What Was Luther Vandross’ Net Worth at the Time of His Death?

Luther Vandross, known as the “velvet voice,” was praised for his smooth R&B sound. He was born on April 20, 1951, and died on July 1, 2005, at the age of 54, two years after a stroke. He contributed many musical gems to the entertainment world, including the hit songs Never Too Much, Power of Love, and Dance with My Father. Here’s a look at Vandross’ net worth and career.

Luther Vandross’ rise to fame

Vandross made a name for himself in the entertainment industry after singing background for stars such as David Bowie, Chaka Kahn, Bette Middler, and Diana Ross. After spending some time performing background vocals, Vandross joined the group Change and led the group as its featured vocalist. He was also a member of the singing group Luther. He later moved on and became a solo artist. In 1981, he released his debut album Never Too Much.

During a 1992 interview with MTV, Vandross said he knew early on he had a gift. “I always knew I had a good sense of pitch and melody and tone,” he says. “But when I discovered I could actually sing, probably was in my early teenage years.”

Luther Vandross’ albums

After releasing his debut album, Never Too Much, Vandross released Forever, for Always, for Love, in 1982. In 1983, he came out with the album Busy Body. His other albums include Power of Love (1991), Songs (1994), and Luther Vandross (2001). He released his final album, Dance with My Father, in 2003.

Vandross told MTV that if you want to be a memorable entertainer, it’s necessary to actually have talent. “There’s nothing that you can do, if you don’t have the musical talent, there’s nothing you can do to make you a singer of note,” said Vandross. He also added that talent alone isn’t enough. He believed that “hard work is the road to success.”

Luther Vandross’ awards

In 1991, Vandross won a Grammy award for his song “Here and Now.” The following year, he won a Grammy award in the Best R&B song category for “Power of Love/Love Power.” He also won a Soul Train Music Award. He went on to win many more Grammys for songs including “Dance with My Father” (2004) and “The Closer I Get to You” (2004). Overall, Vandross won a total of eight Grammy awards.

Throughout his career. Vandross was also awarded with many American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards.

Luther Vandross’ TV and movie appearances

Vandross had a few roles in television and movies. One of his early roles was on Sesame Street. He appeared in the pilot episode in 1969 and another episode in 1970. In 1978, he appeared in The Whiz as one of the choir singers. In 1991, Vandross played the Grand Wizard in an episode of Eureka’s Castle titled “Don’t Touch That Box!”

After that, Vandross appeared in the 1993 movie The Meteor Man, in which he played the character Jamison. Vandross’ other roles include appearances in Touched by an Angel (2002); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1997); and Zack of All Trades (1984).

Luther Vandross’ net worth

At the time of his death, Vandross had an estimated net worth of $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.