Luther Vandross (27)

Luther Vandross
1951-2005
Smooth soul loverman
Cause of Death: Complications arising from a stroke
Peer Plaudits: Vandross sold 25 million records in his lifetime, and he certainly didn't want for celebrity tributes after his death in July last year: "No one heard anyone that brought that much soul," said Mary J. Blige. His name was invoked onstage everywhere from the Live 8 concert to a New York show swiftly organized by radio station KISS-FM featuring Jaheim, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, to the American Idol live tour. After a two-day wake, his funeral featured live performances from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder; Usher and Patti LaBelle sang his greatest hits on Oprah, while an all-star tribute album, So Amazing, featuring Beyoncé, John Legend, Elton John and Jamie Foxx went straight into the charts at No. 4 in September 2004, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week. Never Too Much: Whether more Vandross-related product will be released remains to be seen, although his elevation into the pantheon of classic soul singers means his back catalogue may prove irresistible to samplers: Even before his death, his work had been utilized on tracks by Kanye West, Young Gunz and Janet Jackson.