Forever, For Always, For Luther
Encyclopedia
Forever, For Always, For Luther, released on July 27, 2004 by GRP Records
, is a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, with ten popular songs written by Luther Vandross
. The album featured vocal arrangements by Luther, and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner.
Rideout had co-authored songs and contributed arrangements and played keyboards on Luther's final three albums. The tribute album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who recorded and mixed most of Luther's music over the years.
It featured an ensemble of jazz performers, many of whom had previously worked with Luther. The artists on the album were:
Several songs from the album received airplay on jazz and R&B stations, but Hathaway's cover of "Forever, For Always, For Love" was the biggest success, becoming a #1 Adult R&B hit, reaching the Top 40 on the main R&B chart, and even approaching the Hot 100 (it "bubbled under" at #112).
On November 21, 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a followup to the earlier GRP tribute album, this time a Luther tribute album by various artists on his own Rendezvous Entertainment label, called Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II
, also produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Dave Koz played on all the followup album's tracks, which were recorded by smooth jazz artists Patti Austin
, Gerald Albright
, Jonathan Butler
, Norman Brown
, Will Downing
, Everette Harp
, Jeff Lorber
, Maysa, Najee
, Wayman Tisdale
, Kevin Whalum and Kirk Whalum
.
GRP Records
GRP Records is an American jazz record company, owned by Universal Music Group and operates through its Verve Music Group. The company's name has had different meanings. In its early days, it stood for "Grusin/Rosen Productions," after the founders...
, is a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, with ten popular songs written by Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
. The album featured vocal arrangements by Luther, and was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner.
Rideout had co-authored songs and contributed arrangements and played keyboards on Luther's final three albums. The tribute album was mixed by Ray Bardani, who recorded and mixed most of Luther's music over the years.
It featured an ensemble of jazz performers, many of whom had previously worked with Luther. The artists on the album were:
- Rex Rideout and Brian CulbertsonBrian CulbertsonBrian Culbertson is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone....
on keyboards - Mindi AbairMindi AbairMindi Abair is an American smooth jazz saxophonist with a strong Top-40 pop music background. Mindi has toured and/or recorded with the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Adam Sandler, Keb' Mo', Lalah Hathaway, Lee Ritenour, Teena Marie, John Tesh, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler,...
and Dave KozDave KozDave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
on Alto Saxophone - Richard ElliotRichard ElliotRichard Elliot is a Scottish-born saxophone player.He was a member of the funk band Tower of Power playing tenor sax for 5 years during the 1980s. He also worked on Stacy Lattisaw's 1986 album "Take Me All The Way". His solo career took off when he remade the Percy Sledge classic "When a Man...
, Boney JamesBoney JamesBoney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz...
and Kirk WhalumKirk WhalumKirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
on Tenor Saxophone - Brandon FieldsBrandon FieldsBrandon David Fields is an American football punter for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.-Early years:Fields attended St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo,...
on Saxophone - Rick BraunRick BraunRick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player.Before embarking on a solo career, Braun got his start by playing in several bands, including guitarist Jeff Golub's Avenue Blue...
on Flugelhorn - Nick LaneNick LaneNick Lane is a British biochemist. He holds the post of honorary reader and is the first Provost's Venture Research Fellow at University College London and was formerly strategic director at Adelphi MediCine, a medical multimedia company. He is the author of three popular science books and many...
on Trombone - Lee ThornburgLee ThornburgLee Thornburg is a trumpeter who has played with many artists, and also has been a member of Supertramp and Tower of Power. Thornburg also played with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders in the 1970s.-Biography:...
on Trumpet - Sundra Manning on Hammond
- George BensonGeorge BensonGeorge Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Ray Fuller, Paul Jackson, Jr.Paul Jackson, Jr.Paul Jackson, Jr. is a fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist. He was born and raised in Los Angeles. Jackson knew by the age of fifteen that he wanted to become a professional musician...
, John Pondel, Dwight Sills and Ty Stevens on Guitar - Alex Al on Acoustic and electric Bass
- Sekou Bunch on Acoustic Bass
- Steve FerroneSteve FerroneSteven "Steve" Ferrone is a British drummer.He was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti...
and Michael White on Drums - Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
on Percussion - Lalah HathawayLalah HathawayEulaulah Donyll Hathaway best known as Lalah Hathaway referred to as the First Daughter of Soul, is a contemporary R&B and jazz singer. She is the daughter of soul singer Donny Hathaway and a classically trained vocalist. In 1990, Lalah Hathaway released a self-titled album. The album's first...
, Lisa FischerLisa FischerLisa Fischer is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register, Fischer has been recognized as one of...
, Brenda White, Cindy Mizelle, Fonzi ThorntonFonzi ThorntonFonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
and LedisiLedisiLedisi Anibade Young is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Her first name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. Ledisi is known for her jazz influenced vocals. In 1995, Ledisi formed the group known as Anibade. After unsuccessfully trying to get the group signed to a major...
on Vocals.
Several songs from the album received airplay on jazz and R&B stations, but Hathaway's cover of "Forever, For Always, For Love" was the biggest success, becoming a #1 Adult R&B hit, reaching the Top 40 on the main R&B chart, and even approaching the Hot 100 (it "bubbled under" at #112).
On November 21, 2006, saxophonist Dave Koz released a followup to the earlier GRP tribute album, this time a Luther tribute album by various artists on his own Rendezvous Entertainment label, called Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II
Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II
Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II, released on November 21, 2006 by Rendezvous Entertainment, is a smooth jazz various artists tribute album, with ten popular songs written by Luther Vandross. The album was produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner, as a followup to their earlier GRP Records...
, also produced by Rex Rideout and Bud Harner. Dave Koz played on all the followup album's tracks, which were recorded by smooth jazz artists Patti Austin
Patti Austin
-Life and career:Austin was born in Harlem, New York. She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents....
, Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist.Albright has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals.- Biography :...
, Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
, Norman Brown
Norman Brown
Norman Brown may refer to:* W. Norman Brown , Indologist and Sanskritist* Norman O. Brown , author* Norman E. Brown, sports editor of the Central Press Association* Norman Brown...
, Will Downing
Will Downing
Will Downing , is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Downing is known in the contemporary jazz and R&B music genres for his rich baritone vocals, and his interpretations of R&B and pop classics that stretch back to the early 1980s...
, Everette Harp
Everette Harp
Everette Harp , is an African American blues, jazz and gospel saxophonist who has recorded on Blue Note and Capitol Records. Harp's 2006 album, In the Moment, debuted in the number one position of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart.-Biography:Everette Harp started playing piano at two, and began...
, Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
, Maysa, Najee
Najee
Jerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard....
, Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an American professional basketball player in the NBA and a smooth jazz bass guitarist. A three-time All American at the University of Oklahoma, he was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.-Early life:Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
, Kevin Whalum and Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
.
Track listing
- Any Love
- Never Too Much
- Wait For Love
- Forever, For Always, For Love
- Stop To Love
- If Only For One Night
- My Sensitivity (Gets In The Way)
- Your Secret Love
- Take You Out
- Dance With My Father