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Many vocalists credit their early days in church choirs for sharpening their gift and providing their first stages and audiences—but not the “The Velvet Voice,” and he has a particular reason why…

 

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During a 1991 appearance on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, Luther Vandross explained to Oprah exactly why he chose to not sing in church, although his “mother would have loved [it].”

 

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“I didn’t believe in that forced value of turning all that spirit on and off [as if to say] ‘It’s Sunday now so I’m going to jump back [in] and shout’..I may have fclt like that Tuesday morning,” Vandross explained.

Oprah jokes about singers who sing in church on Sundays, then “raise hell” during the week. He went on to explain how spiritual worship and praise was a personal part of his life.

 

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