Vandross Making Progress

R&B singer Luther Vandross's condition continues to improve following the stroke he suffered in April. According to his J Records spokeswoman, Vandross' speech and cognitive functions are the "most exciting developments." "Everyday there's something new" that he's able to say, she says.

Also, Vandross responds when his music is played and "occasionally sings along."

But despite reports that Vandross has regained nearly all of his speech, his spokeswoman cautions that it's "still a long road ahead."

The singer has been hospitalized in New York since the April 16th stroke, spending nearly two months in the intensive care unit. He had a major breakthrough and moved out of the ICU in June, a week before his latest album Dance With My Father debuted at the top of the pop charts.

Vandross' long-term prognosis remains positive; his spokeswoman says that when the hospital stay is over, he'll be moved to a facility to continue the long rehab process.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter