Luther Vandross x Waterford Line “Luther 81 X” launches August 10
(NEW YORK, NY – August 10, 2023) Primary Wave Music and The Luther Vandross Estate proudly announce a groundbreaking collaboration with internationally renowned Irish luxury brand, Waterford and will produce an exceptional limited-edition crystal collection, Luther 81 X.
Inspired by Luther Vandross’s iconic 1981 platinum single, “Never Too Much,” the Luther Vandross x Waterford collection fuses Waterford’s craftsmanship with the soul and emotion of Luther’s unforgettable music. Each piece showcases a karo cut design, echoing the song’s lyric, “A Thousand Kisses From You Is Never Too Much”. Adding to its exclusivity, each crystal piece features a single bold hand-cut karo kiss on the base, making it a must-have for lovers of music and luxury design. The collection, primarily cocktail, and barware, will be available on waterford.com and exclusively at Bloomingdale’s in the US, David Jones in Australia, House of Waterford in Ireland, and Harrods in the UK.
Paying tribute to Luther Vandross’s music and legacy, the House of Waterford has masterfully forged a unique crystal art piece that lauds Luther’s double platinum debut album “Never Too Much.” This unparalleled 12-inch wall-mounted crystal disc, set against a steel and brass backdrop, features 81 polished precision-cut track grooves and a meticulously hand-etched center label, adorned with Luther’s signature. Crafted over 19 hours, by four Master Craftsmen, this crystal LP embodies an exceptional fusion of artistry and homage, which utilized five specialized techniques – mouth blowing, cutting, sculpting, satin finishing, and assembling.
(Luther Vandross Foundation Decanter and Luther 81 Tumblers)
In honor of Luther Vandross’s passion for education and diversity, this year, the Luther Vandross Foundation hosted a celebration, supported by Waterford, Primary Wave Music, and the Luther Vandross Estate, at Philadelphia’s Historic Belmont Mansion. The event commemorated Vandross’s life, celebrated his legacy of promoting students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and showcased a custom-cut crystal decanter, emblematic of the forthcoming Luther 81 X line. This partnership between the Luther Vandross Foundation and Waterford crystalizes the fusion of music, culture, inclusivity, and education into a concrete symbol of Vandross’s enduring influence. As this meaningful collaboration prepares to launch the Luther Vandross x Waterford line in August, it underscores the shared commitment to advancing education, fostering cultural conversations, and perpetuating Vandross’s profound legacy.
“Luther Vandross’s genuine affinity for crystal always mirrored the crystal-clear quality of his voice and spirit,” said Lisa Fruggiero, VP, of Brand Partnerships at Primary Wave Music. “Our collaboration with Waterford beautifully symbolizes this, adding a level of sincerity and elegance that embodies Luther’s legacy in a unique, tangible way.”
In a similar vein, David Gottlieb, Manager of The Luther Vandross Estate stated, “This unique collection honors Luther Vandross’s timeless legacy, beautifully capturing the spirit of his music in each crystal piece. It’s more than just barware – it’s a testament to Luther’s profound influence on music and his ever-present essence in our lives.”
Waterford Creative Director, Alice Bastin, adds “Music is an emotional thread that will be integral to our new brand narrative at Waterford. Luther’s music has inspired and bonded generations and his legacy lives on through the important work the Luther Vandross Foundation does. It’s incredibly important to me that Waterford supports the work of the Luther Vandross Foundation and promotes cultural conversations around diversity and inclusivity. It is an honor for Waterford to be able to contribute to the important work of the Luther Vandross Foundation and to give talented students attending HBCUs the financial aid to further their passions in education.”
For more information about the Luther Vandross x Waterford collection, please visit www.waterford.com. Experience the magic of Luther Vandross’s music, encapsulated in Waterford’s elegant crystal craftsmanship.
ABOUT PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC
The Home of Legends. Primary Wave Music is the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world. The company is home to some of the most iconic songwriters, artists, and record labels across the history of recorded music including Sun Records, Times Music (subsidiary of the Times of India Group), Bob Marley, Prince, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson, Whitney Houston, Burt Bacharach, Bing Crosby, Luther Vandross, Olivia Newton-John, Ray Charles, Steven Van Zandt, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, America, War, Gerry Goffin, Traveling Wilburys (Bob Dylan), Joey Ramone, Robbie Robertson, Joey Tempest (Europe), Bob Burns (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Teddy Pendergrass, Count Basie, Sly & The Family Stone, Boston, Alice Cooper, Paul Anka, Boy George and Culture Club, Allee Willis, Leon Russell, Paul Rodgers, Free, Toots & The Maytals, Steve Cropper, Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, Glenn Gould, Air Supply, Huey Lewis and the News, Jeff Porcaro (TOTO), Holly Knight, Jim Peterik, Alice In Chains, Godsmack, Disturbed, Devo, Donny Hathaway, George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam, Nicky Chinn, David Malloy, Even Stevens, Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), Noel Hogan (Cranberries), Dan Wilson, Mike Scott (Waterboys), Chris Isaak, KT Tunstall, Patrick Leonard, Sturken & Rogers, Gin Blossoms, Tom Whitlock, Steve Kipner, Matt Redman, and many more. The songs represented by Primary Wave include over 800 Top 10 singles and over 400 #1 hits. Throughout the company’s 16-year existence, Primary Wave Music has embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, offering, and executing proactive one-of-a-kind ideas, unique services, and marketing campaigns for our artists. Primary Wave has earned a stellar reputation for being forward-thinking and re-introducing classic artists and their music into the modern marketplace as well as nurturing young talent to become legends themselves. This success is based upon our team of seasoned and creative executives collaboratively working together closely with our artists as partners. As a company, we strive for excellence in the pursuit of iconic artists and catalogs that not only reflect great artistry, but impact and influence culture.
ABOUT LUTHER VANDROSS Luther Vandross was more than just a great singer. An elegant and warmhearted New Yorker who became one of popular music’s most beloved performers, from his solo breakthrough in the early ‘80s to his untimely death in 2005, Vandross was a vocalist whose understanding of singing as an art form was so profound, he changed notions of what it could be. That’s just what he did in balancing the innovation of 1980’s R&B in the irresistibly joyful title track of Vandross’ 1981 solo debut, Never Too Much, to his astonishing 1981 cover of “A House Is Not a Home,” transforming the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic into an acutely personal demonstration of his control, dexterity, and expressiveness. In the process, he transcends the ‘60s divas who inspired him—Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin—to create a model for those who followed. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion have all acknowledged the impact that their sometime duet partner had on them. Luther’s success in the 1980’s launched him after many years of working behind the scenes as a session vocalist and arranger for acts like David Bowie and Bette Midler and as the singer of “Searching” and “The Glow of Love,” two classy hits for the Italian/American disco group Change. In the decades that followed, Vandross continued to find ways to push the art forward instead of relying on the tried and true, releasing 11 consecutive platinum albums in the process and garnering 31 Grammy nominations and 8 Grammy awards. Grammy winners like 1991’s “Power of Love/Love Power” and 2003’s “Dance With My Father” remain as technically accomplished as they are emotionally moving, serving as testaments to his enduring legacy.
For more info visit https://LutherVandross.com.