Singer Luther Vandross dead at 54

Luther Vandross

LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning soul singer and songwriter Luther Vandross, famed for a silky voice that seduced millions of fans, has died at age 54, a spokeswoman said today.

Further details, including the cause of death, were not immediately available.

Vandross, widely considered the premier soul balladeer of his generation for such hits as "Any Love, "Here and Now" and "Power of Love/Love Power," suffered a stroke in April 2003 and long battled diabetes and fluctuations in his weight.

"Dance With My Father," released shortly after the stroke, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop album charts and yielded four Grammys the following year, including the coveted award for song of the year for the title track, which Vandross described as "my 'Piano Man,' my signature song."

- REUTERS