Graduated from William Howard Taft High School in Bronx, New York

The youngest of all his siblings, he was also the last one to die. His mother out-lived all of her children.

Craig Seymour`s 2004 biography, "Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross" picks at the acclaimed singer`s romantic leanings and takes the assumption that Luther was gay.

When his mother was pregnant with him, she had a constant yen for pasta, but only for one brand, Ronzoni. When Luther was born, she gave him the middle name of Ronzoni.

Suffered from high pressure, obesity and diabetes.

Close friends included Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.

Due to the stroke he suffered, resulting in a coma, he was unable to record a music video for "Dance with my Father Again," so instead, R&B artists came together to create a `get well card` as his music video.

Sang background vocals for Richard Marx and Chaka Khan.

Was released from the hospital after having a stroke April 16, 2003 and underwent therapy.

June 19, 2003 Luther`s CD debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 442,000 copies.

Is the youngest child of four children.

June 5, 2003 Luther emerged from his coma as a result of suffering a stroke, April 16, 2003.

June 10, 2003, Luther`s CD "Dance With My Father" is released. It was dedicated to his father, Luther Vandross Sr., who died of complications of diabetes when Vandross was five years old.

June 12, 2003 Luther Vandross was moved from ICU and upgraded to stable condition.

April 16, 2003, hesuffered a stroke in his Manhattan home which left him semi-conscious. Shortly after the stroke, he developed pneumonia, which necessitated a tracheotomy to help him breathe.

Mother`s name is Mary.

Luther`s mother almost didn`t give birth to him. She had a ruptured appendix and was rushed to the hospital. When the doctor asked his father which one of them to save, he told the doctor to save his wife. Fortunately, she came through the operation successfully and Luther was born, prematurely, but healthy.

When Vandross was born, the doctor asked his mother what the child`s first and middle names were. She had already picked Luther for a first name but hadn`t thought of a middle name; there happened to be a box of Ronzoni spaghetti on the table next to her bed, so she told the doctor that his middle name was Ronzoni, and that is the name on his birth certificate.

Was discovered by David Bowie, who overheard Luther singing to his song "Young Americans". Bowie put Luther on the recording of the song.