![]() ![]() Disco had been plastered across everything from clothes and television, to music and films. Mainstream America finally got a hold of something that wasn’t hugely embraced by those who were outside of the culture’s margins. However, the anonymity he was receiving was a blow to him.īy the late-1970s, the disco industry became a well-oiled machine, with labels and artists alike often scrambling to find ways to capitalize on the craze. He never had a problem with what he was paid. ![]() Lending his vocals on songs for other artists and not receiving proper merit for his contributions began weighing heavily on him as well. The lack of support from record labels, which refused to sign him or recognize that he was a promising entity in his own right, was deeply troubling for Vandross, as he strived to be a solo artist who had complete freedom of his artistry. Both albums were produced and largely written by Vandross himself, as he was the central figure of the group, but they weren’t major sellers and Cotillion dropped the group shortly thereafter. ![]() Even before recording what would become his solo breakthrough, he had gained moderate success as one-fifth of the self-titled R&B quintet Luther, releasing two solid projects on the Cotillion label-1976’s Luther and 1977’s Close to You. He also worked as a jingle writer and singer, lending his voice to a plethora of TV commercials for major companies like Burger King, Juicy Fruit, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. If nothing else, he gained prominence as a background session singer, gracing many of pop music’s greatest singles, while touring with some of pop music’s greatest figures. Having experienced his share of false starts, disappointments, and doubts, the Manhattan native never predicted that his aspirations of becoming the decade’s most influential and enduring male soul vocalist would be realized. Things finally paid off for Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Happy 40th Anniversary to Luther Vandross’ debut solo album Never Too Much, originally released August 12, 1981. ![]()
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