ONE YEAR LATER - Inspired by “Luther Vandross Live - Radio City Music Hall 2003.” – October 16, 2006

One year later, the memory of his voice still sends chills through my frame. Never deviating from the lyrics, nor the trademark ad-libs, in his death, Luther Vandross remains the singular voice of love we have, Forever and For Always. One year later, I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. I just know that in a few weeks, our lives will be enriched once more with something new, something special. Then, the tour will come, and the tickets will go...QUICKLY. The roses I’ll share with someone special, as well as well dressed dinner at a favorite restaurant will serve as a backdrop to what we’ll both cherish. Who cares about the opening act? Not us. The Sultan of Seductive Song doesn’t mind our late arrival, unless of course, if we miss his first note.

Let me hear your voice, if only for another night. Many of say this, a year after the music stopped. Sure, he has left a legacy of love with that ageless sound. But what we wouldn’t give to hear the directive “19 more...” during Creepin’, or the melodious mixture of rhythm and words during Never Too Much. We know about the killer songs -ALL ACTUALLY- so there’s no need to recite, now is there? The ladies in the crowd, were they dressed for us under those red concert lights, or were they decked to the nines for him? I know after dark, in the privacy of our homes, they revealed all to us in a sensuous, seductive manner because of him. To that, many brothers give the heavens hugs and hand-pounds.

As I sit here and listen to this live CD, recorded 2 months before the beginning of the end (his stroke) I wonder if he knew this was it. Perhaps he and God decided they blessed us enough. Perhaps God wanted him home to serenade HIS and The Lord's heart as they decide what to do with the many of us that don’t know the true meaning of his most precious energy, that being LOVE.

Here’s what I’m thinking: He and his maker had a pact; to loan us that incredible vocal instrument, his affectionately adored, tantalizingly tender tone. We were to have this voice all to ourselves for a half century, just to see how much we treasure love and romance. Then, once Luther made us believers in this spirit and its conditions, he would leave us. Maybe that’s it.

Maybe his legacy was defined by our future. Maybe we’re supposed to gain bravery in giving our hearts time and time again, renew, recharge and replenish our batteries, escape our emotional insecurities by listening to a Luther Vandross song. Maybe through song, he’ll smile from heaven whenever a couple clasp hands while gazing in each others eyes with a look they only recognize. Maybe he’ll give Phyllis Hyman and Barry White high fives when two people solidify their bond by saying ‘I do’ as Here and Now plays in the background. Maybe the love Luther possessed for us still lives within us, with every good deed we do, every time ladies nurture their men, every time kings stand strong for their queens. As he sang so beautifully, we should do the same, by telling those in our lives we cherish, your love is all we need.

When Marilyn Monroe passed away, Joe DiMaggio ordered fresh flowers on her grave every week until he passed some forty years later. Through his magnificent melody, Luther still brings us roses from his heart, but gives them to us while the breath of life remains in us. Why don’t we, one year later, show our thanks to him by showing love; to our love ones and family or strangers in need of a pick me up. I think God’s noble courier of love would appreciate that.

I miss you, man.

William Fredrick Cooper