“Luther Vandross Classic Christmas”

PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC AND THE LUTHER VANDROSS ESTATE GIFT FANS A NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED EP
“LUTHER VANDROSS CLASSIC CHRISTMAS”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD

Pre-save the Three-Track EP HERE

NEW YORK, October 20, 2023 — Primary Wave Music and The Luther Vandross Estate are excited to announce the release of “Luther Vandross Classic Christmas,” a never-before-released three-track EP that features the soulful holiday tunes “At Christmas Time,” “May Christmas Bring You Happiness,” and a special bonus a cappella mix of “At Christmas Time.” Pre-saves are available today HERE, and the EP will be released on all DSPs on Friday, November 3.

Previously, “At Christmas Time” and “May Christmas Bring You Happiness” debuted on the 1976 compilation album “Funky Christmas,” released on Cotillion Records. Now, for the first time, music lovers around the globe can experience these heartfelt recordings as a stand-alone EP. Both tracks were written and produced by Luther Vandross, arranged by Paul Riser, and executive produced by Ceilidh Productions, Inc.

A captivating a cappella rendition of “At Christmas Time” will debut in this musical release – inspired by the luxury brand Waterford and chosen as the musical backdrop for their holiday campaign. The collaboration between Waterford and the Luther Vandross Estate was initiated earlier this year with Waterford supporting the Luther Vandross Foundation luncheon and introducing crystal collections Luther 81 and limited-edition 81X. This Fall, anticipate Luther’s music weaving its magic in Waterford’s Heritage Mastercraft Collection with “Don’t You Know That”, followed by the Lismore Arcus Collection featuring “A House Is Not A Home”.

David Gottlieb, manager of the Luther Vandross Estate, shared his excitement, stating, “Luther’s distinctive voice has been a golden thread in the tapestry of holiday music for decades. This release serves not only as a testament to his remarkable talent but also as a gift that keeps on giving, allowing his enchanting melodies to continue being a cherished part of families’ holiday traditions.”

“This is more than just a Christmas album; it’s a convergence of history, emotion, and the ever-present spirit of the holidays that Luther Vandross encapsulated in his music,” said Sean Lewis, Marketing Manager of Digital Strategy at Primary Wave Music. “In this specially curated EP, we invite listeners to become a part of a cherished journey, where rhythms and lyrics foster a renewed sense of connection and joy in this festive season. It’s a token of remembrance and a tribute to Luther’s everlasting impact.”

For more information, visit www.luthervandross.com.

# # #

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 1980s 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.

Strategic Heights