Luther Vandross’s sexual orientation was a subject of constant discussion during his music career peak. Even though he didn’t openly discuss his sexuality, the fact is he was gay.
Luther Vandross, a prominent American soul and R&B vocalist, singer, songwriter, and music producer, gained prominence as the frontman of the musical band ‘Change,’ whose album “The Glow of Love” received Gold certification in 1980.
Notable among his musical achievements are “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” “Any Love,” “Power of Love/Love Power,” “I Can Make It Better,” and “For You to Love.”
His career primarily revolved around serving as a background vocalist for various artists such as Judy Collins, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, and Donna Summer.
His accolades include eight Grammy Awards, five Soul Train Music Awards, and nine American Music Awards.
Vandross passed away on July 1, 2005, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at the age of 54 following a heart attack.
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Luther Vandross Gay: What Was His Sexuality?
Luther was gay in terms of his sexuality, even though he never officially ‘came out’ during his life.
In 2006, Bruce Vilanch, speaking to Out magazine, disclosed Vandross’s private life, noting that Luther mentioned to him that few were aware of his involvement and that he had very few s*xual contacts.
Twelve years after his death, in December 2017, Vandross’s friend Patti LaBelle officially acknowledged that he was gay.
On “Watch What Happens Live” LaBelle spoke candidly about her good friend Luther Vandross’s sexuality.
During their conversation, Andy Cohen inquired if LaBelle and Vandross had discussed his sexuality and the possibility of him revealing his truth to the world.
Nonetheless, LaBelle stated that he opted not to come out because he didn’t want to let particular people down.
The talk show host, Cohen further proceeds to inquire of LaBelle regarding Vandross’ sexual orientation, posing questions such as, “Did he struggle with the idea of coming out publicly? Was that something you talked about, at all?”
LaBelle mentioned that his primary concern was his mother’s potential reaction. She said:
Yeah, we talked about it. It was basically, he did not want his mother to be — although she might have known — but he wasn’t going to come out and say this to the world.
Similarly, journalist Michael Musto maintains that Vandross aspired to have a boyfriend. “A famously open gay singer/songwriter [told me] Luther was dying to have a boyfriend,” says Musto. “It was an inside show business open secret.”
Moreover, Vandross understood that publicly acknowledging his homosexuality while he was still actively producing music would have negatively impacted his career path, especially considering that the majority of his fan base consisted of women seeking emotional connection through his lyrics.
Vandross appeared to have a fulfilling life, yet, as noted by Lenny Kravitz, the late singer grappled with inner struggles.
Kravitz reveals that Vandross experienced loneliness and attempted to conceal his sexual orientation from the public eye, holding onto this secret until his passing.
According to Kravitz, Vandross shared that despite the admiration he received from female admirers, his interest lay more with his fans' brothers.
As women screamed for Vandross, his thoughts revolved around his longing to be with a man, Kravitz disclosed.
Luther Vandross’s Wife & Family
Luther Vandross, throughout his life, remained unmarried and did not have a wife, nor did he have any children before his passing.
There were no records or reports of him being romantically involved with women.
However, according to Bruce Vilanch, Vandross’s longest romantic relationship was with a man, which took place while he was residing in Los Angeles during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This insight into Vandross’s personal life sheds light on his private relationships and adds depth to his public persona as an iconic figure in the music industry. He did not experience the phase of parenthood or being a family man.
Luther Vandross, who was born on April 20, 1951, was brought up in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
Luther Vandross Jr. was born into a family with Luther Vandross Sr., an upholsterer, and singer, as his father, and Mary Ida Vandross, a nurse, as his mother; he was their fourth child and second son.
At the age of nine, Luther Vandross and his family made the transition to the Bronx, embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
He was eight years old when his father died from diabetes, and his mother, Mary Ida Vandross, passed away in 2008.
The song “Dance with My Father,” penned by Vandross in 2003, was a touching tribute to his father, capturing the essence of his childhood experiences and his mother’s nostalgic tales of family gatherings filled with music and dance.
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