“Dance With My Father” (2003) by Luther Vandross

LUTHER VANDROSS

Dance With My Father

written by Luther Vandross and Richard Marx

produced by Luther Vandross and Nat Adderley, Jr.

Lovely song requested to me by a friend for a compilation in the

earlier days, by pop crooner Luther “Here And Now” Vandross...

and the title track and leading single from his final studio album.

Luther was born in Manhattan in 1951, and got started lending vocals for a slew of different artists in the ’70s. In the mid-’70s he got together a few bandmates and formed five-piece Luther. The quintet put out a couple of records courtesy of Atlantic, but never made much of a splash. By the early ’80s—following a series of gigs singing commercial ad jingles, Luther had gone solo and found his own over to CBS, where he signed with Epic Records (the Jacksons’ label). He charted consistently for two full decades.

In the late ’90s, Luther’s contract was moved to Virgin, and finally to J Records to open the 21st century. His twelfth and thirteenth standard studio albums were his last, concluding with Dance With My Father in ’03. It was released shortly after he had a major stroke, and could perform no longer. He took home a Grammy that year for the title song, appearing with a pre-recorded video to accept. A heart attack finally officially took his life on July the 1st, 2005. His tenor voice and unique style of crooning earned him the nicknames “Velvet Voice” and “Pavarotti of Pop.” Epic posthumously released a couple of new Vandross singles on the updated/2006 Ultimate Luther Vandross collection. His fans have been some of the most loyal, and kept the memory of his career alive since.

The song was co-written by Richard Marx, and covered after his death in a tribute to him and his music by Céline Dion. Richard recorded and released his own version in the 2010s. An absolutely heartfelt and tear-jerking homage to beloved Dads. (Also: I’ve only got the album cover art below. While I can’t say for sure, I’m guessing it and the single cover art are one and the same.) RIP Luther, 4/20/51 to 7/1/05.

Have notes to add? Let me know!

YT:

full version

Luther’s official website

2003

Lyrics

Back when I was a child / Before life removed all the innocence / My father would lift me high / 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 get another chance / Another walk, another dance with him / I’d play a song that would never, ever end / How I’d love, love, love / To dance with my father again / When I and my mother would disagree / To get my way I would run from her to him / He’d make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah yeah / Then finally make me do just what my Mama said /

Later that night when I was asleep / He left a dollar under my sheet / Never dreamed that he would be gone from me / If I could steal one final glance / One final step, one final dance with him / I’d play a song that would never, ever end / ’Cause I’d love, love, love / To dance with my father again /

Sometimes I’d listen outside her door / And I’d hear how my Mama cried for him / I pray for her even more than me / I pray for her even more than me / I know I’m praying for much too much / But could You send back the only man she loved / I know You don’t do it usually / But dear lord, she’s dying / To dance with my father again / Every night I fall asleep / And this is all I ever dream

first release: Dance With My Father (single) (2003/05/30)

second/album release: Dance With My Father (2003/06/10)

DANCE WITH MY FATHER—Luther Vandross.jpg

audio treated samples

This page was originally made on June 22nd, 2021 and last edited on July 23rd, 2021