Luther Vandross sang background for David Bowie, Bette Midler, and Roberta Flack before anyone knew his name. His voice was on Young Americans -- that's Luther behind Bowie on the title track. Then Never Too Much in 1981: a solo debut that announced a balladeer with a voice so smooth it made every other male vocalist sound like they were trying too hard.

Here and Now. Power of Love/Love Power. Dance with My Father -- written about the dad who died when Luther was a child, recorded after Luther had a stroke. He lost 100 pounds, gained it back, fought diabetes for years. At the 2004 Grammys, Dance with My Father won Song of the Year. He accepted via video from a wheelchair, thin and visibly ill. He died the following year at 54.

The velvet voice. He sang about love like it was the most important thing in the world -- because to Luther Vandross, it was. A voice that made quiet feel enormous. Still does.

Luther Vandross sang backup for Bowie and Bette Midler. Then Never Too Much. Dance with My Father won Song of the Year. The velvet voice made quiet enormous.