sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick

July 15, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1501 and impact of environmental factors on wom- award winning artist whose deep, lush voice merous , BET, NAACP Image and en’s health and their offspring. It also author- on such hits as Here and Now and Any Love . izes the Director of this institute, in coopera- sold more than 25 million . He ranked as one of the most successful Arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeer R& B singers of the and broke through tion with other Federal agencies, to establish to even wider commercial success in 1989 a comprehensive program to conduct research of his generation, his music provided the ro- with the Best of , the Best on the impact of hormone disrupting chemicals mantic backdrop for millions of couples world- of Love, which included the new song ‘‘Here affecting maternal and child health. wide. In an era of sexually charged and ex- and Now,’’ his first Grammy winning hit We need to research the impact of these plicit lyrics, Mr. Vandross spoke to love and which became a signature wedding song. chemical pollutants now. Only then will we romance with heartfelt emotions. Born in in 1951, Luther was have the information we need both to detoxify Even without gaining the crossover success the youngest of four children. In 1972, a song and also to prevent developmental disabilities which he sought, Mr. Vandross sold over 25 Vandross wrote, ‘‘Everybody Rejoice,’’ was and other environmentally related diseases in million records. He won eight Grammy Awards included in the musical ‘‘The and many other accolades including the Amer- Wiz.’’ But his biggest early break came when future generations. he landed a job as a backup for David Let’s pass this legislation. Let’s clean up our ican Music Award, Soul Train, BET, and Bowie and created vocal arrangements for environment. Let’s clean up our bodies, but NAACP Image awards. He ranked as one of the hit Young Americans. most importantly, let’s not permit our babies of the most successful R&B singers of the 1980’s Luther soon became a sought-after backup the future to be polluted before they are even and broke through to even wider commercial vocalist and arranger, working for artists born. success in 2003 with his last album, Dance from to , and I urge my colleagues to support this bill With My Father, which earned four Grammy he helped pay the bills as one of the most today. Awards and has generated worldwide sales popular jingle singers of the time. His 1981 exceeding 3 million copies. debut, Never Too Much, reached the top of f the R&B charts and sold more than one mil- Luther Ronzoni Vandross was born in 1951 PERSONAL EXPLANATION lion copies. Through the 1980s, he recorded a into a New York City family steeped in the mu- string of platinum albums, including For- sical traditions of gospel and soul. He was the ever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body and HON. MIKE ROSS youngest of four children, reared by a single The Night I Fell in Love. His last album, OF ARKANSAS mother after the death of his father when Lu- Dance With My Father received 4 Grammy Awards (including Song of the Year for the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ther was still a boy. He began his career writ- ing and performing jingles for television com- title song ‘‘Dance With My Father’’) and has Thursday, July 14, 2005 mercials. But his biggest early break came generated worldwide sales exceeding 3 mil- Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I was not in Wash- lion copies. when he landed a job as a backup singer for Luther was also a prolific writer and pro- ington, DC during the week of June 27–July 1, the British artist , who later hired ducer for such musical icons as Aretha 2005 due to a family obligation. My father had him to work on vocal arrangements for the Franklin, , and bypass heart surgery and I was with him and album Young Americans. thereby fulfilling a lifelong our family in Arkansas during that time. Below After breaking into the music business Lu- dream. ‘‘When history books are written, I’d are the recorded votes that were taken in my ther worked for artists from Bette Midler to like it to be said that I am one of the pre- absence and how I would have voted had I Barbra Streisand as a highly sought-after miere singers of our time,’’ said Vandross in been present. backup vocalist and arranger. His 1981 debut an interview with BET. On Monday, June 27, 2005—rollcall No. album, Never Too Much, reached the top of He leaves to cherish and celebrate his life, legacy, and wonderful memories a loving and 322, ‘‘yea’’; and rollcall No. 323, ‘‘yea.’’ the R&B charts and sold more than one mil- devoted mother, Mary Ida Vandross, nine On Tuesday, June 28, 2005— rollcall No. lion copies. Through the 1980’s, he recorded nieces as well as eight great nephews, three 324, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 325, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. a string of platinum albums, including Forever, great nieces and a circle of close friends and 326, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. 327, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. For Always, For Love, Busy Body and The colleagues, his musical family and millions 328, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. 329, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. Night I Fell in Love. of loyal, supportive fans. 330, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 331, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. Luther Vandross had a career that most 332, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 333, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. singers only dream about and has served as f 334, ‘‘nay’’ and rollcall No. 335, ‘‘yea.’’ a source of inspiration for people throughout PERSONAL EXPLANATION On Wednesday, June 29, 2005—rollcall No. the world. Especially among his musical 336, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 337, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. peers, writing songs for musical icons such as 338, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 339, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. , Diana Ross, Whitney Houston HON. TRENT FRANKS 340, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 341, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. and Dionne Warwick. OF ARIZONA 342, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 343, ‘‘yea’’ and rollcall He was a native New Yorker and before his IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES No. 344, ‘‘yea.’’ funeral services on Friday, July 8th, a hearse Thursday, July 14, 2005 carrying the singer’s remains took him for one On Thursday, June 30, 2005—rollcall No. Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, on last tour of Harlem, pausing outside the Apollo 345, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 346, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. Thursday, July 14, 2005, I was unavoidably Theater before heading west to the church. 347, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 348, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. detained and rendered unable to vote on H. Before achieving stardom, Vandross had twice 349, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 350, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. Res. 356, condemning in the strongest terms finished second at Harlem’s famed Apollo the- 351, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 352, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. the terrorist attacks in , England, on ater and both the city and theater always 353, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 354, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. July 7, 2005. Had I been able to vote, I would maintained a special place in his heart. 355, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 356, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. have voted ‘‘yea.’’ 357, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. 358, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. Luther Vandross’ accomplishments in life 359, ‘‘nay’’; rollcall No. 360, ‘‘yea’’; rollcall No. speak to his character and personality. He f 361, ‘‘yea’’ and rollcall No. 362, ‘‘yea.’’ was a loving individual known for his kindness IN RECOGNITION OF DICK f and generosity as well as his musical accom- plishments. KURTENBACH REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF R&B He leaves to cherish and celebrate his life, SINGER LUTHER VANDROSS his loving and devoted mother, Mary Ida HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER Vandross, several nieces and nephews and OF MISSOURI HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL millions of loyal fans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW YORK OFFICIAL OBITUARY SUBMITTED FROM LABEL J RECORDS Thursday, July 14, 2005 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Luther Ronzoni Vandross, the silky-voiced Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in Thursday, July 14, 2005 R&B crooner who spun romance into hits recognition of the achievements of Dick Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to like ‘‘Here and Now and ‘‘Any Love,’’ died on Kurtenbach, the former Executive Director of recognize the life and legacy of legendary Friday, July 1st, 2005 at John F. Kennedy the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Medical Center in Edison, NJ. He was 54. R&B singer, humanitarian, and community ac- With a smooth yet soulful delivery, the Kansas and Western Missouri and tireless ad- tivist, Mr. Luther Vandross, who died on Friday highly admired singer/songwriter/producer vocate for the constitutional rights of Ameri- July 1st after health problems resulting from a has sold in excess of 30 million records world- cans. Mr. Kurtenbach retired on June 30th, stroke in 2003. Mr. Vandross was a Grammy wide, winning eight Grammy Awards, nu- 2005 after 20 years of distinguished service to

VerDate jul 14 2003 00:39 Jul 16, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A14JY8.054 E15PT1