music Panel, Fashion Show, Luther Trivia Games, Live Performances, Style Vendors and Live DJ.
Come dressed in your Big 80s Bling!
Luther Vandross was known for wearing rhinestones, silk tuxedos, and tailcoats on stage and Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tom Ford off-stage! He wasn’t afraid of bright colors, animal prints, geometric patterns, and fringe. His style and incredible showmanship brought him legions of fans worldwide.
We’re celebrating the Glitz, Glamour, and Romantic Elegance that made his concerts memorable and set him apart from other entertainers.
MUSIC PANEL: Luther’s Vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s Choreographer, James Ervin, and Graffiti Glamour Makeup Artistry Founder Alicia Mitchell give us a closer look into the Shine of the Rhinestones, Big Luscious Hairstyles, Bold Makeup, Graceful Moves, and Tight Harmonies comprising Luther’s iconic stage shows. Hosted by Max Szadek.
FASHION SHOW: Designers showcase their gorgeous creations inspired by Luther Vandross’s romantic elegance. See the latest styles from Harlem’s Heaven and Modafleur, among others! Hosted by Catherine Schuller.
LIVE PERFORMANCE: Luther’s most iconic songs performed by Luther’s most iconic songs by vocalist Keith Anthony Fluitt.
STYLISH VENDORS: Shop for apparel, jewelry, and teas from a dazzling array of small entrepreneurs.
COCKTAILS & LITE BITES: Enjoy signature cocktails and delicious appetizers.
According to the Insider.Com‘s List of the 20 R&B artists who have sold the most albums, Luther Vandross placed seventh. He has sold 27 million albums.
With thirteen studio albums, seventeen compilation albums, and fifty-nine singles to his credit, he has outsold Mary J. Blige, Prince, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Usher, and Stevie Wonder, among others.
Luther’s biggest-selling album, Give Me The Reason, was released in 1986 and sold over 2,600,000 copies.
Divabetic’s Luther Vandross Tribute podcast features Lisa Fischer, Jason Miles, Jeff James, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, and Chuck Flowers and music from Luther’s Give Me The Reason album.
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.
The top three R&B artists by record sales are #1. Michael Jackson, #2. Mariah Carey, and #3. Whitney Houston.
Whitney Houston smoked Newport menthol cigarettes. She admitted many times she could not quit even though she was aware of the damage to her voice caused by smoking. By the end of her life, her voice was shot.
Clive Davis recalls her admitting, “I understand I can’t just cut back. I’ve got to stop. I promise I will.”
Unfortunately, Whitney’s failure to quit smoking menthol cigarettes is not uncommon.
Menthol flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarette smoke, and menthol smokers engage in more intense smoking behaviors than regular cigarettes.
Basically, menthol cigarettes numb your lungs. It has a cooling and painkilling effect, so people who smoke menthol tend to inhale more deeply and have a harder time quitting smoking. As a result, they suffer greater damage to their health.
About 18.5 million people in the United States are regular menthol smokers. That’s 37% of the cigarette market. Here’s a breakdown of their use by race in the United States:
85% of Black smokers smoke menthols
46% of Hispanic smokers smoke menthols
39% of Asian American smokers smoke menthols
The health effects of smoking disproportionately impact black and brown communities with a higher rate of menthol use.
One can speculate that a superstar like Whitney Houston had the means to seek professional support to help her overcome her menthol addiction. She even had an excellent reason to quit.
Clive Davisfeels that menthol cigarettes destroyed Whitney Houston’s voice. If they can damage a powerful voice like hers, imagine what they can do to your lungs.
“We were trying to get her to stop smoking,” Clive Davis told Playboy, WENN.com reports. “It was a serious problem because it affected her singing.”
Menthols and mint are also extremely popular among teenage smokers. More than half of cigarette smokers ages 12 to 17 use menthol cigarettes.
The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. People who smoke cigarettes are 30%–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don’t smoke. Smoking also makes it harder to manage your diabetes.
New York State Governor Hochul hopes to ban menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco while raising the tax on smokes by $1 — claiming it’ll fuel the black market, be hard to enforce and worsen police-community relations.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in New York and the US. In 2020, 22.5% of youths used an e-cigarette. Every year, approximately 4,300 New Yorkers under 18 become daily smokers, statistics show.
About 280,000 New Yorkers under 18 are projected to die prematurely from smoking, while 28,200 New York adults die annually.
To get help to quit using tobacco products, can text VAPEFREETX to 88709. Parents can text QUIT to 202-899-7550 for tips and advice for helping teens and young adults quit using tobacco or vape products.
Learn how to become your own ‘Diabetes Bodyguard’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from one our all-time favorite divas, Whitney Houston.
Guests include Dr. Beverly S. AdlerPhD, CDCES, Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES, Mindy Bartleson, T1D, blogger at “There’s More to the Story,” and author, Hairstylist & Salon Owner, Karline Ricketts, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, Kathie Dolginaka ‘High Voltage’.
