80's Flashback

Luther Vandross, Never Too Much, 1981. Vandross wrote and produced this first single from his debut solo album of the same name, after spending much of the 70's as a backup vocalist for the likes of Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, and many others. Never Too Much reached #1 on the R&B chart and #33 on pop. Once it hit the radio, many gay men immediately recognized the voice behind Never Too Much as the vocalist for the popular disco studio groups Change and Bionic Boogie, whose hits Searching and Hot Butterfly, respectively, had been massive gay club hits. Never Too Much remains a staple of late night quiet storm radio as does another single from the album, his unspeakably gorgeous take on the Bacharach/David classic A House Is Not A Home. Vandross died in 2005, having never come out. Trivia: As a teenager, Vandross was the founder of the Patti Labelle fan club. More trivia: In the 70's Vandross wrote and sang commercial jingles for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Juicy Fruit gum.