Luther Vandross

Blessed with a 1,000-thread-count voice and the talent to drape it across ballads and finger-poppers with equal ease, Luther Vandross became the love man for a new generation. Pushing aside the boasting and begging of Teddy and Marvin, Luther sang about romance, plain and simple. It seems only natural, then, that he would give couples "Here and Now," a song that nearly makes "The Wedding March" obsolete.

Candlelight. Champagne. Luther. For decades, that simple recipe for romance has been as reliable as a diamond ring. Everything his voice graces gets a little bit sweeter for it, whether he's singing a song of his own or doing another writer the favor of an interpretation. Settle in to these songs and hear where the bar for R&B vocalists has been set.

Every disc Luther dropped is cherished; every track seems to find a place on a late-night DJ's playlist, a dance floor, or a soft, satin pillow. As king of the Quiet Storm, Luther's every groove was explored by fans who knew that the deepest cuts were always the most satisfying.

Luther's voice is so smooth, his phrasing so seductive, and his songwriting so gorgeous, it makes you wonder if the stereo speakers themselves feel blessed to pass his gifts along to our waiting ears. Since releasing his first solo album in 1981, Luther never disappointed and never took a wrong step, knowing exactly when to slow it down or step it up, all in the name of love. And if love is what you're after, it's here and now. We've laid out his best songs. The rest is up to you.