Raised in a musical family in New York, Vandross dropped out of college at
Western Michigan University to pursue his music dreams. He'd already released a
couple of singles with his High School group Shades Of Jade; sang back-up vocals
for Diana Ross, Roberta Flack and Chaka Khan; had a cameo role and a song in the
1975 movie The Wiz; and co-wrote Fascination, recorded by David Bowie. But his
powerful soul voice only really came to the fore when he was front man for
pop-dance act Change, who struck it big in 1980. It launched Vandross as
probably the best soul singer of his gener...