It may have taken nine nominations for Luther Vandross to finally win his first Grammy in 1991 for best male R&B vocal performance (“Here and Now”). But it only took the late singer/songwriter/producer one nomination to be selected for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
So how might Vandross react upon hearing the news about his upcoming induction? David Gottlieb, manager of the Luther Vandross Estate, believes he would have responded in one of two ways.
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“The first would be very similar to when he won his first Grammy,” says Gottlieb. “You’d see Luther’s smiling face and then hear him singing a line from a song. Maybe ‘So Amazing’ or maybe he’d be riffing on ‘Bad Boy/Having a Party.’” When he accepted his Grammy at the 1991 ceremony, Vandross sang a snippet from “Here and Now” to a standing ovation.
“Or,” Gottlieb continues with a laugh, “he might just say with that same smile, ‘It’s about that time, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.’”
Vandross — whose catalog of classics includes “Never Too Much,” “Any Love” and “If This World Were Mine,” his duet with Cheryl Lynn — initially became eligible for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contention in 2006. When the ceremony takes place Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Vandross, who died in 2005, will join a diverse array of 2026 inductees including Phil Collins, Sade, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan. Honorees in the early influence award circle are Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Celia Cruz and Fela Kuti.
Gottlieb says the Vandross family is “beyond words” about the Hall of Fame honor. “The family was very excited seven weeks ago when he was nominated. And they’ve been on pins and needles waiting to see what the results were. They’re over the moon.”
As for his own reaction, Gottlieb notes, “It’s very easy to say this is overdue. But the reality is that sometimes it takes the audience and the gatekeepers a minute to catch up. And now it’s happened between a documentary [2024’s Luther: Never Too Much], a Grammy Museum exhibit, the Grammy Hall of Fame Award [2025] and Kendrick Lamar [the Grammy-winning “Luther” with SZA].
“It all kind of made this the moment that people reawakened to what Luther had to offer,” Gottlieb adds. “He sang about one thing, and that was love. And the world needs that right now.”
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