MY HOUSE IS STILL A HOME...(A Tribute to Luther Vandross...)
Written July 4th, 2005

It’s been three days, and it still hasn’t sunk in. God, I miss him. But he’s home now, dancing with his father. Smiling from heaven, he’s no longer suffering the effects of his stroke, in fact he’s in full body and spirit singing in front of Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra. I can’t wait to hear that duet with Phyllis Hyman. (It’s ironic how we lost them all on or around July 4th Weekend.)

Do you remember where you were when you received the news that a friend to some and lover to all was gone? I was in a car that Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. when the bulletin stunned the airwaves Letting out a scream, I was hoping, praying that the Bad Boy of radio would allow listeners to see how much our friend impacted his life.

“I don’t want to talk about death on a Friday,” was the disc jockey’s terse response.

Angered to the point I couldn’t see straight, a deep feeling within my core told me we would have been fighting had I been in the studio.

He just didn’t get it.

“You’d be celebrating love and life,” I countered.

Immediately, I turned the dial to a more compassionate deejay.

As the numbness thawed and the tears came, I thought of his legacy as his talent was the cornerstone, the foundation to everything positive with regards to God most precious energy, love.

And oh, that voice. Smooth as velvet, as powerful as a hurricane of love, he was quality personified. No one will ever replicate, or even come close to his vocal artistry. Now I know how people felt when moved to tears by a Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke song. Luther Vandross was for our generation what they were for my parents.

As I sit and listen to the Dance With My Father compilation, I Think About Him. Feeling blessed to have seen him in concert seven times, the last time he touched me live was at Long Island’s Westbury Music Fair in May of 2002, a year before the music stopped. Even better on stage, Luther never cheated us. Ladies, how many of you stood up and either, 1) sang his lyrics in tears, or 2) received spiritual chills, as if feeling the Holy Ghost? Us men? While sometimes jealous that Luther enveloped your woman in passion while serenading her, how many of you were fortunate enough after words to be thanked in the most amorous way imaginable after his shows? If Only For One Night of the year, you thanked him profusely, because she gave you some of the best lovemaking you ever had after his shows.

After making love to us by way of song for two hours, we were selfish, for we always wanted more. Obliging, if Luther could have sang for ten hours, he would have. And ten hours later, the arena still would have been standing room only. Can I get an Amen?

Ladies, Luther Vandross was my man. Now before you get it all twisted, let me explain: When I couldn’t summon the guts to tell you those three words, I spent many a lonely night under red lights in my Brooklyn bedroom making Valentine’s Day Packages for special friends I hoped would get the message. Two Pound chocolate hearts, big cards, a little stuffed animal or trinket, and…ahem… 'pause button slow jam tapes.' Every single one I ever made culminated with a powerful Luther song. He always knew the right words to say, the words I felt shy in expressing to you.

He sure had a way of making love feel so good, didn’t he? A House Was Not A Home without him. Love Wouldn’t Let Him Wait; he coveted the Here and Now. After telling us to Buy Her A Rose, he and Gregory Hines Gave Me A Reason why: There’s Nothing Better Than Love. From I Who Had Nothing, he gave me something to work with, If Only For One Night. When caught Creepin’, we had to forgive him, for He Really Didn’t Mean It. Searching for the truth, he had the Glow Of Love on a joyful countenance when singing the damn songs. Anyone Who Has a Heart would, if they believed in love.

Wanting The Night To Stay, I got The Rush when he encouraged me to Never Let Go of my quest for Any Love. Cast under a spell, the strong, seductive, sensational sound of his tone was Never Too Much to listen to. And to think: this was a man who lost Talent Night at the Apollo four times (!) and was known for doing KFC and Pizza jingles.

Stop and think about that for a tick.

KFC jingles.

Pizza jingles.

It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?

KFC jingles. I’m still shaking my head incredulously.

My tears have dried again, for I am grateful that he left behind so much of him. All weekend long, his songs told the story of my life, my search for the right one. Crying, dancing, singing, burning CD’s for my mother, thinking of his live performances I captured - Often going alone, sometimes not - I realized my house is still a home, because his love for song and love itself will live inside me for the rest of my days.

I love you, Luther. Thanks for being you.

Sincerely,
William Fredrick Cooper