---
title: "Luther Vandross — Kapell"
description: "Luther Vandross was incredible, releasing a run of 11 consecutive platinum albums over 15 years."
canonical: "https://kapell.fm/blog/2026-07-11-luther-vandross/"
published: "2026-07-11"
---

Essay July 11, 2026

# Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross was incredible, releasing a run of 11 consecutive platinum albums over 15 years.

Cory G Watson

Building Kapell, one credit at a time

[Luther Vandross (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/23393) released [fourteen albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Vandross#Discography). 13 were [RIAA Platinum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_certification#Records) — including eleven *consecutive* albums from 1981 to 1996. Five were *multi-platinum*.

Insane.

[Never Too Much (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/song/am/190652482) was my personal introduction to Vandross in the ’80s. He’s reentered the chat through [Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/album/am/1781270319?track=1781270323). Unfortunately, Luther [passed in 2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Vandross#Health_problems_and_death).

Vandross’ [career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Vandross#Session_work_and_groups) started in ’60s ensemble groups and as a session vocalist in the ’70s. He began an illustrious solo career in 1981 with the aforementioned [Never Too Much single](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Too_Much_(song)).

Here are some delightful parts of Luther’s career:

- Luther started the first [Patti LaBelle (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/17334) fan club, of course.
- Before he went solo he’d already sung background with [Chaka Khan (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/17402), [Diana Ross (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/47566), [Bette Midler (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/148261), and [Barbra Streisand (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/249646).
- *Rolling Stone* ranked him 31st in the [Top 100 singers of all time](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/luther-vandross-3-1234643158/).
- He was the lead vocalist for [Change’s (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/63607742) Gold-certified [*The Glow of Love* (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/album/am/63607785). Add that to his tally.
- His music was a fixture of [quiet storm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_storm) radio.
- His early group Listen My Brother included appearing on the **pilot episode** and first season of Sesame Street. [Catch him on the stairs teaching counting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu4mZEpt4rk) or in the back row (leftmost) [teaching the alphabet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK20aZgmlpc).
- His final album, [*Dance With My Father* (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/album/am/302994947), was his first to ever top the [Billboard 200](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200). It also [won basically all the awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_with_My_Father_(album)#Accolades): two AMAs, 4 Grammys, 4 NAACP Image awards, and Soul Train Music award.
- Finally, [this absolutely wild performance opener](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WPJcEluBT0) of [A House Is Not A Home (on Kapell)](https://kapell.fm/l/song/am/388151827) that I won’t spoil. The *audacity*.

Enjoy Luther’s amazing work:

[Artist · Kapell Luther Vandross Fourteen albums, thirteen of them Platinum](https://kapell.fm/l/artist/am/23393) [Apple Music · Playlist Luther Vandross Essentials](https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/luther-vandross-essentials/pl.8a3ef40cc96e4e67b48e1f744bcf06e0)

Kapell — for macOS

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[Download](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kapell/id6779394524) [See other journal entries](https://kapell.fm/blog)