Original subtitles

Remembered as just a

Basketball player. Kobe premieres January 25th

On cnn.

And I'm running. And now we want to do I want

and now we want to do I want to do my favorite ballad and

To do my favorite ballad and beautiful love song on the new

Beautiful love song on the new album. It goes like

This one, two, three.

Hey hey, we have to have a party right away. Right

Up top. Hey, come on

Hey, go! Stop at a

Stop. Yeah, we're on the move. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Ain't no

Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Ain't no stopping us now. We got

The groove. Oh, there have been so many

oh, there have been so many things that have held us down.

Things that have held us down. But now it looks like things

but now it looks like things are finally coming around.

Are finally coming around. Yeah, I know we've got a

yeah, I know we've got a long, long way to go. And where

Long, long way to go. And where we'll end up.

We'll end up. I don't know, but we won't

I don't know, but we won't let nothing hold us back. We're

Let nothing hold us back. We're gonna get ourselves together.

Gonna get ourselves together. We're gonna polish up our

we're gonna polish up our act. Yeah. And if you've ever

Act. Yeah. And if you've ever been held down before, I know

Been held down before, I know that you refuse to be held down

That you refuse to be held down anymore.

Anymore. Yeah,

Yeah. Don't you let nothing,

Nothing, nothing stand in your way. And all

Your. To every word I say. Every word I say about it

Every word I say about it ain't no stopping us now.

Ain't no stopping us now. That's right. We're on the

That's right. We're on the move. You said it. We've got

Move. You said it. We've got the groove. Ain't no stopping

The groove. Ain't no stopping us now. We've

Got the groove. Who ain't no stopping us

Now. We're on the move.

On the move, yeah. Yeah yeah. No stopping us now. We've got

No stopping us now. We've got the groove from the bronx, new

York. Mr. Luther vandross.

Were you very poor as a child? Mhm.

Child? Mhm. You know, the funniest thing

you know, the funniest thing is if if there's enough love

Is if if there's enough love in your house and in your home

In your house and in your home and in your life. Poor, rich,

And in your life. Poor, rich, none of that stuff registers.

None of that stuff registers. We were we were well fed, well

We were we were well fed, well cared for. We had toys at

Cared for. We had toys at christmas and I don't know if

Christmas and I don't know if we were poor or not. I'll have

We were poor or not. I'll have to ask my mother, but it's

To ask my mother, but it's certainly my impression of

Certainly my impression of growing up was that life was

Growing up was that life was great

This is very personal. This is luther talking about what he

Luther talking about what he experienced as a child and as a

Experienced as a child and as a teenager, aware of of a

Teenager, aware of of a potential career in music. You

Potential career in music. You know, I was a motown child, the

Know, I was a motown child, the supremes and temptations on ed

Supremes and temptations on ed sullivan was a big deal around

Sullivan was a big deal around my neighborhood, you know?

My neighborhood, you know? So let's have a fine

so let's have a fine welcome for the case keenum

I need love love, love. Hey, my man, I need to find

hey, my man, I need to find find someone to call mine. But

Find someone to call mine. But mama said you can't hurry,

Mama said you can't hurry, love. No, you just have to wait

Love. No, you just have to wait and see.

And see. I used to love. I used to

I used to love. I used to draw pictures of the supremes

Draw pictures of the supremes in math class. You know, when I

In math class. You know, when I was a kid. Because I used to

Was a kid. Because I used to just love the way my mother

Just love the way my mother would punish me for doing

Would punish me for doing something wrong or get to me is

Something wrong or get to me is not allowing me to see the

Not allowing me to see the supremes on ed sullivan on on a

Supremes on ed sullivan on on a Sunday night, you know, and it

Sunday night, you know, and it worked. You know, I washed the

Worked. You know, I washed the dishes, took the garbage out,

Dishes, took the garbage out, did the homework, did

Did the homework, did everything. So you.

Everything. So you. I feel my skin. I yeah,

I feel my skin. I yeah, it's almost gone. I remember

It's almost gone. I remember my said I met luther when I was

My said I met luther when I was 15.

15. We'd like so much of the

we'd like so much of the same music. The supremes would

Same music. The supremes would appear on ed sullivan and it

Appear on ed sullivan and it let's say, like maybe at 11:00

Let's say, like maybe at 11:00 at night when everybody in my

At night when everybody in my house was in bed, I'd be

House was in bed, I'd be sitting by the phone and the

Sitting by the phone and the phone would ring and I'd pick

Phone would ring and I'd pick it up really quick. He'd say,

It up really quick. He'd say, did you see florence miss that

Did you see florence miss that step? No, I came down to it in

Step? No, I came down to it in my life alone.

My life alone. Met luther vandross in the

met luther vandross in the 11th grade, and he would say, I

11th grade, and he would say, I think our first date was

Think our first date was friends was come to my house

Friends was come to my house and, you know, I'll make you

And, you know, I'll make you some lunch and we'll listen to

Some lunch and we'll listen to some music. Great. Happy.

Some music. Great. Happy. When she said, love, don't

when she said, love, don't come easy.

Come easy. When I met luther, the first

when I met luther, the first thing I was impressed with. He

Thing I was impressed with. He had composition books stuffed

Had composition books stuffed with papers that he had torn

With papers that he had torn out of another one and stuffed

Out of another one and stuffed inside.

Inside. There, all filled with

His lyrics. Like

The shades of jade was luther's first actual band,

Luther's first actual band, and we had a bass player,

And we had a bass player, myself, on guitar. Fonzi

Myself, on guitar. Fonzi luther, and we had a keyboard

Luther, and we had a keyboard player.

Player. So he said, well, if you're

so he said, well, if you're going to be in the group, you

Going to be in the group, you have to get the uniform. I

Have to get the uniform. I said, what's the uniform?

Said, what's the uniform? Well, you got to have patent

well, you got to have patent leather, green emerald shoes.

Leather, green emerald shoes. If you're in the shades of

If you're in the shades of jade.

Jade. He said, well, the shoes

he said, well, the shoes cost $23. And at that time,

Cost $23. And at that time, back in the 60s, my mother

Back in the 60s, my mother wasn't going to give me no $23

Wasn't going to give me no $23 for no shoes to sing in. No

For no shoes to sing in. No group.

Group. Don't you know this fool

don't you know this fool goes to my mama's house? I'm

Goes to my mama's house? I'm talking about a latin

Talking about a latin household. Puerto rican. Only

Household. Puerto rican. Only my mother did not speak

My mother did not speak english. And then luther

English. And then luther vandross proceeds in his broken

Vandross proceeds in his broken spanish or

Senora alamar es a muy importante a los zapatos.

Uh de carlos. Valverde green. Uh, more important, and by the

Uh, more important, and by the time he finished talking to my

Time he finished talking to my mother, my mother came in the

Mother, my mother came in the room and said, here, take this

Room and said, here, take this $25 and go buy those shoes.

$25 and go buy those shoes. So he was a boss from the

so he was a boss from the beginning. He had he had

Beginning. He had he had vision. He had an idea of how

Vision. He had an idea of how he wanted it to go down. And

He wanted it to go down. And that's the way it went

Down. Luther studied every singer

luther studied every singer that he loved to sing.

Guess my soul is my money for me. Oh yes, a little

For me. Oh yes, a little respect when you get on. Great.

Respect when you get on. Great. When you heard what he liked

When you heard what he liked about female singers was he

About female singers was he loved the tone.

Loved the tone.

He loved the versatility, the

Range, every aspect. Take care. Tcb, you know, I

take care. Tcb, you know, I used to love listening to

Used to love listening to aretha franklin because aretha

Aretha franklin because aretha is so bad.

Is so bad. You know, she doesn't have

you know, she doesn't have to get you at her peak. High

To get you at her peak. High note. You know aretha, when

Note. You know aretha, when she's singing in neutral, can

She's singing in neutral, can render you helpless.

I want you I respect every jane coaston luther studied the soul

Coaston luther studied the soul of aretha.

Of aretha. He studied the sweet

he studied the sweet inspirations and their tight

Inspirations and their tight harmonies. Oh

Yeah, he. He studied dionne warwick, he studied. He studied

Warwick, he studied. He studied the tonality and the grace of

The tonality and the grace of of her voice. Paul.

Of her voice. Paul. Me. I'll be there.

Just waiting. So don't think because you've been

Running around. I won't answer the phone.

The phone. When your world tumbles

when your world tumbles down. You can call me any old

Down. You can call me any old time of the day.

Time of the day. When did you know that you

when did you know that you could sing?

Could sing? I knew that I wanted to

I knew that I wanted to sing. I was about 13 and I had

Sing. I was about 13 and I had gone to see dionne warwick at

Gone to see dionne warwick at the brooklyn fox theater. And.

The brooklyn fox theater. And. And I think I knew from that

And I think I knew from that moment that I wanted to be able

Moment that I wanted to be able to affect people the way she

To affect people the way she affected me that day.

Affected me that day. It was the height of black

it was the height of black music. The apollo theater was

Music. The apollo theater was the center for everything in

The center for everything in harlem. Musically. We got to

Harlem. Musically. We got to see it all happen and there was

See it all happen and there was music on 125th street blasting

Music on 125th street blasting all the

Time. I like to know. That your love.

I can't turn you loose now is one of the hottest groups in

One of the hottest groups in the country.

The country. The temptations, the world

the temptations, the world and saboteurs.

And saboteurs. I refuse to explain.

I refuse to explain. I just wish it would rain.

I just wish it would rain. Oh, let it rain.

Oh, let it rain. We were in a group called

we were in a group called missing my brother, which was

Missing my brother, which was owned and managed by the people

Owned and managed by the people who owned the apollo theater,

Who owned the apollo theater, and we used to get to see all

And we used to get to see all the shows from going to the

The shows from going to the apollo anytime we wanted to see

Apollo anytime we wanted to see any show. That was one of the

Any show. That was one of the real big

Perks. Of the band. My brother to what we've got

my brother to what we've got to say. This and my brother,

To say. This and my brother, cause this is our day.

Cause this is our day. Listen, my brother was five

listen, my brother was five guys, five girls and a five

Guys, five girls and a five piece band, and we were singing

Piece band, and we were singing these original songs about

These original songs about being young and black and

Being young and black and about, I'm going to make it.

About, I'm going to make it. And they were all topical as it

And they were all topical as it related to the time. Sometimes

Related to the time. Sometimes we get burdened.

We get burdened. So many times

We have to cry, but if you make me look, I'll make it to the

Me look, I'll make it to the top.

Top. It'll

Tell you that's a good step back.

Back. The context that we're

the context that we're talking about is extremely

Talking about is extremely important. To have the whole

Important. To have the whole black panthers and all of that.

Black panthers and all of that. We sang songs about being

we sang songs about being young and black and no one

Young and black and no one stopping us. We're going to

Stopping us. We're going to make it to the top. Move, move

Make it to the top. Move, move out of our way, out of our way.

Out of our way, out of our way. These songs were, in effect,

these songs were, in effect, mantras that we would repeat

Mantras that we would repeat for the rest of our lives.

For the rest of our lives. Listen

Everybody, we got a story to tell.

Tell. Peter long, who ran the

peter long, who ran the group, came to us one day in

Group, came to us one day in rehearsal and he said,

Rehearsal and he said, someone's going to come down

Someone's going to come down to see you guys because he'd

To see you guys because he'd always have people come down.

Always have people come down. So he said, this guy jim henson

So he said, this guy jim henson is going to come down to see

Is going to come down to see what you do. So we performed

What you do. So we performed the whole show for him. We go

To rehearsal the next day and peter comes to us and he says,

Peter comes to us and he says, there's a tv show, there's a

There's a tv show, there's a new show for kids coming on

New show for kids coming on that I want you guys to do,

That I want you guys to do, like tv. Are you kidding

Like tv. Are you kidding something? Yeah.

Something? Yeah.

You got to love something. You got to like something to

You got to like something to get where you want to

Be. A man can play a song. No, no, there's no melody. Here. A

No, there's no melody. Here. A girl can bake a cake. Now. If

Girl can bake a cake. Now. If she don't have a recipe, a man

She don't have a recipe, a man can build a. House. If he

Can build a. House. If he can't cut a tree, you've got

Can't cut a tree, you've got to learn. You got to learn.

To learn. You got to learn. And he explains the concept

and he explains the concept of having a neighborhood just

Of having a neighborhood just like harlem. A lot of people

Like harlem. A lot of people look at sesame street as, oh,

Look at sesame street as, oh, sesame street, no, that's

Sesame street, no, that's harlem, just like those little

Harlem, just like those little buildings that you see. And

Buildings that you see. And everybody's sitting on the

Everybody's sitting on the porch and they're three story

Porch and they're three story walk ups and they're all kind

Walk ups and they're all kind of old, but they're really

Of old, but they're really well-kept and a lot of wood.

Well-kept and a lot of wood. That's harlem. Well, that

That's harlem. Well, that being said, you can't have

Being said, you can't have songs that are I'm sorry. So

Songs that are I'm sorry. So square a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h I

Square a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h I that ain't

Swinging, that ain't soulful a b c d e f g h I j k l m n o p q

B c d e f g h I j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z.

R s t u v w x y z. Hey, boys and girls, have

hey, boys and girls, have you met 26 letters of the

You met 26 letters of the alphabet?

Alphabet? The little rhyming words,

the little rhyming words, for lack of a better word,

For lack of a better word, we're rapping.

We're rapping. Come on, children, and

come on, children, and don't be slow. We're gonna

Don't be slow. We're gonna count to 20. And here

We go. 1234567, eight nine, ten.

1234567, eight nine, ten. We're only halfway. So here we

We're only halfway. So here we go again 11, 12.13.

Go again 11, 12.13. 14. It wasn't like he was

14. It wasn't like he was top dog. So don't look at

Top dog. So don't look at luther as being the top dog.

Luther as being the top dog. And listen to my brother. He

And listen to my brother. He wasn't. And the fact is for

Wasn't. And the fact is for that are the obvious. Black and

That are the obvious. Black and heavy. If you are too black or

Heavy. If you are too black or you're too fat, you got a

You're too fat, you got a problem. You didn't know you

Problem. You didn't know you had a problem until it was made

Had a problem until it was made a problem. Could you sing your

A problem. Could you sing your butt off better than everybody

Butt off better than everybody on that stage?

On that stage? 17, 18, 19, 20?

17, 18, 19, 20? Even during those years, you

Still had prejudices based on the look and the appearance of

The look and the appearance of what it is, not the talent.

That luther vandross went to kalamazoo, michigan to go to

Kalamazoo, michigan to go to college. But boy, he was

College. But boy, he was miserable. He was. First of

Miserable. He was. First of all, we were in listen, my

All, we were in listen, my brother. And then he got

Brother. And then he got accepted. He didn't think he

Accepted. He didn't think he was going to get accepted.

Was going to get accepted. He used to always call down

he used to always call down to the rehearsal, what are

To the rehearsal, what are y'all doing? What are you

Y'all doing? What are you singing? That kind of stuff. So

Singing? That kind of stuff. So he was doing well in school. He

He was doing well in school. He always said he was like a b+

Always said he was like a b+ student in school. But, um, his

Student in school. But, um, his his ear, he was thinking about

His ear, he was thinking about the music. He wanted to come

The music. He wanted to come back to new york and be

Back to new york and be involved with the things that

Involved with the things that we were doing.

We were doing. When I went

To college, I did not go back the second year because I

The second year because I really did not want a plan b. I

Really did not want a plan b. I said, you know what? It's going

Said, you know what? It's going to be this or I'm going to be

To be this or I'm going to be 80 trying to do it. And I told

80 trying to do it. And I told my

Mother that I wanted to drop out and pursue music, and she

Out and pursue music, and she surprisingly said, sure. And I

Surprisingly said, sure. And I think the reason she said sure

Think the reason she said sure is because of what I didn't

Is because of what I didn't know, which is that my father

Know, which is that my father was a brilliant singer. He

Was a brilliant singer. He passed away when I was eight

Passed away when I was eight years old, and they said that I

Years old, and they said that I got it from him. So I said,

Got it from him. So I said, I'm going to focus my entire

I'm going to focus my entire life and whole energy into

Life and whole energy into this, and there is no other

This, and there is no other consideration. So rejection

Consideration. So rejection will just have to happen. And

Will just have to happen. And if it

Happens, it will happen. And I'll keep on going.

Philadelphia has a unique blend of rhythm and blues that

Blend of rhythm and blues that is distinctly

Philly. First it was motown and then

first it was motown and then there was west philly. There

There was west philly. There was gamble and huff. There were

Was gamble and huff. There were just all of those great groups

Just all of those great groups that came out of there. The

That came out of there. The o'jays and first choice

And the three degrees. You. Will hear they

Were doing their own thing. It wasn't motown. It was. It was

Wasn't motown. It was. It was lush. But it was. It was east

Lush. But it was. It was east coast. It was. It just had a,

Coast. It was. It just had a, uh.

Uh. I don't think they'll miss

I don't think they'll miss what they do. They smiling in

What they do. They smiling in your face all the time. You

Your face all the time. You want to take your

Place? The. Backstabbers. Backstabbers.

Backstabbers. I keep getting the

I keep getting the philadelphia sound. Took the

Philadelphia sound. Took the motown sound and stripped it of

Motown sound and stripped it of its formality. Stripped it of

Its formality. Stripped it of its

Tuxedos and beaded gowns, and it said, come as you are and

It said, come as you are and scream a little bit.

And you,

You are. Pick your hair out. You know what I'm saying? Let

You know what I'm saying? Let your afro be big and bouncy and

Your afro be big and bouncy and wild. I know, I know, my, my

Wild. I know, I know, my, my motown was giving you a little

Motown was giving you a little bit more of like.

We matching and we home by midnight. More

Than I deserve. For. You. Are.

For. You. Are. You know the philly sound

you know the philly sound was more to the point and

Was more to the point and really got deep

Into the black experience. So when I when I hear about boy,

When I when I hear about boy, when I hear about mick jagger,

When I hear about mick jagger, when I hear about all these

When I hear about all these people, this is music that they

People, this is music that they truly appreciated.

It was a sound that deeply resonated with them.

Resonated with them. To somebody like david

to somebody like david bowie, it was a little bit

Bowie, it was a little bit cooler, a little bit of the

Cooler, a little bit of the moment, a little bit raspier, a

Moment, a little bit raspier, a little bit rowdier. So why not

Little bit rowdier. So why not be

There? Oh my. Yeah.

Yeah. So we're in new york city

so we're in new york city and carlos gets a call

From david bowie. Hey, baby, it's for the young americans

It's for the young americans album. And carlos has to go

Album. And carlos has to go down to philadelphia to record

Down to philadelphia to record the line.

And my. Heart for you.

During that time, we had this whole thing where the way

This whole thing where the way that we used to get gigs is we

That we used to get gigs is we would attend each other's

Would attend each other's sessions. And if, incidentally,

Sessions. And if, incidentally, they happened to need somebody

They happened to need somebody to fill in, oh my friends, a

To fill in, oh my friends, a singer, he could definitely do

Singer, he could definitely do it. And we always brought

It. And we always brought luther come forward.

Yeah, that looks great.

Taking it all the right way, keeping it in the back.

Keeping it in the back. Taking it all the right way.

Taking it all the right way. Lucy started doing what he

lucy started doing what he does, which is start singing.

Does, which is start singing. When david put music on, he

When david put music on, he starts, you know, whatever. How

Starts, you know, whatever. How many? And david was like, wow,

Many? And david was like, wow, this guy is great. Flying. Just

This guy is great. Flying. Just a sweet place.

A sweet place. Never been known to fail,

never been known to fail, never been known.

Never been known. David knew talent and he

david knew talent and he whispered to me, he said, I

Whispered to me, he said, I love this guy. And I'm like,

Love this guy. And I'm like, what's not to love, right?

What's not to love, right? And again, on the one, two,

and again, on the one, two, three time giving it when it,

Three time giving it when it, giving it, keeping it back.

Giving it, keeping it back. Right. That's fine. Okay. So

Right. That's fine. Okay. So we got that. That one's all

We got that. That one's all right.

Right. Robin and luther are always

robin and luther are always making up parts. That's what

Making up parts. That's what you do. And so they sit on the

You do. And so they sit on the couch. You know how it is.

Couch. You know how it is. Speakers are there. They're

Speakers are there. They're listening back to the music.

Listening back to the music. She took his babies.

She took his babies. It took him minutes.

It took him minutes. David bowie's back there

david bowie's back there with the engineer, and they're

With the engineer, and they're playing the tracks

Back. It's. All right. She wants the

all right. She wants the young

American and david, he's playing young americans just to

Playing young americans just to to hear it.

To hear it. And luther leans over to me

and luther leans over to me and he says, robin, what do you

And he says, robin, what do you think of this young american,

Think of this young american, young american?

Young american? She wants a young. American.

She wants a young. American. And david,

Unbeknownst to me, was sitting at the board behind me with a

At the board behind me with a guy named carl who was the

Guy named carl who was the engineer. And he said, I love

Engineer. And he said, I love that.

That. What a breath of fresh air.

What a breath of fresh air. I mean, it had just such a

I mean, it had just such a fantastic voice that I asked

Fantastic voice that I asked him if he wanted to kind of

Him if he wanted to kind of join in the session and start

Join in the session and start doing the

Backing vocals. So what right. You want the young american

you want the young american younger man young american,

Younger man young american, what the young man?

What the young man? They went in there and

they went in there and started singing the young

Started singing the young americans. David bowie was

Americans. David bowie was blown away. He's like, you're

Blown away. He's like, you're in. I heard the news today.

In. I heard the news today. Oh boy. I got a sweet you

oh boy. I got a sweet you got the beat. Oh.

Say no more. And they retired. I'm happy that

I remember that. Because I

Know that. One night, all night. You want the young

Night. You want the young american bowie was a rock and

American bowie was a rock and roller.

Roller. He was doing stuff that was

he was doing stuff that was miles away from what r&b music

Miles away from what r&b music is. You know, luther brought a

Is. You know, luther brought a certain style of singing, and

Certain style of singing, and bowie loved it the guy got

Bowie loved it the guy got magnus carlsen, and now

Magnus carlsen, and now suddenly luther was arranging

Suddenly luther was arranging the entire album, and this was

The entire album, and this was also when luther had his group,

Also when luther had his group, luther on cotillion, because he

Luther on cotillion, because he had a whole album full of songs

Had a whole album full of songs that he had written and

That he had written and produced, and david heard a

Produced, and david heard a song called funky music is a

Song called funky music is a part of

Me. And he said, boy, I really, really like that, but I can't

Really like that, but I can't sing it. It's funky music. So

Sing it. It's funky music. So they

Rewrote it as fascination. As nation, fascination shown up,

Nation, fascination shown up, fascination takes a part of me

Fascination takes a part of me that was luther's song I

That was luther's song I can't help it.

Can't help it. No, I've got to move.

Every time I get music comes around.

Around. Yeah, this is luther, and

yeah, this is luther, and that's the name of the group.

That's the name of the group. Why? Just luther? Luther?

Why? Just luther? Luther? Uh, I write the songs, I

uh, I write the songs, I sing them, you know, some of

Sing them, you know, some of them. And the record company

Them. And the record company named us luther, by the way.

Named us luther, by the way. They thought that name would be

They thought that name would be more recognizable than the

More recognizable than the others that we had tried. I

Others that we had tried. I love singing, just give me the

Love singing, just give me the beat.

Beat. Just give it to me. Give it

just give it to me. Give it to me, give it to me. Please.

To me, give it to me. Please. Come on now, come on now.

Come on now, come on now. Everybody. Everybody get up,

Everybody. Everybody get up, get up, get up, now. Oh, I

Get up, get up, now. Oh, I can't help myself. No, no.

Can't help myself. No, no. I love those days. David.

I love those days. David. You know what? He used to make

You know what? He used to make me do? This was when he first

Me do? This was when he first hired me. He first heard me

Hired me. He first heard me singing. He used to have me go

Singing. He used to have me go on stage and do a half an hour

On stage and do a half an hour show of only my own material,

Show of only my own material, and the audience was saying,

And the audience was saying, bowie. Bowie, you know, they

Bowie. Bowie, you know, they had no idea who I was. You

Had no idea who I was. You know, I was young and

Know, I was young and everything, and I came off

Everything, and I came off stage. I said, david, if you're

Stage. I said, david, if you're trying to kill me, use an ax.

Trying to kill me, use an ax. Don't don't do it to me like

Don't don't do it to me like this, you know. And he was

This, you know. And he was saying, no, you have to

Saying, no, you have to understand. You're getting a

Understand. You're getting a chance to sharpen your tools

Chance to sharpen your tools and get out there. You're

And get out there. You're getting the experience of a

Getting the experience of a lifetime in advance of what I

Lifetime in advance of what I know is going to be your career

Know is going to be your career david introduced me to bette

David introduced me to bette midler, and I toured with bette

Midler, and I toured with bette midler for many years, and she

Midler for many years, and she was big on production. So some

Was big on production. So some of my early impressions about

Of my early impressions about what to do on stage were that

What to do on stage were that you should have, you know, big,

You should have, you know, big, elaborate productions. They do

Elaborate productions. They do it.

It. They do. He believed that

they do. He believed that background singing was an art

Background singing was an art form because you have to know

Form because you have to know how to blend. You have to know

How to blend. You have to know how to follow instructions. You

How to follow instructions. You have to know what to add

Have to know what to add tonally. You know, luther's

Tonally. You know, luther's session career opened up from

Session career opened up from his work with david bowie and

His work with david bowie and bette midler and people

Journalism. The whole story with anderson cooper Sunday at

Eight on cnn. The song we want to do for you now is from the

To do for you now is from the broadway musical called the wiz

Broadway musical called the wiz okay, it was the winner of

Okay, it was the winner of seven tony awards, and I had

Seven tony awards, and I had the privilege and the pleasure

The privilege and the pleasure of being able to write one of

Of being able to write one of the songs

In that show. Okay. And we want to do it

okay. And we want to do it for you now in our own style.

For you now in our own style. Carry on, carry on everybody

Carry on, carry on everybody look around.

Look around. Cause there's a reason to

cause there's a reason to rejoice. You see everybody come

Rejoice. You see everybody come out and let's commence the

Out and let's commence the singing.

Singing. We had a vision, but there

we had a vision, but there was a long period of time where

Was a long period of time where he was trying to get a deal and

He was trying to get a deal and wasn't.

Wasn't. So it wasn't like this was

so it wasn't like this was a sure thing. It's love, see?

A sure thing. It's love, see? But he knew what he wanted. He

But he knew what he wanted. He knew he was talented enough to

Knew he was talented enough to have it. And he kept going for

Have it. And he kept going for it

Can you feel? Daniel hagari

Make you feel.

Brand

New? Because. Good night. I was in luther's band and

I was in luther's band and we were opening for marvin gaye

We were opening for marvin gaye at radio city music hall. And

At radio city music hall. And in those days you had two shows

In those days you had two shows a night at radio city music

A night at radio city music hall. So we played our show.

Hall. So we played our show. Then during the intermission,

Then during the intermission, we ran over to the recording

We ran over to the recording studio and recorded my very

Studio and recorded my very first song, which was everybody

First song, which was everybody dance, everybody dance

Doo doo doo doo, clap your

Hands, clap your hands. Everybody dance. Doo doo doo

everybody dance. Doo doo doo doo doo. Clap your hands, clap

Doo doo. Clap your hands, clap your hands.

Your hands. Luther came and he brought

luther came and he brought all of his singers. And it

All of his singers. And it sounded amazing. After I cut

Sounded amazing. After I cut everybody dance with luther, it

Everybody dance with luther, it just was magical. It was like,

Just was magical. It was like, wow, this is the sound. This is

Wow, this is the sound. This is something special. And it's

Something special. And it's chic.

Chic. Love. Your feet.

Say chic. Freak out.

Have you heard about the new dance craze?

Dance craze? Listen to us.

Listen to us. I'm sure you'll be amazed

I'm sure you'll be amazed big fun to be had by everyone.

Big fun to be had by everyone. It's up to you.

It's up to you. Surely can't be done.

Surely can't be done. Young and old are doing it.

Young and old are doing it. I'm told it's called a freak.

I'm told it's called a freak. They're doing it night and

They're doing it night and day. I. We'll show you the

Day. I. We'll show you the way. Ah, freak show. You freak.

Way. Ah, freak show. You freak. So chic.

So chic. Luther singing every record

luther singing every record we did. He's on everything.

We did. He's on everything. Every every single record we

Every every single record we did. So the first chic album

Did. So the first chic album he's on, every song. The

He's on, every song. The second chic album he's on

Second chic album he's on every song. Then we do sister

Every song. Then we do sister sledge. He's on every song on

Sledge. He's on every song on that record. Luther vandross

That record. Luther vandross vocals had a big part, played a

Vocals had a big part, played a big part.

Big part. What worked for me was that

what worked for me was that I was one of the first real

I was one of the first real singers to

Emerge out of that disco period, and it made me kind of

Period, and it made me kind of singular in what I contributed

Singular in what I contributed to music at that point. And

To music at that point. And from there I went into jingles.

From there I went into jingles. There's nothing like a roller

There's nothing like a roller coaster ride. There's nothing

Coaster ride. There's nothing like a view from a mile in the

Like a view from a mile in the sky, and there's nothing like

Sky, and there's nothing like the

Flavor of juicy fruit gum. I come from a world of

I come from a world of background singing, singing for

Other people. Welcome to. Miller time,

welcome to. Miller time, doing jingles.

Doing jingles. And that's the world that

and that's the world that luther was traveling in.

Luther was traveling in. Bring your thirsty self

bring your thirsty self right here. The rich, smooth

Right here. The rich, smooth taste of miller beer.

Taste of miller beer. And so I knew his

Voice before he became famous

Tonight, tonight, tonight. Let it be low. And bright.

Let it be low. And bright. You'll be loving that whole

you'll be loving that whole thing. The thing that I do came

Thing. The thing that I do came out of my first jingle. It was

For gino's pizza. Gino's. You go for the food.

Go for the food. We've got. Gino's. You go

we've got. Gino's. You go for it. Sizzling hot.

For it. Sizzling hot. And the producer, her name

and the producer, her name was debbie mcduffie. She says,

Was debbie mcduffie. She says, can you give me just something

Can you give me just something to make me feel it hot? Make me

To make me feel it hot? Make me feel it sizzling hot. And I

Feel it sizzling hot. And I said, gino's. You go for it.

Said, gino's. You go for it. It's sizzling hot. Hot.

It's sizzling hot. Hot. And, you know, I just could

and, you know, I just could see the control room just

See the control room just jumping up and clapping and

Jumping up and clapping and stuff.

Stuff. He did it. And and we did

he did it. And and we did erupt then because it was like,

Erupt then because it was like, oh man, this is going to end up

Oh man, this is going to end up being his his thing. So we were

Being his his thing. So we were thinking it in the control room

Thinking it in the control room and he was thinking it on

And he was thinking it on michael, I'm not doing this in

Michael, I'm not doing this in any more

Jingles. And he never did. Going up to set some trends,

Going up to set some trends, want to laugh and dance and

Want to laugh and dance and sing.

Sing. And it was just he was

and it was just he was killing it. He was killing it.

Killing it. He was killing it. And the rates, the pay rates

And the rates, the pay rates that singers got paid was like

That singers got paid was like 100 million times more than

100 million times more than what the musicians got paid. So

What the musicians got paid. So I would say, hey, man, can we

I would say, hey, man, can we go to your mailbox? I just want

Go to your mailbox? I just want to see those commercial checks

To see those commercial checks falling out of your mailbox.

Falling out of your mailbox. You know, as opposed to my

You know, as opposed to my little $34 check.

Little $34 check. It was really a wonderful

it was really a wonderful period of of life. You know, it

Period of of life. You know, it allowed me to move out of my

Allowed me to move out of my mother's house, you know, and

Mother's house, you know, and it allowed me to move her out

It allowed me to move her out of her house and into someplace

Of her house and into someplace really nice.

Really nice. Luther eventually became

luther eventually became like one of the number one

Like one of the number one background singers for

Background singers for commercials and also for

Commercials and also for records

Oh. For so long, strange was a

for so long, strange was a studio group. It was us singing

Studio group. It was us singing background, luther singing lead

Background, luther singing lead on a few things. Luther went in

On a few things. Luther went in and sang searching and glow of

And sang searching and glow of love in one take and nailed it.

Love in one take and nailed it. The producers heard me

the producers heard me singing in the background and

Singing in the background and they asked me, you know, if I

They asked me, you know, if I would sing the lead or audition

Would sing the lead or audition for the lead. We are one.

For the lead. We are one. Having fun walking in the glow

Having fun walking in the glow of love, soul searching and

Of love, soul searching and glow of love went on to become

Glow of love went on to become big records, and they wanted

Big records, and they wanted luther to be officially become

Luther to be officially become the.

The. The lead singer of the

the lead singer of the group. But luther's contention

Group. But luther's contention was that I am a writer and a

Was that I am a writer and a producer. I want to write and

Producer. I want to write and produce my own songs. I don't

Produce my own songs. I don't want to be just the lead singer

Want to be just the lead singer of your group while you feed me

Of your group while you feed me songs, you know? So he kept

Songs, you know? So he kept writing, he kept singing, he

Writing, he kept singing, he kept doing his own

Thing. Roberta flack heard luther

roberta flack heard luther and said, listen, I'm doing

And said, listen, I'm doing gigs. I'm doing I know you do

Gigs. I'm doing I know you do sessions during the week, but

Sessions during the week, but maybe you'll come out with me

Maybe you'll come out with me on the weekend, strolling in

On the weekend, strolling in the park, watching winter

Turns to spring. Walking in the dark. Seeing

walking in the dark. Seeing lovers

Do their thing. Ooh, that's the time I feel like making love to

Time I feel like making love to you.

You.

Making love to you. That's the time.

The time.

I feel like making dreams come true. Oh, baby.

Come true. Oh, baby. I used to sing background

I used to sing background vocals for roberta flack on the

Vocals for roberta flack on the road. And roberta sometimes

Road. And roberta sometimes would have interviews, and

Would have interviews, and sometimes she'd be unable to

Sometimes she'd be unable to show up at soundchecks. So I

Show up at soundchecks. So I would sing her songs for her in

Would sing her songs for her in soundchecks to test her

Soundchecks to test her microphone. Making love to you.

Microphone. Making love to you. I feel like making love to

I feel like making love to you. That's the time.

You. That's the time. What happened is that one

what happened is that one day she had come back to the

Day she had come back to the theater and I was singing, and

Theater and I was singing, and she came over to me and she

She came over to me and she said, you know, you're getting

Said, you know, you're getting a little too comfortable

A little too comfortable sitting on this stool in the

Sitting on this stool in the background singing oohs and

Background singing oohs and ahs. I really want you to make

Ahs. I really want you to make your own statement and make

Your own statement and make your own record, you know? And

Your own record, you know? And she, in effect, fired me.

She, in effect, fired me. Luther vandross likes to say

luther vandross likes to say that I fired him, but I never

That I fired him, but I never really fired him. What I did

Really fired him. What I did was to encourage him to believe

Was to encourage him to believe in his own ability to produce

In his own ability to produce his first album.

His first album. All the monies that he was

all the monies that he was making from a hugely lucrative

Making from a hugely lucrative recording career as a sideman.

Recording career as a sideman. He was putting back into going

He was putting back into going into the studio and creating

Into the studio and creating his records.

His records. Luther said, hey man, I want

luther said, hey man, I want to make a demo for my own

To make a demo for my own music. And I was like, why

Music. And I was like, why would you want to take all the

Would you want to take all the headaches of being an artist?

Headaches of being an artist? You know, your number one

You know, your number one background singer in new york

Background singer in new york city? No, I have a sound in my

City? No, I have a sound in my head and I got to get it out.

Head and I got to get it out. So we went in the studio Sunday

So we went in the studio Sunday morning because that was the

Morning because that was the only time he could get studio

Only time he could get studio time.

Time. Everybody played on spec.

Everybody played on spec. Marcus miller, nat adderley,

Marcus miller, nat adderley, junior, you know, all the

Junior, you know, all the musicians, cissy houston, all

Musicians, cissy houston, all the singers they all sang with

The singers they all sang with for no money.

For no money. Nat says, okay, here's how

nat says, okay, here's how it goes, fellas. Boom boom boom

It goes, fellas. Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom. I'm just

Boom boom boom boom. I'm just reading boom boom boom boom

Reading boom boom boom boom boom boom boom. This is a

Boom boom boom. This is a quirky little bass line

All the record companies passed on me, turned me down,

On me, turned me down, including cbs, including epic,

Including cbs, including epic, including epic and columbia.

Including epic and columbia. Separately, as a matter of

separately, as a matter of fact.

And I went back to a different person at epic with

Different person at epic with never too much. That was my

Never too much. That was my song, and that's how I got

Song, and that's how I got signed. I can't feel myself.

Signed. I can't feel myself. I don't want nobody else to

I don't want nobody else to ever love me.

Ever love me. You are my shining star, my

you are my shining star, my guiding light, my love fantasy.

Guiding light, my love fantasy. There's not a minute, hour,

There's not a minute, hour, day or night that I don't love

Day or night that I don't love you. You're at the top of my

You. You're at the top of my list.

List. Cause I'm always thinking

cause I'm always thinking of you I still remember in the

Of you I still remember in the days when I was scared to touch

Days when I was scared to touch you. How I spend my day

You. How I spend my day dreaming. Planning how to say I

Dreaming. Planning how to say I love you. You must have known

Love you. You must have known that I had feelings deep enough

That I had feelings deep enough to swim in. That's when you

To swim in. That's when you opened up your heart. And you

Opened up your heart. And you told me to come in. Oh my

Love. A thousand kisses from you.

You. I remember one take.

I remember one take. It was just so easy to play.

It was just so easy to play. Simple. I mean, we knew what we

Simple. I mean, we knew what we were doing and I thought it was

Were doing and I thought it was great. I was like, wow, this

Great. I was like, wow, this sounded so different than

Sounded so different than everything on the radio. But I

Everything on the radio. But I didn't hear that it was going

To be a hit. A million days in your arms is two grammy

Your arms is two grammy nominations big hit song that

Nominations big hit song that he had remained on the charts

He had remained on the charts for 84 weeks.

For 84 weeks. Luther vandross never too

luther vandross never too much, never too much, never too

Much, never too much, never too much, never too much

When I heard never too much, I instantly recognized it as

Instantly recognized it as being original, and he was wise

Being original, and he was wise enough to know how to stand out

Enough to know how to stand out and to have a hook that we

And to have a hook that we wouldn't forget.

Wouldn't forget. I just don't

Want to stop. Oh. My

My love, my love, love love love love.

Love love. I can exactly weren't sure.

I can exactly weren't sure. But man, when that thing hit

But man, when that thing hit the airwaves, everybody else

The airwaves, everybody else was sure. Never too much was on

Was sure. Never too much was on the radio all day long, and

Relief. Absolutely free. Listen to chasing life with

listen to chasing life with me, doctor sanjay gupta,

Me, doctor sanjay gupta, wherever you get your

Podcasts. Look here. Roll back the rug.

Everybody. Move all the tables and

move all the tables and chairs we're going to have us

Chairs we're going to have us a good time tonight.

A good time tonight. You are cranking up there in

you are cranking up there in the charts.

The charts. Yes. Number one with a

yes. Number one with a bullet in billboard. See you

Bullet in billboard. See you there.

There. Moving up five notches.

Moving up five notches. Second week in the countdown.

Second week in the countdown. Here's luther vandross with

Here's luther vandross with his third top 40 hit. Hey,

His third top 40 hit. Hey, look.

Look. Now, every night when I

now, every night when I sleep, I dream of my baby.

Sleep, I dream of my baby. She's such a lady.

She's such a lady. He has been praised as the

he has been praised as the most promising all around pop

Most promising all around pop soul craftsman to emerge in the

Soul craftsman to emerge in the 80s. The man I'm referring to

80s. The man I'm referring to is luther vandross, singer

Is luther vandross, singer songwriter producer arranger

Songwriter producer arranger whose latest album has recently

Whose latest album has recently gone platinum. I'm all by to

Gone platinum. I'm all by to my baby comes home.

My baby comes home. You know somebody who has

you know somebody who has some money to spend lives here.

Some money to spend lives here. This is one spectacular house,

This is one spectacular house, right? Baby?

Right? Baby? It was the most exciting

it was the most exciting time in the world. So, I mean,

Time in the world. So, I mean, my head, my heart, everything

My head, my heart, everything was immersed in this business.

Was immersed in this business. Luther has released four

luther has released four albums and all of them

Platinum. The. Baby, I'm all right, all right.

Right, all right. It's not only his voice

it's not only his voice that's made him a superstar,

That's made him a superstar, he's also a

Gifted producer, arranger, and composer. He's been behind some

Composer. He's been behind some of the great hit songs of david

Of the great hit songs of david bowie, aretha franklin and my

Bowie, aretha franklin and my baby calls.

Baby calls. I gotta jump to it.

I gotta jump to it. One of the the most exciting

one of the the most exciting moments I have ever had is the

Moments I have ever had is the day that I met aretha franklin.

Day that I met aretha franklin. I jump, jump, jump, jump.

I jump, jump, jump, jump. A lot of people to this day

a lot of people to this day don't realize that he wrote

Don't realize that he wrote those songs. He was a fantastic

Those songs. He was a fantastic songwriter who became a great

Songwriter who became a great artist and then who became a

Artist and then who became a great performer. She was just a

Great performer. She was just a triple threat.

Thank you very much. I'd like to thank my producer, mr.

Like to thank my producer, mr. Luther vandross. Yes, ma'am.

Luther vandross. Yes, ma'am. Was it a thrill having had

was it a thrill having had those people as your idols to

Those people as your idols to produce their records?

Produce their records? Oh, the biggest thrill in my

oh, the biggest thrill in my life was was meeting and

Life was was meeting and working with aretha and dionne.

Working with aretha and dionne. And how many times can we

and how many times can we give it one more

Try?

Before we. Really?

Say goodbye and you sing. You get over luther

you get over luther vandross, a big kentucky fried

Vandross, a big kentucky fried chicken eating

But he put his on.

Beyoncé bowl women go, everybody is saying, oh, did

Everybody is saying, oh, did you hear what eddie murphy

You hear what eddie murphy said? I said, yeah, I love it.

Said? I said, yeah, I love it. I think it's great. You know,

I think it's great. You know, you have to know how to play

You have to know how to play the game.

The game. If you're going to have a

if you're going to have a party, you got to party hearty.

Party, you got to party hearty. You got to do this thing

you got to do this thing right.

Right. You know what

I'm saying? Woo! The reason I did this is

the reason I did this is because I had looked on the

Because I had looked on the guest list to see who was

Guest list to see who was coming, and I saw

Eddie's name. That's when I got the idea. I said, we gotta

Got the idea. I said, we gotta we have to address this. This

We have to address this. This is going to be so funny.

Is going to be so funny. There's been a lot of talk

There's been a lot of talk going on about me lately.

Going on about me lately. Don't think I don't know

Don't think I don't know about it. And I didn't want to

About it. And I didn't want to let eddie murphy down, you know

Let eddie murphy down, you know what I'm

Saying? Ooh,

We're america's favorite. But after bite, tender and

but after bite, tender and juicy, we do it right for you.

Juicy, we do it right for you. Yeah luther had been dealing

Yeah luther had been dealing with this weight thing forever.

With this weight thing forever. He was at his best in terms

he was at his best in terms of his humor. When. When he

Got attacked or. Or there's a situation that was difficult

Situation that was difficult for him. His humor got him

Through. But it was hard for him with him, it

Was all or nothing at all.

He was either eating or he was dieting. And I used to just

Was dieting. And I used to just say, just do it when you're

Say, just do it when you're ready, you know? But he he felt

Ready, you know? But he he felt like this was something that he

Like this was something that he had to do, you know, to be

Had to do, you know, to be accepted. What's there to say?

Accepted. What's there to say? There's

Not much to talk about. And whatever happened to all of the

Whatever happened to all of the love that we had?

Love that we had?

Well, you have lost so much weight.

Weight. You looks you have lost

How much? 126 pounds.

126 pounds. Someone was just saying over

someone was just saying over there when they saw you sit

There when they saw you sit down, they said, who's that?

Down, they said, who's that? And I said, it's luther

And I said, it's luther vandross. And they said, no,

Vandross. And they said, no, no, no. He's about 150 pounds

No, no. He's about 150 pounds heavier than that.

Heavier than that. I'm sure they want to know

I'm sure they want to know who your diet doctor is. The

Who your diet doctor is. The diet doctor, if anybody is, is,

Diet doctor, if anybody is, is, uh, gianni versace. I was an

Uh, gianni versace. I was an emotional eater. If something

Emotional eater. If something if the music wasn't sounding

If the music wasn't sounding right, I ate to cope any little

Right, I ate to cope any little excuse that I could use, I

Excuse that I could use, I would use to eat. And, um, I

Would use to eat. And, um, I just decided not to not to do

Just decided not to not to do that. You

Know, I just decided that that that was not right for me. Give

That was not right for me. Give me the reason I want you back.

Me the reason I want you back. And why should I love you

and why should I love you again?

Again? You know, I feel better, you

you know, I feel better, you know, on stage, I move more.

Know, on stage, I move more. Now, let's just say on

Stage I move now, whereas I didn't before. And it hasn't

Didn't before. And it hasn't affected my voice or my singing

Affected my voice or my singing at all.

Back in the day, if you wanted to fall in love, you let luther

To fall in love, you let luther do the work for you. So I would

Do the work for you. So I would put the phone up to the radio.

Put the phone up to the radio. And what's crazy is you had to

And what's crazy is you had to wait for it to come on the

Wait for it to come on the radio, so I had to keep I'm

Radio, so I had to keep I'm buying time until it came. And

Buying time until it came. And here's luther vandross. Oh,

Here's luther vandross. Oh, perfect. And I put the phone up

Perfect. And I put the phone up to the radio, and I tell her

To the radio, and I tell her this is what I want to tell.

This is what I want to tell. Tell you. Let

Me hold you tight.

If only for one night.

Let me keep you. Need ease. Now that you're feeling it, go

That you're feeling it, go right back. To your fear. And I

Right back. To your fear. And I can honestly say ten out of

Can honestly say ten out of ten. 100 times out of 100

Ten. 100 times out of 100 times. I put that luther on

Times. I put that luther on him. It is what it is. All

Him. It is what it is. All night. The one night of your.

Night. The one night of your. Love, of your

Love, of your. Love, your love.

He did that thing. He does. Woo woo woo.

Woo woo woo. That's what they think of

that's what they think of you as. Because you send folks

You as. Because you send folks to the

Bedroom one. Look in your eyes and there I see you want to

And there I see you want to give these lovely ladies a

Give these lovely ladies a little preview of what a date

Little preview of what a date would be like with you.

Would be like with you. Oh, let me, let me run it by

oh, let me, let me run it by you. First. We'll sail out on

You. First. We'll sail out on my private yacht. You know, all

My private yacht. You know, all alone under the stars. I've

Alone under the stars. I've been fantasizing about you and

Been fantasizing about you and kissing your picture and stuff.

Kissing your picture and stuff. You look like you've been

Kissing a weed whacker. I look in your eyes, so they call you

In your eyes, so they call you doctor love. Now you let me

Doctor love. Now you let me tell you something. I don't

Tell you something. I don't really take that title. I want

Really take that title. I want to be remembered as a premier

To be remembered as a premier singer of our day, all right?

Singer of our day, all right? Not as the love doctor. The

Love that we share. Makes light. Because he was

makes light. Because he was so, so into the singing aspect

So, so into the singing aspect of things. He didn't want that

Of things. He didn't want that to be all you. You got out of

To be all you. You got out of the musical experience of

The musical experience of seeing him. So he would talk us

Seeing him. So he would talk us down from it, but they were

Down from it, but they were still running to the

Bedroom. Here

And. Now. I

Promise to love faithfully he was your

Love is all. I.

Need. Nine.

And I keep getting the

the whole story with anderson cooper Sunday at 8:00

Anderson cooper Sunday at 8:00 on

Cnn.

Singer luther vandross was driving in north hollywood

Driving in north hollywood Sunday when his mercedes jumped

Sunday when his mercedes jumped the divider and collided with

The divider and collided with two oncoming cars.

Two oncoming cars. One person in vandross's car

one person in vandross's car died. The singer is listed in

Died. The singer is listed in fair

Condition tonight with three broken ribs.

It was very tragic. You know, I was in new york and he

Know, I was in new york and he was in l.A., where the accident

Was in l.A., where the accident happened. And I was talking to

Happened. And I was talking to him in the hospital, and I

Him in the hospital, and I said, man, are you okay? He

Said, man, are you okay? He said, yeah, I'm good, man. I'm

Said, yeah, I'm good, man. I'm good. I said, man, you need me

Good. I said, man, you need me to come out. You know, that's

To come out. You know, that's what we all say. You know, when

What we all say. You know, when something happens, you know? He

Something happens, you know? He said, actually, yeah. It's the

Said, actually, yeah. It's the first time somebody ever said,

First time somebody ever said, yeah, actually, yeah, I could

Yeah, actually, yeah, I could use the support, you know.

Use the support, you know.

I lost one of my best friends, and I just do not want

Friends, and I just do not want to get back in touch with that

To get back in touch with that in terms of doing an interview.

In terms of doing an interview. And, and really, you know,

And, and really, you know, talking about the I don't want

Talking about the I don't want to relive that. That's an

To relive that. That's an unfortunate thing that, you

Unfortunate thing that, you know, that I

Wish had never happened.

So after he had the car accident, it was a really rough

Accident, it was a really rough time. But someone was killed in

Time. But someone was killed in that accident, so it took a

That accident, so it took a toll on him. And food was his

Toll on him. And food was his panacea.

Food was his medicine, he thought he said food has never

Thought he said food has never let me down. And I said, yes,

Let me down. And I said, yes, it has. Food

Is not your friend.

I was walking down the street and this woman comes up

Street and this woman comes up to me and she says, you're

To me and she says, you're going to put it all back on,

Going to put it all back on, just like luther did, which was

Just like luther did, which was such a mean thing, you know,

Such a mean thing, you know, such a mean thing to say.

Such a mean thing to say. Anyone without the problem

anyone without the problem may or may not understand the

May or may not understand the full implication of what it is.

Full implication of what it is. You know, it's all kinds of

You know, it's all kinds of things. It's not just eating.

Things. It's not just eating. It's not the food is

It's not the food is incidental in it. It is more

Incidental in it. It is more about your emotional state.

About your emotional state. Right? Whatever your your

Right? Whatever your your coping mechanism is, you know,

Coping mechanism is, you know, if you feel hurt or betrayed

If you feel hurt or betrayed you. Whether you know it or

Not, you go. You cope with something. Something you cope

Something. Something you cope with. You either go to church,

With. You either go to church, you, you do drugs, you overeat,

You, you do drugs, you overeat, you do something to cope.

You do something to cope. We were preparing to tour

we were preparing to tour and they said, we're going to

Cancel the tour. But then he decided to go and we gave him

Decided to go and we gave him so much love he needed to be on

So much love he needed to be on the road. Even though that had

The road. Even though that had happened. Mentally.

Happened. Mentally. And that. And that's exactly

and that. And that's exactly what we said to him. You need

What we said to him. You need to come out.

To come out. And he really felt that,

and he really felt that, that vibe.

Can we

Try this? Kevin? Um, santa here in front of that and you all

In front of that and you all take a, um, I really would like

Take a, um, I really would like to give a ride to each.

To give a ride to each. Now,

He was a hard taskmaster, which means, you know, when we went

Means, you know, when we went to rehearsal or when we were

To rehearsal or when we were putting the show together, we

Putting the show together, we really worked.

Really worked. Right?

Right? And just. You don't have to

and just. You don't have to get here at the same time

Get here at the same time because there's different

Because there's different distances, you know, to travel.

Distances, you know, to travel. We wave at you. Was that

we wave at you. Was that power of love when we walk down

Power of love when we walk down the street?

The street? That's this one.

That's this one. Okay.

Okay. When we I just need in my

when we I just need in my head to know where I end and

Head to know where I end and where to go.

Where to go. Ten hour days, six days a

ten hour days, six days a week. That's right. Ten hour

Week. That's right. Ten hour days. Me and

Lisa was like, are choreography early? And then we would be

Early? And then we would be learning it. And then luther

Learning it. And then luther would come in and sit there and

Would come in and sit there and watch us do the choreography

Watch us do the choreography and try to put in, put the

And try to put in, put the music with it. He'd be like,

Music with it. He'd be like, excuse me, I'm not playing the

Excuse me, I'm not playing the lottery. So get it right?

Lottery. So get it right? That's right. You know, so you

Have. No one, no one, no one,

No one, no one,

No one, no one, no. One,

No. No. One.

We got a trailer for lisa when she comes in.

When she comes in. Right. Okay.

Right. Okay. He would cast vocally, cast

he would cast vocally, cast the right people with the right

Vibration of sound, the right weight in their voice to

Weight in their voice to complement the other person's

Complement the other person's voice.

Voice. It was almost like being a

it was almost like being a film director for your ears

The rhythm is. To

Who? Who? Who. And it goes on a cycle until

and it goes on a cycle until the band fades out.

The band fades out. I sure like us going back to

I sure like us going back to this one again. It's easier.

This one again. It's easier. Okay, so close your eyes

okay, so close your eyes closer. And

You can feel it. The requirement of

the requirement of perfection and the willingness

Perfection and the willingness to take whatever time you

To take whatever time you needed and spend whatever money

Needed and spend whatever money you needed to accomplish that

You needed to accomplish that because it's going to be

Because it's going to be right.

Right. You got to

Believe in love. It's feeling at next turn and then stop

At next turn and then stop until we are one with the power

Until we are one with the power of love.

Of love. Tell everyone when you're

tell everyone when you're out there on the road, man, you

Out there on the road, man, you know you have your good nights

Know you have your good nights and your bad nights. No man.

And your bad nights. No man. Every night, every night he was

Every night, every night he was nailing it. And he expected

Nailing it. And he expected everybody to nail it. Also,

When we walk down the

Street, we don't care who we see or who meeting don't need

See or who meeting don't need to run.

To run. Don't need to hide. Cause

We've got something burning inside.

Hey, we've got. Love

Love, power, power. We all appreciated the witch

we all appreciated the witch because it was making us

Because it was making us better. And we saw year after

Better. And we saw year after year how how we were

Year how how we were developing. We were ready to

Developing. We were ready to get up every day and go to work

Get up every day and go to work for him. I know, I know that

For him. I know, I know that we've got.

We've got. Love. We got love with all

love. We got love with all of the power. Yes, with all of

Of the power. Yes, with all of the power. The greatest power

The power. The greatest power of

Them all. Oh. Love the love, the love power. Somewhere in

The love power. Somewhere in the world together we can fall

The world together we can fall I know, I know that we got

I know, I know that we got love.

Love. People would say you could

people would say you could just go on stage with a

Just go on stage with a flashlight and not spend any

Flashlight and not spend any money on staging and clothes.

Money on staging and clothes. And we'd be fine with that. He

And we'd be fine with that. He wasn't fine with

Me awake at night. Tossing and turning my. Want a kiss? Wanna

Turning my. Want a kiss? Wanna hold your soul to. Ooh. But I

Hold your soul to. Ooh. But I want

To love. Whether you know or not. When you just hug me away.

Not. When you just hug me away. Leaving me laying there and

leaving me laying there and I just want to be the one that

I just want to be the one that you want to see.

You want to see. The elegance of those

the elegance of those dresses. Every dress was

Dresses. Every dress was hand-beaded and just so

Hand-beaded and just so beautiful. So beautiful.

Beautiful. So beautiful. Fly away almost every day.

Fly away almost every day. You're work a lot. You

you're work a lot. You never stop to love I love you.

Never stop to love I love you. Stop, stop. Come

Home from the road. Gotta stop to love. Yeah. And

Let's celebrate. Celebrate the love we got. Stop.

Love we got. Stop. He designed many of the

he designed many of the costumes himself and said.

Costumes himself and said. Listen, this is my idea. And

Listen, this is my idea. And took it to somebody and say,

Took it to somebody and say, this is what I want you to

This is what I want you to create. That is the key to

Create. That is the key to luther's entire career. You

Luther's entire career. You know, people don't understand

Know, people don't understand those amazing shows and all of

Those amazing shows and all of the regalia, all of the

The regalia, all of the costuming and all the staging

Costuming and all the staging and all that kind of stuff. He

And all that kind of stuff. He was putting his money into

Was putting his money into putting on those shows. Have

We got some? So

You're coming. Home? Oh, up to love. All right.

I love you. Stop, stop,

Stop. I feel my. To the beat. All right. We are live for

all right. We are live for our tribute to luther.

Our tribute to luther. Everybody's here

Right? At this time. Our guest of honor has arrived. Ladies

Of honor has arrived. Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Luther

And gentlemen, mr. Luther vandross.

Luther, welcome. Thank you. Glad to be here. Luther

Glad to be here. Luther vandross, look at all your

Vandross, look at all your fans. How does it feel when you

Fans. How does it feel when you see luther was r&b music?

See luther was r&b music? It was great r&b music. And

it was great r&b music. And a lot of that was to his

A lot of that was to his benefit. But it would only be

Benefit. But it would only be played on black radio. So it

Played on black radio. So it became a challenge is when he

Became a challenge is when he wanted to cross over because

Wanted to cross over because luther was not necessarily

Luther was not necessarily embraced or given the freedom

Embraced or given the freedom to do it the same way that

To do it the same way that other artists that don't look

Like luther are. He felt very strongly that

he felt very strongly that he was being treated in a

He was being treated in a racist way by

The executives. He felt it from the budgets that he was being

The budgets that he was being given to make records to the

Given to make records to the amount of money that they were

Amount of money that they were spending to promote. When he'd

Spending to promote. When he'd look around and know that the

Look around and know that the promotion budgets for that

Promotion budgets for that white artist or that white

White artist or that white artist were triple what they

Artist were triple what they were spending on his records.

Were spending on his records. He was not a guy who sort of

He was not a guy who sort of just made records and stayed

Just made records and stayed out of the business side of it.

Out of the business side of it. He was very astute. He was a

He was very astute. He was a very astute businessman, and he

Very astute businessman, and he he

Knew what was happening. The concept of crossing over

the concept of crossing over was really so important,

Was really so important, honestly, to

Every artist, radio in america really was black, white, black,

Really was black, white, black, white. And when you had the

White. And when you had the ability to cross over, if you

Ability to cross over, if you were fortunate enough to cross

Were fortunate enough to cross over, really what that did for

Over, really what that did for you was give you way more

You was give you way more record sales, because now you

Record sales, because now you had other lanes. You didn't

Had other lanes. You didn't just get played on the black

Just get played on the black station, you got played on the

Station, you got played on the white stations as well.

White stations as well. When records and cds were

when records and cds were sold in stores, when you walked

Sold in stores, when you walked into the store, it was very

Into the store, it was very rare that black records were

Rare that black records were even at the front of the store.

Even at the front of the store. So if you just came in to

So if you just came in to browse and you were a fan of

Browse and you were a fan of black music, you walk in the

Black music, you walk in the store and you're just looking

Store and you're just looking and you ain't really. Do they

And you ain't really. Do they even sell black music in here?

Even sell black music in here? And then somebody is telling

And then somebody is telling you and it's at the back. This

You and it's at the back. This is real talk. And when you go

Is real talk. And when you go to the back, it's starting to

To the back, it's starting to smell like mice. And you know

Smell like mice. And you know what I'm saying? The speakers

What I'm saying? The speakers are staticky. And are they even

Are staticky. And are they even playing black music in the

Playing black music in the record store for you to get

Record store for you to get that taste of, oh, should I buy

That taste of, oh, should I buy that? And luther was fighting

That? And luther was fighting all of this. That's why when

All of this. That's why when you hear him quoted so often, I

You hear him quoted so often, I want a number one record. Some

Want a number one record. Some of that is I want a number one

Of that is I want a number one record. Some of it is I want to

Record. Some of it is I want to be treated fairly in this

Be treated fairly in this business.

Business. Live from the shrine

live from the shrine auditorium in los angeles, the

Auditorium in los angeles, the 28th annual grammy awards

28th annual grammy awards tonight.

Tonight. Luther wanted to be number

luther wanted to be number one on the pop charts, and then

One on the pop charts, and then he also wanted a grammy. Now,

He also wanted a grammy. Now, most of us are too cool to want

Most of us are too cool to want a grammy. You know you want it.

A grammy. You know you want it. You're too cool to say you

You're too cool to say you want it. Luther didn't care

Want it. Luther didn't care about that. He's like, I want

About that. He's like, I want my grandmother. And it took a

My grandmother. And it took a while and the grammy goes to

While and the grammy goes to terence trent d'arby. We're

Terence trent d'arby. We're here to present the grammy for

Here to present the grammy for best r&b performance, male.

Best r&b performance, male. And the grammy goes to mr.

And the grammy goes to mr. Stevie wonder.

Stevie wonder. And the grammy goes to.

And the grammy goes to. Living in america, james brown.

She calls me up, he says, so the grammys are in new york

The grammys are in new york this year. He'd been nominated

This year. He'd been nominated nine times before and had not

Nine times before and had not won. He said, I ain't gonna

Won. He said, I ain't gonna win. So listen, just come with

Win. So listen, just come with me. You know, we'll go to the

Me. You know, we'll go to the ceremony, we'll go out and eat.

Ceremony, we'll go out and eat. We'll hang out the nominations

We'll hang out the nominations for best. Regina belle and

For best. Regina belle and michael bolton are on the stage

Michael bolton are on the stage calling out the names, and the

Calling out the names, and the grammy goes to.

Luther

Vandross. Sam nunn. And I could feel him go like this. And then

Feel him go like this. And then he just sort of calmed down and

He just sort of calmed down and just got really cool

For. Your I mean, I'm stunned. I said, so this is a dude I met

I said, so this is a dude I met in the projects, and he's here

In the projects, and he's here tonight winning a grammy for

Tonight winning a grammy for here and

Now. You know, love is all. Your love is all I need

I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I'm so glad.

I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I'm

I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I'm so glad.

So glad. I'm so glad. Yes,

I am. That I won a grammy. So you walk into the studio

so you walk into the studio the next day, says everyone

The next day, says everyone here you are to address me for

Here you are to address me for the rest of the day as luther,

The rest of the day as luther, grammy winner vandross. So we

Grammy winner vandross. So we laughed, right? And he made us

Laughed, right? And he made us do that for the whole day.

Do that for the whole day. It's

About time. Time, time, time.

Time, time, time. I had to get

That in. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Those shows

Can weirdly inspire you because if you get shut out so many

If you get shut out so many times, if you think about it,

Times, if you think about it, luther's music just kept

Luther's music just kept getting better. It kept getting

Getting better. It kept getting better. He said, I'm going to

Better. He said, I'm going to be undenied. And so it could be

Be undenied. And so it could be the blessing and the curse. Of

The blessing and the curse. Of course, he should have won a

Course, he should have won a grammy nine times. Of the nine

Grammy nine times. Of the nine times

He was shut out, but

cnn's five things with kate baldwin now streaming on max I

Baldwin now streaming on max I try to

Do songs that I think I can do differently, you know, and that

Differently, you know, and that I think fit me, you know, sort

I think fit me, you know, sort of like a what somebody chooses

Of like a what somebody chooses to wear, you know, when they're

To wear, you know, when they're going to go to the academy

Going to go to the academy awards or something.

Awards or something. You know, they choose that

you know, they choose that special thing, you know? So

Special thing, you know? So that's the way I try to look

That's the way I try to look at the tunes I cover.

At the tunes I cover. Now, unlike a lot of artists

now, unlike a lot of artists from like the 80s and 90s up to

From like the 80s and 90s up to today, luther, his esthetic was

Today, luther, his esthetic was from the 60s and the 70s.

From the 60s and the 70s. Luther had heard superstar in

Luther had heard superstar in the early 70s.

Long ago,

And oh, so far away. And I'll never forget one

and I'll never forget one day he walks in and says, man,

Day he walks in and says, man, we're going to record

We're going to record superstar. I said, the

Superstar. I said, the carpenters.

He goes, yeah. And I said, okay, I know, I know better

Okay, I know, I know better than to question you, but I

Than to question you, but I need to see how this is

Going to work. I

Want to tell you, baby

The changes I've been going

Through. Missing

You. Listen, you.

Listen, you. Um, when luther does a

um, when luther does a cover, it's going to be slower

Cover, it's going to be slower than the original version, and

Than the original version, and he asked for an intro, and I

He asked for an intro, and I just went home and started

Just went home and started arranging. That was the first

Arranging. That was the first full arrangement that I did for

Him. Long ago.

And

I'm so far away.

I fell in love with you

Before

The second. Show oh

Don't you remember? You told me you love

Me, baby. You said you'll be coming

Back this way again.

Baby. Baby, baby baby, baby

Oh baby yeah I

Love you

I really do he was such a master at space.

Master at space. He would let space go by.

He would let space go by. And get your anticipation up

And get your anticipation up for the next line. There were

For the next line. There were huge pauses where it was just

Huge pauses where it was just emotionally affect you. When he

Emotionally affect you. When he finally came back in, you look

Finally came back in, you look for me to be.

For me to be. Yours. You are my lord. To

yours. You are my lord. To on the road to be. Don't you

Remember me? Anyone?

And you know, there's one point in the song where he

Point in the song where he goes, keep it right there, keep

Goes, keep it right there, keep it right there. Because we got

It right there. Because we got to that little part in the song

To that little part in the song that luther likes to add after

That luther likes to add after the song is supposed to be

The song is supposed to be ended, keep it right there. And

Ended, keep it right there. And he's telling me and the rest

He's telling me and the rest of the guys who like to play

Of the guys who like to play jazz don't jazz this thing up.

Jazz don't jazz this thing up. Keep it right there. Play it

Keep it right there. Play it easy. That's what he said.

Easy. That's what he said. Play it easy. Keep it right

play it easy. Keep it right there. Play it easy.

There. Play it easy. Keep it right there. Keep it

keep it right there. Keep it right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah

Right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I said okay.

Said okay. Well what are you going to

well what are you going to do is he's going to turn his

Do is he's going to turn his vocal off when the song gets

Vocal off when the song gets mixed. No, he just left it

Mixed. No, he just left it right there. And it became one

Right there. And it became one of the most wonderful parts of

Of the most wonderful parts of the song.

The song.

And I do. Remember even though it.

Was. Long ago.

Yeah, yeah,

Yeah, yeah.

So how do I do it? Right. Let me let me tell you

let me let me tell you something. Oh. Right there.

Something. Oh. Right there. Okay. Let me give it because I

Okay. Let me give it because I like the low end. Yeah. He

Like the low end. Yeah. He knows if you show yourself

Knows if you show yourself right.

Right. They all know her.

They all know her. They love her. I wait until

they love her. I wait until the end. Wait until after the

The end. Wait until after the song.

Song. Yeah.

Yeah. And they know the record,

and they know the record, right? Exactly.

Right? Exactly. Luther just had such a pure

luther just had such a pure heart that came out through his

Heart that came out through his vocals and his music in general

Vocals and his music in general that, you know, it really was,

That, you know, it really was, like, otherworldly, like from

Like, otherworldly, like from out

Of a dream.

And in this dream, there was a major diva in

The wings waiting for me.

Oh, yes. She will appear out of

she will appear out of somewhere.

Somewhere. I was so nervous because I

I was so nervous because I had never probably played in a

Had never probably played in a place that big before. It's the

Place that big before. It's the beginning of the performance

Beginning of the performance and luther's like. I'm seeking

And luther's like. I'm seeking out a diva and she's here and

Out a diva and she's here and she's there.

And I really was honored when he brought me out to sing

With him. My. Love there's only

You in my life. The only thing that's

Right. You.

My first love, your every breath that I take. Mariah kept

Breath that I take. Mariah kept coming up with song titles that

Coming up with song titles that she thought I would sound good

She thought I would sound good singing.

Singing. And then

She suggested endless love. And she says, oh, and I'll

and she says, oh, and I'll sing it with you.

Sing it with you. I want to share all

My love. So I guess it was my idea.

So I guess it was my idea. If luther said it was. But I

If luther said it was. But I couldn't have been happier

Couldn't have been happier because I was such a fan of his

Because I was such a fan of his and luther being one of the

And luther being one of the greatest vocalists is something

Greatest vocalists is something that I really was inspired by.

That I really was inspired by. I'll be that fool for

You, for you, baby. Oh. So sure that your know I

Don't mind. You know I don't, I don't mind

Yes

You be the only

One. Cause no one, no one can

Deny this love I have inside you. And I give it

All to you. Oh my, love, my love, my my, my, my endless.

Love

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la

La. La

La la. Love hair.

Do la la la la la la la la la la love.

My. Love, played a

Downbeat like that for a verse.

Yeah. No a one more time.

Every time you go away, I'm gone. Yes, I always say. It's

Goodbye, dear.

Loving you the way I do. Check it out.

It out. Right.

Right. I take you back.

Without you I died in

Knowing

I love you so anyone a little would make me

Any. Arms. And love

Me too. You couldn't really ever. Have. And let like you

Ever. Have. And let like you had

Me and. Listen to what am I to do?

Do? What I loved more than

what I loved more than anything else about hearing the

Anything else about hearing the songs that he decided he wanted

Songs that he decided he wanted to record of mine was that he

Made them his own. It wasn't all I'm going to sing like

All I'm going to sing like dion sang it. I'm going to sing

Dion sang it. I'm going to sing it like luther.

It like luther. Mr. Luther vandross

Whoa!

Dum dum dum

Dum dum dum dum. Hey, baby.

Hey, baby. Whoa, honey, I remember

whoa, honey, I remember hearing a house is not a home

Hearing a house is not a home for the first time. I couldn't

For the first time. I couldn't believe that I was here. I told

Believe that I was here. I told him, I said, baby doll, you

Him, I said, baby doll, you have just given me the

Have just given me the definitive version of that

Definitive version of that song.

Song. a

Chair is still a chair. Even

When there's no. One sitting there.

Like what? He's singing about

he's singing about furniture in this did sound

Furniture in this did sound great. You know what I'm

Great. You know what I'm saying? We at wayfair put a

Saying? We at wayfair put a chair is still a chair but.

Chair is still a chair but. All I.

All I. Room is not a house. And a

room is not a house. And a house is not a. Home when the

House is not a. Home when the two

Of us, we are far apart and

One of us. Has a. Broken

Heart. Yeah. I got to say, when I was

I got to say, when I was being honored by the naacp and

Being honored by the naacp and he performed it

For me, it was it was overwhelming. It really was,

Overwhelming. It really was, because he just showed out that

Because he just showed out that night. He really did. Cause

Night. He really did. Cause I'm not meant to live alone.

I'm not meant to live alone. No no no no no no no no no

no no no no no no no no no no. Time is house. Into a home

No. Time is house. Into a home when I climb the.

Stairs. When I turn the. Key. Oh please be there saying that

Oh please be there saying that you're still in love. Your. So

In love with me

Oh.

I'm not meant to live. Alone. Time. This house into

alone. Time. This house into a home where I

Climb the stairs. Reach out and turn the. Key.

Oh baby please be there and still in love.

With.

Me. When?

Me. Oh love still

In love. Oh, with me.

Yeah.

We'll come to you. 800 821 4000.

What up, what up? The moment hip hop got on

the moment hip hop got on the radio, it became a huge

Challenge for artists like luther and all those r&b

Luther and all those r&b artists

Who dominated radio. And it became hip hop's time. So a lot

Became hip hop's time. So a lot of artists from luther's

Of artists from luther's generation got a little quiet

Generation got a little quiet for them, not to the point that

For them, not to the point that they weren't successful, but

They weren't successful, but not successful in the way that

Not successful in the way that they

Had previously been successful. Well, I haven't released a

well, I haven't released a product in a couple of years

Product in a couple of years now, and it'll be interesting

Now, and it'll be interesting because I'm about to sign a new

Because I'm about to sign a new record deal now.

Record deal now. Wait wait wait wait wait

wait wait wait wait wait wait wait. You're going to

Wait wait. You're going to side with I read this, you're

Side with I read this, you're going to side with clive davis,

Going to side with clive davis, I am yeah, you are going to

I am yeah, you are going to sign with jay records with his

Sign with jay records with his new label?

New label? Absolutely. Yeah.

Absolutely. Yeah. Clive davis is so known for

clive davis is so known for his expertise as an executive

His expertise as an executive producer. Aretha came to clive.

Producer. Aretha came to clive. Dionne came to clive. Whitney

Dionne came to clive. Whitney started with clive. He's just

Started with clive. He's just instrumental in a lot of black

Instrumental in a lot of black artists lives. And so if I'm

Artists lives. And so if I'm luther vandross and I'm a

Luther vandross and I'm a little bit at a turning point.

Little bit at a turning point. Clive can seem like. Um, a very

Clive can seem like. Um, a very soft place to land.

Soft place to land. I was just starting my new

I was just starting my new record label, j records, and we

Record label, j records, and we agreed to have dinner.

Agreed to have dinner. Luther had one mission in

Mind for that denim. Do you believe that I could have hit

Believe that I could have hit again? Said he, and I said,

Again? Said he, and I said, that opens up my question to

That opens up my question to you. Will you be open to

My finding some outside songs for you? He said, I am totally

For you? He said, I am totally open to outside

Material. He sold over 20 million

he sold over 20 million albums worldwide, and

Albums worldwide, and apparently he's definitely not

Apparently he's definitely not done.

Done. Luther had a voice like no

Other spectacular, and he was back to being platinum,

Making a special appearance. 106 and park, y'all better

106 and park, y'all better stand up right now. Give it up

Stand up right now. Give it up for the one and only luther

For the one and only luther vandross.

Vandross. All right?

All right? I'm happier now than I've

I'm happier now than I've ever been, but I expect to one

Ever been, but I expect to one day be the happiest I can be.

Day be the happiest I can be. I'm still looking for that

I'm still looking for that meaningful other person in my

Meaningful other person in my life. That is something that

Life. That is something that baffles me that I haven't been

Baffles me that I haven't been able to find. That seems like

Able to find. That seems like such a basic thing. Sometimes I

Such a basic thing. Sometimes I think that that fate has to

Think that that fate has to work with you, you

Know, to find certain things. I mean, if fate wants you to find

Mean, if fate wants you to find love, you can hide in the

Love, you can hide in the basement of your house with all

Basement of your house with all the doors bolted, you know, and

The doors bolted, you know, and it'll still happen. Yeah.

It'll still happen. Yeah. Let's go.

Let's go. You've done a number of

you've done a number of great songs over the years.

Great songs over the years. Which two were your favorite

And why? Mhm. Any love remains my favorite

any love remains my favorite song.

Song. Really? Why?

Because it is

Probably the only real autobiographical song that I

Autobiographical song that I wrote. That's exactly the way

Wrote. That's exactly the way I was feeling when I wrote the

I was feeling when I wrote the song.

Song. I speak to myself sometimes

I speak to myself sometimes and I

Say, oh, my. In a lot of ways you're a lucky guy. And oh,

Now all you need is a chance to try. And it

Love. In my heart there's a need to shout die and scream

Need to shout die and scream and cry and let me out.

There are all those feelings that I want to touch any. Love.

When people ask me, tell me about luther. I said, just

About luther. I said, just listen to any love. Just listen

Listen to any love. Just listen to those lyrics.

To those lyrics. You

Know, I got everything. I speak to myself sometimes

I speak to myself sometimes and I say, oh, my. In a lot of

And I say, oh, my. In a lot of ways you're a lucky guy. Now

Ways you're a lucky guy. Now all you need is a chance to try

All you need is a chance to try any love

Right? Any love

And all everyone needs love.

No doubt. Any love. Any

Love. And all everybody feels alone

Without any love.

Any love. And

I know there's someone waiting

To enter my. Life. Come into my life and oh,

come into my life and oh, suddenly out of the clear blue

Suddenly out of the clear blue sky.

Sky. Oh yeah.

Oh yeah. That

Was that day.

Jon hamm. Oh, goodness. And the next line is what?

And the next line is what? Because I'm trying to think,

Because I'm trying to think, why is it autobiographical?

Why is it autobiographical? Lonely tears start to fill

lonely tears start to fill my eyes. Oh, I get weak, but I

My eyes. Oh, I get weak, but I refuse to cry. I've got to

Refuse to cry. I've got to keep holding on. You know it

Keep holding on. You know it was one of those

Days. Y'all. Everyone needs love.

No doubt. Any love

Any love. And oh, I love, love, love

and oh, I love, love, love that song. And he loved before

That song. And he loved before I worked for luther. But once I

I worked for luther. But once I started working for luther, I

Started working for luther, I could see that the desperation

Could see that the desperation described in that song was

Described in that song was real. And I hated that song

Real. And I hated that song after that because it always

After that because it always reminded me that he wasn't

Reminded me that he wasn't seeking love.

Seeking love. He was seeking any love.

He was seeking any love. Is

There. Any?

Love?

That he would say, I feel like a trick has been played on me.

A trick has been played on me. What do you mean? Well, god

what do you mean? Well, god has given me everything I asked

Has given me everything I asked for except for this one thing

For except for this one thing to have one person

Who loves me. And we would say, but luther, you know we love

But luther, you know we love you. And he said, I know you

You. And he said, I know you guys love me. That's not what

Guys love me. That's not what I'm talking about. So we never

I'm talking about. So we never made that a focal point of our

Made that a focal point of our relationship. And we were

Relationship. And we were together quite a bit. Our dream

Together quite a bit. Our dream for luther was just that he

For luther was just that he could be loved and appreciated

Could be loved and appreciated for who he was, because he was

For who he was, because he was a wonderful human being

His life had some extremely joyful moments and some really

Joyful moments and some really difficult moments.

Difficult moments. There was one time, after

there was one time, after luther lost all the weight.

Luther lost all the weight. There was a rumor that he died

There was a rumor that he died or that he had aids or

Or that he had aids or something.

Something. Now, last week there was

now, last week there was last. Last year there were a

Last. Last year there were a lot of rumors because you got

Lot of rumors because you got thin.

Thin. Yeah.

Yeah. You're not going to ask me

you're not going to ask me about that stupid thing?

About that stupid thing? No, I'm going to ask you

no, I'm going to ask you what diet you went on.

What diet you went on. So irresponsibly.

So irresponsibly. I'm not going to even

I'm not going to even mention it.

Mention it. There was a report out, a

there was a report out, a rumor out, that luther was

Rumor out, that luther was dead.

Dead. Oh, yeah?

Oh, yeah? Did you guys see that?

Did you guys see that? Yeah, I heard it. Yeah.

Yeah, I heard it. Yeah. There was. So finally, it

there was. So finally, it just made me realize you have

Just made me realize you have to just. I copped to

It. I died, and can you imagine?

Imagine? He said, man, I'm sitting

he said, man, I'm sitting here in the living room

Here in the living room watching tv on Sunday, and the

Watching tv on Sunday, and the pastor is saying a prayer for

Pastor is saying a prayer for me because I just passed. He

Me because I just passed. He went, no, I'm still here. Can

Went, no, I'm still here. Can you imagine? I mean, this is

You imagine? I mean, this is like I tell a lot of you young

Like I tell a lot of you young people, fame and fortune,

People, fame and fortune, fortunes. Cool. Fame is not

Fortunes. Cool. Fame is not always so

Cool.

Knowing love the way I do. I can say for

Certain that it's true. There's a

Chance for me and you. Oh, what do you say? You

oh, what do you say? You spent more time being in love

Spent more time being in love or like, waiting for

Love? Waiting, waiting. And the

waiting, waiting. And the time that was spent being in

Time that was spent being in love was largely,

Love was largely, unfortunately. Always

Unfortunately. Always unrequited. Unreciprocated.

Unrequited. Unreciprocated. Whatever the word is, you know

Whatever the word is, you know what I'm saying? Now, I

What I'm saying? Now, I remember

Spending all my time on a dream that kept

Me wishing that you could

Be. Mine.

Yeah, I don't consider myself unlovable by any stretch, but

Unlovable by any stretch, but no, it has. That had not

No, it has. That had not happened, you know, so I I'm

Happened, you know, so I I'm still waiting for me to get the

Still waiting for me to get the love I've

Been missing. Sometimes love takes a long time.

Takes a long time. But wait for love.

But wait for love. And you're gonna get it up

and you're gonna get it up chance to love, wait for love.

Chance to love, wait for love. Wait for love. And

You. You. Yeah, I love. Takes. It always made me

takes. It always made me sad. Because I always wanted

Sad. Because I always wanted luther to find whatever would

Luther to find whatever would fulfill his heart.

Fulfill his heart. There's something inside of

Luther that he just. I think, in some ways, felt like he

In some ways, felt like he couldn't share all of

Himself.

I think that because of the stigma back then, if he was

Stigma back then, if he was gay, the thought of, quote

Gay, the thought of, quote coming out that he couldn't

Coming out that he couldn't bear it, he'd rather be alone

Than have that stigma attached.

One of the things that really me off is there were

Really me off is there were people who have talked about

People who have talked about his personal life who, you

His personal life who, you know, he considered

Friends. Did he struggle with the

did he struggle with the idea of coming out publicly?

Idea of coming out publicly? Was that was that something

Was that was that something that you talked about at all?

That you talked about at all? We talked about it.

We talked about it. It was basically he did not

it was basically he did not want his mother to be, although

Want his mother to be, although she might have known, but he

She might have known, but he wasn't going to come out and

Wasn't going to come out and say this to the world. And he

Say this to the world. And he had a lot of lady fans, and he

Had a lot of lady fans, and he told me that he just didn't

Told me that he just didn't want to upset the

World. I don't really know what I

I don't really know what I want to say. I'm going to

Want to say. I'm going to always respect

Whatever position he took. Questions about my

questions about my sexuality. Well, I suppose

Just always be questions. Let me tell you who I owe answers

Me tell you who I owe answers to. What I owe you is my music,

To. What I owe you is my music, my talent, my best effort. You

My talent, my best effort. You know, that's all. I will

Neither deny or confirm that any such rumors about personal

Any such rumors about personal things like that are true or

Things like that are true or untrue. I won't give the

Untrue. I won't give the satisfaction of a denial,

Satisfaction of a denial, because that is a submission of

Because that is a submission of sorts. I wouldn't even address

Sorts. I wouldn't even address it. I would just say, mind your

It. I would just say, mind your own business. That's my

Own business. That's my response to that.

You seem to be at a weight that you're comfortable with.

That you're comfortable with. How did you lose it? And are

how did you lose it? And are you feeling better these days

You feeling better these days than you have in a long time?

Than you have in a long time? I am feeling better. I'm

I am feeling better. I'm somewhere in the middle right

Somewhere in the middle right now, but I'm feeling better

Now, but I'm feeling better than I than I do when I'm

Than I than I do when I'm really obese. I lost a 120

Really obese. I lost a 120 pounds put on a some fraction

Pounds put on a some fraction of that. I'm not giving any

Of that. I'm not giving any specifics.

Specifics. You look great at whatever

you look great at whatever weight you're currently at.

Weight you're currently at. Luther vandross, thank you so

Much for joining us. So the whole thing of being

so the whole thing of being fat and being thin and being

Fat and being thin and being fat and being thin, we always

Fat and being thin, we always told him, dude, you can't keep

Told him, dude, you can't keep this up. Can't you just find

This up. Can't you just find out where your basic? Because

Out where your basic? Because everybody normalizes at a

Everybody normalizes at a certain place. But if you have

Certain place. But if you have diabetes, you don't know what

Diabetes, you don't know what anybody's negotiating with at

Anybody's negotiating with at any one time. And so we must

Any one time. And so we must not forget that above all

Things, luther was a diabetic. You know, we all worried

you know, we all worried about it because it's how many

About it because it's how many times can your body take that?

Times can your body take that? And he says, robin, you don't

And he says, robin, you don't have the same problem I have.

Have the same problem I have. He said, I obsess about food.

He said, I obsess about food. He said, I'm thinking about

He said, I'm thinking about food from the time I wake up

Food from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep.

Until the time I go to sleep. And I just said, whoa I read in

And I just said, whoa I read in a magazine once, this is the

A magazine once, this is the weirdest question I'm sure

Weirdest question I'm sure you've ever heard, but I read

You've ever heard, but I read in a magazine one of the

In a magazine one of the strangest things you had ever

Strangest things you had ever eaten was a hamburger between

Eaten was a hamburger between two glazed donuts because you

Two glazed donuts because you couldn't find any hamburger

Couldn't find any hamburger rolls.

Rolls. Is that a true story? And

is that a true story? And how

Disgusting was that? Disgusting. Oh no. No, that

disgusting. Oh no. No, that was good.

Was good. You take somebody who was as

you take somebody who was as huge a talent and as

Huge a talent and as accomplished as he was, and

Accomplished as he was, and they just sort of, like, shrunk

They just sort of, like, shrunk him down to that, to a

Him down to that, to a soundbite about his

Weight. It's like it absolutely irritated him, as it

Absolutely irritated him, as it should have.

Should have. A lot of people make a big

a lot of people make a big deal out of your weight. Does

Deal out of your weight. Does it bother you?

It bother you? Yeah, it's bothersome right

yeah, it's bothersome right now. Now that you're asking

Now. Now that you're asking me, it's bothersome because I

Me, it's bothersome because I don't enjoy talking about it a

Don't enjoy talking about it a lot. You know, my record

Lot. You know, my record company, j records, used to

Company, j records, used to always insist, oh, you got it.

Always insist, oh, you got it. Because I used to say, I don't

Because I used to say, I don't want to talk about that. And I

Want to talk about that. And I don't really want to speak on

Don't really want to speak on that. You know, that's a

That. You know, that's a personal struggle. And and they

Personal struggle. And and they would always say, yeah, but it

Would always say, yeah, but it it's like a human interest

It's like a human interest story and everybody wants to

Story and everybody wants to talk about it. And I said,

Talk about it. And I said, yeah, but what if I talk about

Yeah, but what if I talk about it and gain any of it back. You

It and gain any of it back. You know, then I have to carry that

Know, then I have to carry that type of paranoia

His weight was like this huge story.

Story. I mean, it broke my heart

I mean, it broke my heart when, you know, when he finally

When, you know, when he finally managed his weight, when he was

Managed his weight, when he was maintaining his weight, they

Maintaining his weight, they decided to promote the album.

Decided to promote the album. It would all be about his

It would all be about his weight loss story. It was too

Weight loss story. It was too much and it broke and he

Much and it broke and he started to gain the weight

Started to gain the weight back. And it was so sad that

Back. And it was so sad that there was such a fixation about

His weight. That was heartbreaking.

Luther, big luther though, big luther, not little luther.

Big luther, not little luther. Oh, I don't do little

oh, I don't do little luther.

Luther. I don't do little luther,

I don't do little luther, I, like big curl.

I, like big curl. Ain't quite right, luther.

Ain't quite right, luther. That's the one I like.

That's. Here's a man who was

here's a man who was probably like, I need to get

Probably like, I need to get healthy. But it's tough because

Healthy. But it's tough because when we see you and we love

When we see you and we love you, we love you for what we

You, we love you for what we see and love, right then, if

See and love, right then, if something changes, you know how

Something changes, you know how black people, you lose weight,

Black people, you lose weight, man. You okay? You know black

Man. You okay? You know black people. You can't lose no

People. You can't lose no weight. You okay? You're sick.

Weight. You okay? You're sick. If we were to be able to talk

If we were to be able to talk to luther at that time, as

To luther at that time, as fans, we'd be able to say

Fans, we'd be able to say whatever weight you are, we

Whatever weight you are, we don't care. We just. We just

Don't care. We just. We just love you.

We worried about him because when luther was under stress is

When luther was under stress is when he would eat. I'm supposed

When he would eat. I'm supposed to ignore this camera, but I'm

To ignore this camera, but I'm going to wait, wait, wait. He

Going to wait, wait, wait. He was back and forth at the

Was back and forth at the studio 24 over seven. He was

Studio 24 over seven. He was working on

That record like crazy just to get it done, to get it out.

Get it done, to get it out. He called me in the middle

he called me in the middle of the night one night, like at

Of the night one night, like at 3:00 in the morning. He's.

3:00 in the morning. He's. He's in the studio at hit

He's in the studio at hit factory when it was on 54th

Factory when it was on 54th street. He says, come

Street. He says, come downstairs, I want you to take

Downstairs, I want you to take a ride with me. I said, okay,

A ride with me. I said, okay, fine, get in the car. He says,

Fine, get in the car. He says, I got this new song I want to

I got this new song I want to play for

You. At the end of it, my face is wet. I said, what is that?

Is wet. I said, what is that? He said, this is going to be my

He said, this is going to be my career song. He said, I'm

Career song. He said, I'm probably going to have a

Probably going to have a struggle with the rest of the

Struggle with the rest of the record company, he said. But

Record company, he said. But this is my career song.

This is my career song. Back when I was a

Child. Before

Life removed all the innocence. My father would lift me. High.

My father would lift me. High. And dance with my mother and

And dance with my mother and me. And then spin me around

Till I fell asleep. Then up the stairs he would carry me. And

I knew for sure I

Was. Loved. If I could. When he played it I was in

when he played it I was in awe.

Awe. Because how could he

because how could he remember these things?

Remember these things? You know, he said, I wrote

you know, he said, I wrote this, listen. And then when I

This, listen. And then when I heard it as a saying, it just

Heard it as a saying, it just it grabbed me and how I'd love,

It grabbed me and how I'd love, love.

Love to dance

With my father again. Him doing dance with my

him doing dance with my father. It's almost like he put

Father. It's almost like he put his own flag in the sand. It's

His own flag in the sand. It's like, I've got this song,

Like, I've got this song, y'all are going to put this

Y'all are going to put this out. And they did. And he was

Out. And they did. And he was right. And I'd hear how

My mother cried for him. They could have chose something else

Could have chose something else in the story, might have been

In the story, might have been different. He might have never

Different. He might have never had a number one record. We

Had a number one record. We might not have ever heard this

Might not have ever heard this emotion that speaks to

Emotion that speaks to everyone. Every night I fall

Everyone. Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever.

Dream I just was crying, man, because, you

Know, he wrote it from such an honest place.

Honest place. And he had been. Refining

and he had been. Refining this, this song in his head

Go to the new apartment where luther was, and we were still

Luther was, and we were still renovating.

Renovating. I rang the doorbell and

I rang the doorbell and luther didn't pick up, which

Luther didn't pick up, which was really odd. He was always

Was really odd. He was always on time. So I had to go see

On time. So I had to go see what was going on, and we had

What was going on, and we had just replaced the doors and

Just replaced the doors and they were like these beautiful

They were like these beautiful mahogany doors. And so we broke

Mahogany doors. And so we broke down the door and I was

Down the door and I was screaming as we were breaking

Screaming as we were breaking down the door. I'm so sorry,

Down the door. I'm so sorry, luther. I know I'm out of

Luther. I know I'm out of control. I'm sorry to break

Control. I'm sorry to break down the door. I know you just

Down the door. I know you just had it done. You can take it

Had it done. You can take it out of my paycheck, but I

Out of my paycheck, but I don't know what's going on,

Don't know what's going on, and you're not answering. And

And you're not answering. And I just need to see what's going

I just need to see what's going on.

And it was quiet, so I walked around and I walked down the

Around and I walked down the hallway, and I looked to the

Hallway, and I looked to the right, to

The bedroom.

Seoul singer luther vandross is still hospitalized in

Is still hospitalized in intensive care in a new york

Intensive care in a new york city hospital after r&b legend

City hospital after r&b legend luther vandross suffered a

Luther vandross suffered a massive stroke that left him

Massive stroke that left him hospitalized in critical

Hospitalized in critical condition.

Condition. Those were some difficult

those were some difficult times to see. The the strongest

Times to see. The the strongest person you knew to be knocked

Person you knew to be knocked to his knees. You know, in a

To his knees. You know, in a health situation, the last

Health situation, the last thing that anybody thought,

Thing that anybody thought, including him, is that that

Including him, is that that would happen.

How devastatingly ironic is it that that song is number one

It that that song is number one on the pop charts? And he

On the pop charts? And he can't even appreciate it

Can't even appreciate it because he was in and out of

Because he was in and out of that coma? You know, and the

Grammy goes to. Richard marx and luther

richard marx and luther vandross for dance with my

Vandross for dance with my father, luther

Vandross. I have had the honor for the

I have had the honor for the last 13 years to write songs

Last 13 years to write songs with luther, my friend, who I

With luther, my friend, who I love, who I wish was here with

Love, who I wish was here with me because he'd be whispering

Me because he'd be whispering to me about what everybody's

To me about what everybody's wearing.

You all know how ridiculously talented he is, but some of you

Talented he is, but some of you don't know that. He's also one

Don't know that. He's also one of the funniest, kindest,

Of the funniest, kindest, brightest people on the face of

Brightest people on the face of the earth. I thank the academy

The earth. I thank the academy so much for honoring not only

So much for honoring not only our song dance with my father,

Our song dance with my father, but luther himself tonight,

But luther himself tonight, because no one is more

Because no one is more deserving

I went right from the grammys to see him because I wanted to

To see him because I wanted to celebrate with him. But, you

Celebrate with him. But, you know, obviously he was in bad

Know, obviously he was in bad shape, but we he did his

Shape, but we he did his exercises and he did this

Exercises and he did this therapy. And then we ended up

Therapy. And then we ended up coming back to his room and and

Coming back to his room and and we did have a pretty amazing

We did have a pretty amazing conversation about

Winning that grammy.

I said, luther, it's. Everything that we could have

Everything that we could have hoped

For. I mean, it is everybody's favorite song. Favorite record.

Favorite song. Favorite record. We're going platinum

And greater, and smile came on his face. He said, I love it

His face. He said, I love it the doctors were shocked. I

The doctors were shocked. I mean, he understood every word

Mean, he understood every word that I was saying it was such a

That I was saying it was such a wonderful sign. At the time of

Wonderful sign. At the time of recovery was a possibility.

I want to know what you

Want to say to your many, many, many, many fans.

Many, many fans. I want to thank them for

I want to thank them for even caring as it was a

Even caring as it was a wonderful feeling every day.

Wonderful feeling every day. Do you

Say, I want to get a little better at something well, right

Better at something well, right now what?

Now what? I want to get better at

Is, um. Living with this, living with these thoughts,

Living with these thoughts, living with this, you know,

Living with this, you know, feeling of, uh, of the last

Chapter.

Now, I got a call from the hospital saying you need to

Hospital saying you need to come here. I said, what?

Come here. I said, what? What's the matter? They said,

What's the matter? They said, well, he's he's not breathing.

Well, he's he's not breathing. I said, what do you mean he's

I said, what do you mean he's not breathing? I said, what

Not breathing? I said, what does that mean? They said, you

Does that mean? They said, you just need to

Come. We went into the room where

we went into the room where his

Body was. And

We saw our friend.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I just remember us going into the room. And me, robin

Into the room. And me, robin and carlos just holding him.

And carlos just holding him. Just. Just holding him. Just

Just. Just holding him. Just like. This is crazy

All right, all right.

O jesus will be. Waiting

For me. I think I was just too full

At luther's. Service to.

I can't tell you who else did what or what or

It was just overwhelming for me.

Brazil me john avlon. Russell, are you coming up

russell, are you coming up alive?

Alive? I thought it was real. Being

I thought it was real. Being asked to speak. We will all

Asked to speak. We will all miss him. But as has been said,

Miss him. But as has been said, and probably will be said over

And probably will be said over and over again, his legacy

Will live on forever. It was something that had to be done.

Something that had to be done. We got through it.

I love all of

Bahamas is the greatest power of them.

Of them. All. Love. Them. Honor the

all. Love. Them. Honor the power.

Power. That day of his

Funeral was so beautiful. Everybody sang. We got up and

Everybody sang. We got up and sang. Stevie was singing alicia

Sang. Stevie was singing alicia keys. Everybody. Freddie

Jackson, everybody was there. And we made it a celebration.

And we made it a celebration. And so greatest

Power. Is going on. I'm gonna love

is going on. I'm gonna love everybody has something that

Everybody has something that they're supposed to do in this

They're supposed to do in this life.

Life. My uncle had a job to do

my uncle had a job to do while he was here, and he did

While he was here, and he did it. He fulfilled his

Obligation to this earth. You can't think of that man

Without thinking about love. Thank you for coming out and

Thank you for coming out and celebrating this awesome

Celebrating this awesome occasion with us. The store

Occasion with us. The store will be here for many, many

Will be here for many, many moons for many, many people to

Moons for many, many people to come back. And when they see

Come back. And when they see his name. They're going to

His name. They're going to remember why they love him.

Love has truly been good to me.

Not even one had. Day or minute have I had since you've

Minute have I had since you've come my

Way. I hope you

Know I'm gladly

Go anywhere you take me. It's so amazing to. Be

it's so amazing to. Be loved. I'd follow you to the

Moon in the sky. Above. If you say aretha, you know

if you say aretha, you know who we're talking about. If

Who we're talking about. If you say marvin, you hear a

You say marvin, you hear a sound in your head. Stevie.

Sound in your head. Stevie. Definitely hear like a few

Definitely hear like a few thousand. Yeah. And if you say

Thousand. Yeah. And if you say luther, we all know exactly

Luther, we all know exactly what you're talking about. Got

What you're talking about. Got to tell you, I can't think of

To tell you, I can't think of anybody that is near to him.

Anybody that is near to him. And his uniqueness and his

and his uniqueness and his talent. Just even the texture

Talent. Just even the texture of his voice. You only come

Of his voice. You only come across an artist like luther

Across an artist like luther vandross, like once in a

Lifetime. And it's so. Amazing. Amazing. I could stay

amazing. I could stay forever.

Stay. Forever. Here in love and not leave you. Never.

Cause we've got a love

Truly. It's amazing, amazing

Love brought us together. Together I would leave you now

Together I would leave you now and never guess. We've got

Amazing love. They say things take time

they say things take time and effort.

And effort. But it's worth the wait I

but it's worth the wait I can tell some stories.

Can tell some stories. I'm so excited.

I'm so excited. Believe twitter brought the

believe twitter brought the world together and the world

World together and the world was not ready to see itself.

Was not ready to see itself. You read the comments.

You read the comments. Yeah, I might recommend that

yeah, I might recommend that you don't. Yeah, that's how I

You don't. Yeah, that's how I get by.

Get by. We never backed away.

We never backed away. He never stepped down. Oh,

he never stepped down. Oh, that's how I give up.

I feel at home here.

Lord. That's how I get by.

I want to be the greatest player that I could possibly