
It is noteworthy that not all the celebrities made physical appearances in the video. Other famous celebrities who appeared in the music video include the following: The pair actually danced together in the video. The music video for “Dance with My Father” features a number of famous celebrities, including Beyoncé and her father Mathew Knowles. Today, this track is one of the most famous Father’s Day songs. Sadly, on July 1, 2005, about 2 years after the release of the song, Vandross died tragically at the age of 54. The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. Vandross once referred to the song as his “career song”. Shortly after the song was released, Vandross’ mother, Mary Ida Vandross said she was amazed how despite being only just 7 years old, Vandross was still able to remember vividly the happy home they used to have. And this was because it touched on a subject (the death of his father) that he (Vandross) had never written about. As a result of his illness, Vandross was unable to promote the single however, it went on to become one of the most successful songs of his career.Īccording to the song’s co-writer Richard Marx, writing the song was very emotional for Vandross. Also, it is worth noting that the album went on to become the most successful album released by Vandross throughout his career.Ībout two weeks after the song was released, Vandross suffered a major stroke that left him in a coma for close to two months. This final album of his was his only studio project to make it to the top of the U.S. The song was released on 30th May, 2003 as a single from Vandross’ thirteenth and last studio album of the same name. “Dance with My Father” was produced by Vandross and American music arranger and composer Nat Adderley Jr. Many members of Vandross’ family died young, and after a long history of diabetes and hypertension, he suffered a stroke in 2003 and died after suffering a heart attack in 2005.The song was written by Luther Vandross and American rock singer Richard Marx, whom prior to that had worked with Vandross on a number of occasions. He recorded a pair of albums with the group before breaking out on his own in 1981 with “Never Too Much.”Īfter all those years of grinding, success came quickly: Other hits over the next 20 years include “Here and Now,” “Any Love,” “Power of Love/Love Power,” “I Can Make It Better,” and duets with Cheryl Lynn, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. He soon began working as a backing singer with artists like Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, but a major break came with his appearance on David Bowie’s “Young Americans” album and tour Bowie adopted Vandross’ song “Funky Music” into the album track “Fascination.” He continued working as a session musician and singing jingles and finally made his breakthrough as a frontman with the group Change.


His elder sisters took him to concerts by Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, and before long his was performing at the Apollo Theater’s legendary amateur nights. No one else has expressed this emotion in song to the level Luther did for over 35 years, and to have Google broadcast that around the world is a wonderful showcase of his immeasurable talent.”īorn in New York on April 20, 1951, Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was raised in a musical family and showed talent early, teaching himself to play piano by ear. “Luther made each of his songs about one simple, universal subject – love an emotion and feeling common to the human experience no matter who you are, where you’re from or what you look like.

“It is a true reflection of Luther Vandross’ musical legacy around the world to be honored by Google with an animated Doodle that fittingly captures the joy Luther has brought the world,” reads a statement from his estate. With Vandross’ 1981 debut solo single “Never Too Much” serving as the soundtrack, viewers are taken on a colorful trip through highlights of the singer’s career.Īlso in observation of Vandross’ birthday, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announces the RIAA certification of four of his signature singles: “Dance With My Father” (Platinum), “Here and Now” (Platinum), “Endless Love” (Platinum) and “A House Is Not A Home” (Gold). Luther Vandross was one of the greatest singers - not just R&B singers - of the past 50 years, and Google has fittingly paid tribute to him with an original Google Doodle animation.
