Before becoming a legendary R&B king, Luther Vandross was a funky ‘Hot Butterfly’
Young Americans album, which was released in 1975. Departing from Bowie’s signature glam rock style, the album was referred to as Bowie’s “blue-eyed soul” era.
Bowie reportedly called the album “plastic soul.” Plastic or not, Vandross’ big brown eyes and big voice certainly had an influence on the album’s success.As the story goes, Vandross was invited to the studio recording of Young Americans by an old friend.
While recording the album at Sigma Studios in Philadelphia, Bowie reportedly overheard him singing and invited him to be a backing vocalist on the album.By 1980, Vandross became the lead singer of the group Change and began charting his takeover of R&B music with a solo career later.
But his resume as a backing vocalist leading up to them reads like a listing of the day’s best disco and funk acts. He worked as a backing vocalist for Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E.
