Where do we put these tears? Of course, Luther Vandross was gay. It was an open secret — neither denied or acknowledge by the artist. The professional closet so necessary to a singer of romantic ballads was the house that was not a home for this superstar, who sang both A House is Not a Home and Superstar as laments of the deepest, bluest melancholy.
Writes Jason King in the Village Voice:
You had to be wearing blinders — as many of his fans, particularly female, must have been — to overlook his queerness. The sequined Liberace suits were a clue, as were the highly publicized bitch fights he waged on tour with Anita Baker and En Vogue. The dead giveaway for me was his admission that his high school grades plummeted because he was in anguish over Diana Ross leaving the Supremes.
A binge eater who swelled up if he lost a Grammy or a lover, Vandross rarely looked like the romantic lead his songs suggested. Execs likely stalled at his closetedness: like an r&b Cary Grant, Vandross wasn’t the passionate heterosexual that his music suggested…
At his Riverside Church memorial this month, there was wall-to-wall soul royalty — Aretha, Labelle, Stevie — but not one boyfriend or lover to stand up in the pulpit and deliver a eulogy about a person. It was all about a talent, a rich, smooth voice that stole over you like brandy. Sometimes he’d go into trances, repeating a word — not in the frantic Slain-in-the-Spirit way of black gospel — but tenderly. There was about it, always, a sort of helplessness, the blues singer caressing his pain, half in love with it.
But what that pain might have been or where in the shut-down world of the closeted celebrity it might have come from, this was never broached at Riverside Church. There was a lot of talk of love. Celebrities in the pews all joined in at the end on the Vandross signature song The Power of Love. But this was love in its generic, impersonal sense. The kind that is easy to embrace when everyone is weeping and swaying, not the sort that needs to be fastidiously, tediously maintained each day in an evolving relationship.
We want the singers who move us to be legitimate, to actually feel the notes they sing and mean the words they say. Luther Vandross had a gift for finding in even the most gooey Carpenters’ ballad the turn of phrase — no, better, the musical transition, the chordal progression — that suddenly made it an adult expression of actual feelings.
We will miss him.
"If I could just take a little time out because I wanna lay my cards right out on the table. You see, sometimes when it’s late at night, after the show, I sit there and I dream and I dream and I dream and I dream and I dream and I dream and I dream — yeah — and although I know I used to dream the impossible — you see, your love was impossible — yeah, but I never stopped dreaming. No way. I wouldn’t stop dreaming. Never, never, never, never…"
Luther Vandross ad-libbing during a live performance of Superstar.
he was not gay u idiot
idiot idiot he was just hot
quote:
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he was not gay u idiot
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Oh yes he was, u IDIOT!!!
I am carrying Luther Vandross’ mixed-race love child. He was no queer!
Oh yes he was, Mink. When he went with you, THEN he was on the “down-low.” Otherwise he was a proud gay man living full time in the closet .
Please, Mink, please — get help.
“like an r&b Cary Grant,”—–wow. I don’t know about that one.
Cary Grant was gay?
We in the American community which is comprised of people of African decent ( how is that for PC);
KNEW ..”LUTHA” was gay.. we didnt/dont care.. it was his bizness.. he is(sic) from that generation of AAmericans…HOLD YER HEAD UP LUTHA..
dont you remember you told you me loved me baby!!!
you said you said you said ……
damn ill miss that…
Mr. King, just a question for You
What do You get out of such an aggressive pursuit of outing someone famous. (Never heared of respecting other people???)I have read some articles of You and I never found them really intelligent.
Dont You think it is more the case that You have a big problem with Yourself being gay in a very homophobic society, like I think black america is, than You REALLY knowing someones personal life. Besides You dont seem to listen - or rather dont want to listen. Sorry I think You are a very sad indiviual whos agressiveness has poisened his mind. THINK about that.
I don’t know if he WAS or WASN’T…I am totally straight, happily married, have a hot, hot ,hot, sensitive, strong, MAN. Many men can be dressed up prim macho or sissy like and be totally straight, etc.
After all, Lots of people are in show business and wear all sorts of costumes. It doesn’t mean a thing. Perhaps no one was shown in public because he wants a private life. Dolly parton never brings her husband–he doesn’t like being in the spotlight and neither does Shania Twain’s husband…does that make them something other than straight? duh?
All i know is Luther and his music make me want to DO IT–NOW!
Someone show me either way that he was STRAIGHT, BI, or gay i do not care
People are sooooo homo, bi, anything other than totally straight—PHOBIC. Who gives a rip?
The Old and New Testament says homosexuality is a sin. We must love the sinner but hate the sin. It is not the Lord’s way to go around destroying each other by hate. live and thrive in peace, joy and love and forget all the other junk
Whether LUTHA was gay or not, who give a flying sh*t!!!! The man was put here for his amazing gift of song! PERIOD!!!!! What ANYONE does in their personal life is just that….PERSONAL!!!!! And NOBODY’s business! Did you even care about this incredible singer and his SO AMAZING music? What kind of person would desecrate the memory of the deceased, especially knowing that this man’s mother (who just buried her last surviving child btw) is still alive to read all this garbage?!!!
How does the fact that someone was gay “desecrate” their memory? Grow up.
Of course being gay does not mean being less worth than any hetorosexual person! BUT I dont thing it is the most respectful thing to do to show the picture of a person who just died way too soon in a site with naked buds and people assfucking in the next links. What are You all thinking?
I have not read one article in the gay press were Mr. Vandross was quoted right. They all leave out parts of what he said to proove THEIR point.
Is is quite sad that that the gay world is not showing professionalism. Shape up You all, and act like mature people.
Oh please! If you really think being gay is not being less than a straight person, why are you raising such a fuss? Because you do believe such things. Suddenly you mention the naked buds on this site? The people assfucking? When did you fall down the rabbit-hole? Why are you on this site at all? Let’s see, now. Everything about nightcharm bugs you. Being gay is a disgrace. Naked men are a disgrace. Having sex is a disgrace. Who the hell are you?
It’s catering to backward dumbbells like you that pushed Luther Vandross into being a totally closeted, deeply unhappy artist.
I’m puzzled. What are all these homophobic people doing in Nightcharm, a gay porn site?
Yes I am right, You people just see what You like too see and what serves Your twisted bias picture of the world.
How dare You judge me on my view of the things I value.
There is a great cultural richness in the gay communtiy, but what some of You people are doing is bringing it all down with Your narrow mind and stupidity.
I feel sorry for You.
No, “me.” You are wrong. You are the one with the bias, the guilt, and the need to shame. You are the one with the twist. Why you come to a gay porn site and rant the homophobic crap that you do only a psychiatrist could tell you. Please don’t patronize the “great cultural richness in the gay community.” You haven’t a clue what it’s about
Noodles, You sound like You only use of 2 % of Your brain.
Leigh Bowery would have hated people like You!
Anonymous — and your point is…?
Oh wait, you don’t have a point. I’m suppose to be put out because Leigh Bowery would really hate me.
Wow, I guess you told me!
Oh, come off it, “me.” Stop hiding behind the name “Anonymous.” How do I know it’s you? You’re the only jerk who capitalizes “you” and “your” in the middle of a sentence.
As for Leigh Bowery. He doesn’t hate anyone. He’s been dead for a decade, dummy.
Or are you communing with the dead now. Was Leigh Bowery straight too? Like Luther? Like Boy George? Like George Michael?
Jerk!
What Luther Vandross was for me and countless others was an amazingly talented singer I really will miss him because his songs touched me listen to ‘Better Love’ it sends you to seventh heaven I’m Gay and I really don’t care if Luther was I loved that voice THANKYOU! R.I.P
My take is “me” is a closeted self-hatin’ gayman, he is so pathetic…BTW,I love Luther’s music!!!My favorite is “Take You Out”
He ???
I see You are still talking crap!!!
Well… being gay and black ,(no im not Usher.. hehehe)
I love(d) his voice..
It also should be known; within the BLACK GAY MALE MAFIA.. Luther, and his lover (oddly enough, I feel the need to mention his lover being white…different topic enitrely..)were a permanent fixture. THEREFORE I will say this again.. when has it become a perogative for every gay person no matter how private /public to share his/her sexual preference with the world?
Luther Vandross was a incredible talented R&B singer, with a heavenly voice like no other singer. There will never be another singer like Luther. He was his mother’s last child. Its not important whether he was gay or not. He’s no longer with us, and he shall be allowed to rest in peace, without negative comments being said. If you only have negative things to say keep them to yourself. Luther was my favorite singer. I loved him, and always will.
Any one who has said anything homophobic should reconsider their sexual orientation, or cease denial and leave the closet.
If you need any other signs, he was the original President of the Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles fan club.
First, let’s correct the lyrics cited for song Superstar (Live at Wembley dvd). Wording should read “…your love was enforceable…” NOT has you have written using the word impossible.
Second, with respect to same song/dvd: He calls out my name (Lily) 3 times. I can assure you I was born female. We fell in love in 1967 and lost contact.
He has told the story of our romance from the beginning of his career. I knew him by another first name and did not hear his music until August 2005. It is bittersweet.
Not only was Luther Vandross a wonderful person, he was also a man of his word. He was sensitive and very conscious of the feelings of others. His talent will never be duplicated. Indeed, Luther Vandross was the premiere singer of any generation.
WHY NOT JUST LET LUTHER VANDROSS REST IN PEACE.
Why not learn how to type using upper and lower letters so those reading your pithy text don’t have to feel like they’re being screamed at?
That’s REALLY the burning question.
Let Luther rest in peace? Was that ever in question? The man is dead. He doesn’t have many options. He doesn’t have any options. No matter what we say about him, he’s going to stay dead. It was when he was alive that he had choices.
And that’s what we’re commenting upon here. Let’s not bury the soul of the man with his body. You can’t shut down a conversation with nonsense about “let’s not discuss it,” “let’s pretend his homosexuality didn’t exist” because it disturbs your “peace.” Peace of mind can not be bought by faking the facts.
Let the dead take care of the dead, and the living, the living.
Hey Lily, you’re wrong. The word in the song is “impossible.” “Enforceable” makes no sense at all.
Here’s what he’s singing:
— and although I know I used to dream the impossible — you see, your love was impossible …
NOT
— and although I know I used to dream the enforceable— you see, your love was enforceable
It makes everything you say in your comment (he is suppose to call out your name, Lily, 3x during the song? — um, not so the rest of us can hear it) sound a little CRAZY.
Who cares if he was gay or not???? HE PUT ALOT OF FEELING INTO HIS SONGS AND THEY MEANT ALOT TO ME..FOR ALL OF YOU WHO THINKS HOMOSEXUALITY MATTERS, GET A LIFE BITCHES
Why are all gay people so fanatic about claiming Luther to be one of them? Mixing fact and fiction. Missquoting. How can you just claim to KNOW something about somebody who you have never met.
He actually said something about the topic of him being gay on the BET interview.
“I wont give the satisfaction of a denial, because that is some form of submission. I wont even adress it. I just say mind your f….ing business. Thats my response to that.”
No gay press article I have read prints the whole quote.
The delusion in these comments is incredible!
There is abundant evidence that Luther was gay. There are the existence of his past boyfriends, most of them still living, the fact that he was seen at private (and not so private) parties with his various boyfriends, his own cagey comments on the matter, which never vigorously denied it — OF COURSE, THE MAN WAS GAY!!!!
Does it really matter? No, but it is a fact. Luther was a black man too. Does that matter? Not really, but being black informed the rich, deep way he sang, just like being gay informed some of the heartbreaking emotion in his many love songs. So again I ask, does Luther being gay matter? Only from the view of historical accuracy. Only as a way to classify this singer.
Some people would rather shut their eyes to these facts than acknowledge that a star they loved was really a gay man, one who lived a double life and who was, behind the scenes, rather an impossible and irritable diva because of it (ask Anita Baker, whom he toured with and mistreated.) Is it really too troubling for you to imagine that Luther was most likely singing those beautiful love songs about the men in his life, not the women?
Tell me, if it’s NOT such a big deal, why are the posters here making such a big fuss about it? Why deny it so hard? Why deny it so furiously?
If you want the facts on Luther, check out the obit in the English newspaper The Guardian.
Here’s a section that addresses some of the debate on our site:
wow riverboy,
sounds you are really mad you were not one of Luthers boyfriends.
Strange that none of them ever sold their story to the papers.
Hi,
Noodles, hope you get chance to read this.
The word is enforceable = your love was enforceable. Meaning, he would have accepted me into his life no matter what he was trying to accomplish.
Noodles, if you can not hear my name on the Live at Wembley DVD on song Superstar - try turning up volume when he gets to the “I ya’s” or if you have the 2001 Luther Vandross on J records listen to Bring Your Heart To Mine, he sings really Lily. Or, listen to Love Forgot where he says Lily (Did you forget this time). On 1981 Never Too Much, song Don’t You Know That name is camouflaged when he sings Lily as singers say really. Everyone knows when their name is said!
Will say this again, Luther was a wonderful person. He cared deeply about the feelings of others. He would never do anything to hurt/harm anyone.
Noodles - I do have some extra Q-tips should you need them.
Hi, Lily. Sorry I insulted you. Your reply to me was very gracious and I … well, I apologize. You hear what you hear. I hear what I do. Let’s leave it at that.
Finally, from today’s NY Daily News
Riverboy
Get a life!! You are so stuck on Luther being gay. Answer this question for the rest of us - Are you gay? When people themselves want to hide things and don’t want people to know - they intend to say things about other people to make themselves look good! Again, I ask you - are you gay??
Yes, skank, I am. Your point?
She doesn’t have one, riv. Just another sad twat who googled Vandross’ name and came here by mistake.
So much for getting a life!
To Riverboy - yo mama! Presley mind your business, unless your riverboy’s partner. Coming here was no mistake. You too - get a life
Wow, you are all very heated up about someone who yall probably never even met.
If Luther was gay I feel sorry for him that he had to decide to hide it.
But ultimately it was his decision!
(Maybe not so easy in a country were half of the people belief earth was created in 7 days and being gay is a sin to god)
Everybody should take care of their own business and not spread so much agressiveness -AND DISRESPECT- about someone who definetely has left an amazing legacy as an artist!
Why dont you all for a change speak out about how YOUR gayness is bringing cultural diversity and richness to a country and if the next poor guy/gay comes along, honor his/her contibution to art and culture. Set a positive example - how yall come to think to be respected if you dont respect others.
why luther has to be gay.which i know he wasn’t.and by the way you don’t say something about a person or less you see that person in action and by the way don’t you think if you would stop thinking bad things about my luther and worry about what’s going up in your butt and stop trying to make luther to be one of you don’t you think this would be a better world.ohyou seen luther making love to a there man.then shut the hell up.you just mad you couldn’t be luther.this man luther did what was right.he had a loveing and careing heart.now what was wrong with that.you just need to check yourself.you is the one problem not luther.
If Luther Vandross was gay (and I think he was, but didn’t care), he stayed in the closet because he wanted to protect his career in a homophobic society. Funny how when some famous person makes an anti-gay remark, he is jumped on, fired, threatened and scolded as if gay folks are revered members of the society. This “free society” is the same one that does NOT believe that gay people are worthy to legally get married. At the same time, its perfect okay for serial killers, murderers, child molesters and death row inmates to get married (with taxpayers footing the bill).
Why this uproar when someone says something derogatory about gay people? Any heter person, bordering on idiot and moron can march down to City Hall and get married. Gay lawyers, doctors, professors, business owners and just ordinary law-abiding AMERICAN-BORN CITIZENS, who happen to be gay, are deemed NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Foreigners come here, having never paid a penny in taxes, and can get married with no questions asked. But NOT gay men and women, UNLESS they marry someone of the opposite sex.
Luther Vandross had every reason to stay in his “closet,” which was a beautiful home, with millions in the bank and everything, including love, that he could have brought to someone he loved and everything to offer children.
The United States is fraught with hypocrisy. Some states will allow gay people to adopt children, but not “precious” white kids. They are only given the chance to adopt the children nobody else wants: troubled black kids, handicapped, kids with AIDS, etc. People (who do not adopt anybody) don’t believe that gays should be able to adopt any child. They believe that unwanted kids are better off in orphanages or foster homes than with a gay doctor and his professor-lover. Our Constitution says one thing, but is interpreted differently. “All men are created equal.” That’s a laugh, just ask black people born and raised in the USA.
Just think, if Luther had been born in the year 4000, he might have felt more comfortable to just be himself. In the year 2007, we are still saddled with with groups at war with one another, scrambling to find another group to rank beneath their own. “My group is better than your group.” “I’m white - we’re the best”; “I’m black and we’re better than gay people”; “I’m Japanese, we are superior to everybody else”, etc. So stupid.
Vandross is one of many performers whose homosexuality was glossed over or veiled. He’s not the first and he won’t be the last. While hetero performers get to have high profile romances (just how private are Jennifer Lopez’s numerous crash-and-burn relationships?), gay performers are figuratively gelded, turned into amorphous figures with no real desire that can be openly stated. Hetero audiences will accept this coy wordplay (Liberace, Clay Aiken, Ricky Martin, and various members of Boy Bands come to mind), saying sexual orientation doesn’t matter, yet homosexuality in the music business is rarely if ever met on its own terms.