Concert Review: Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross

Ruben Studdard performing at Sycuan Casino Live & Up Close–Photo by Rochelle Porter

Welcome back, Velvet Teddy Bear!  Yaโ€™ll do remember โ€œAmerican Idolโ€ second- season winner Ruben Studdard, right?  How can you forget that stellar vocal performance of Luther Vandrossโ€™ โ€œSuperstar,โ€ which landed him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Performance in 2003.

Well, last night Studdard performed at Sycuan Casino Live & Up Close in El Cajon, California singing  numerous songs from Vandross, including a few of our favorites โ€œSo Amazing,โ€ โ€œNever Too Much,โ€ โ€œBad โ€œBoy Having A Party,โ€ and โ€œAlways and Forever.โ€

We all know that the legendary Vandross is one tough act to follow, however, 39 year-old Studdard, is doing his best to make it work.

In fact, during the show he says, “I’m not Luther, I am Ruben.”

Backed by a talented group of musicians, dressed in a sequined tux jacket, Studdard pulled off a smooth, melodic performance. Having two lively background singers (Karmessa Padgett, Kwamika Fletcher) with great harmonies, came pretty darn close to giving Studdard’s show the Luther effect.

It’s important to note that when Studdard gave it his all, by putting his own spin on a Luther tune, like “Superstar,” he nailed it.

Studdard shared with the audience that heโ€™s been singing R&B, Gospel and R&B since he was a child.  And, at nine years old he recalls being asked to sing โ€œAlways and Foreverโ€ at weddings.

Studdard says, that’s he first became familiar with Vandross as a youngster, and that his mother was โ€œone of the biggest Luther fans ever.โ€

Since โ€œIdolโ€ Studdard has starred in a national tour revival of the musical โ€œAint Misbehavin,โ€ and in 2018 released โ€œRuben sings Luther,โ€ his most recent album. In his acclaim release of โ€œUnconditional Love,โ€ in 2014, Studdard collaborated with multi-award winning producer and pianist David Foster.

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