“Phenomenal!” Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross LIVE! at BergenPAC

By Shelley Bromberg. Photos by Love Imagery

It’s a crisp, cool, clear November 6th, 2019 evening as we enter Englewood, NJ’s BergenPAC where the temperature inside is warm and the air is filled with excitement.

While fans make their way to their seats to see American Idol champion Ruben Studdard perform songs by R&B balladeer Luther Vandross, we take a moment to stop and chat with several of them.

Says Sharon from Rockland County, “Ruben was my first choice on Season 2 of American Idol from beginning to end. He’s a teddy bear — so sweet just like you,” she tells her companion, Stanley from Knollwood.

Sharon reveals that she purchased a Ruben concert T-shirt, enabling her to gain admittance to a “meet-and-greet” with Studdard after the show.

“Now, don’t get jealous!” she quips to Stanley.

We also take a moment to chat with sisters Fran from Belleville and Terrell from Newark who remember watching Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken — runner up to Studdard on American Idol back in 2003 — on TV as recently as last year.

“They were promoting a special holiday concert entitled Ruben and Clay’s Christmas Show,” explains Fran before declaring, “I think it’s awesome that people are still seeing him after Idol!”

Terrell agrees adding, “If Ruben can do Luther Vandross, then we are good — believe me, we are going to enjoy this show; you are going to hear me screaming!”

For those who don’t know, Luther Vandross was a popular American singer, songwriter, and record producer who began a successful career as a back-up artist for such well-known performers as Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer. He also produced records for Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston.

As a solo artist, Vandross went on to garner 31 Grammy Award nominations and eight wins. He also received eight American Music Awards. Altogether, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide.

Upon taking our seats, we notice soft blue lights illuminating the BergenPAC stage which is set up with two keyboards, a guitar, a bass, and a set of drums.

The lights dim and a group of musicians enter and begin to play an overture to “Superstar,” a song first introduced to the world by The Carpenters but which was later re-recorded by Luther Vandross.

Audience members begin to applaud when they hear Studdard’s unmistakable velvety voice crooning from backstage.

Under the spotlight, a newly svelte Studdard takes the stage — looking better than ever in his pressed white shirt, black slacks, and a purple silky jacket — and the audience begins to groove to the jazzy beat of Vandross’s “Don’t You Know That.”

Studdard’s voice is smooth, strong, and clear, and audience members can easily recall how this “velvety teddy bear” made his way into people’s hearts sixteen years ago on American Idol.

In addition to his soulful and dynamic vocal, the number also boasts a rockin’ bass solo, and the audience wildly cheers for Ruben and the band.

Next up from the Vandross list of hits is “Always and Forever,” which Studdard reveals was his “Mama’s pick” for him to sing.

After joking, “If you don’t like it, don’t put it on my Facebook page — tell my Mama!” Studdard’s satiny smooth voice rings out, taking listeners on a melodious journey back in time on this Vandross hit which was originally recorded by Heatwave.

As Studdard croons, “Everyday/Love me your own special way/Melt all my heart away with a smile,” audience members can’t help but move to the rhythm of the music.

Another memorable number of the evening includes Vandross’s 1979 tune, “If Only for One Night.”

Acknowledging, “I got in late in the game on this one, but once I got in, I couldn’t let go,” Studdard charms the crowd by sweetly asking, “Do you mind if I take my time with this one?”

When the crowd responds in the affirmative, Studdard smoothly delivers this R&B tune, gliding effortlessly throughout the number as he dabs his face with a black handkerchief, a signature trademark of his.

Ending the song on a very long last note, as Studdard belts out, “Let me hold you tight,” the audience erupts in huge applause and a fan yells out, “Sing Ruben!”

Audience members are treated to a dynamic arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Creepin’,” which Vandross covered on his album, The Night I Fell in Love. Handling the song a little slower and jazzier, the crowd rocks and sways along to the arrangement’s funky beat.

After this, Ruben tells the story of the time when, as a child, his mother “dragged” him to a Luther Vandross show in his home town of Birmingham, Alabama.

Recalling, “Here I was, this little chubby kid, climbing seven flights of stairs to the nose bleed section,” Studdard exclaims, “Luther looked like an ant!” before acknowledging, “but that evening, I learned about singing.”

Here, Studdard performs one of his own Vandross favorites, “So Amazing.”

The number is well-choreographed with two back-up singers dancing along and it offers a smooth interplay between Studdard’s vocals and those of the background vocalists.

On this number, Ruben even has the crowd laughing as he positions the dancers with their arms up in the air, posing like they’re a modern-day incarnation of The Supremes.

In another highlight number of the evening, Studdard gets the crowd on their feet dancing as he performs a groovin’ rendition of Vandross’s “Bad Boy/Having a Party.”

On this barnburner, the audience takes in a scintillating guitar solo coupled with a tight electric bass performance as Ruben dances along to the rockin’ beat.

Fans are brought back to 1989 when Studdard easily takes on Luther’s hit song, “Here and Now,” Vandross’s first Billboard Top 10 hit and his first Grammy-Award winner for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Studdard undoubtedly conjures Luther as his silky smooth voice croons through this ballad while he and his back-up singers move to well-timed choreography.

The audience happily sings along on the song’s famous “Here and now/I promise to love faithfully/Your love is all I need” refrain.

And if that couldn’t be beat, Studdard brings the house down with his reprise of “Superstar,” a performance which is reminiscent of his masterful appearance on American Idol where he received sensational reviews from each of the judges and even earned himself a Grammy nomination.

After Ruben sings Luther’s rendition of Dionne Warwick’s 1964 hit, “A House is not a Home,” the crowd gives Studdard a well-deserved standing ovation as a fan enthusiastically screams out, “Hit it. Hit it hard!”

At the evening’s conclusion, Ruben smiles and happily reminds the audience, “My name is Ruben Studdard, and you have all just experienced Ruben Sings Luther!”

As audience members filter out of the auditorium, we chat with several music lovers who weigh in on tonight’s performance by Ruben Studdard.

Comments Felicia from Englewood, “Tonight’s show was fabulous! We saw Ruben here last year, and this year we came back and brought even more people with us!”

Felicia’s friend, Tanya, also from Englewood, agrees adding, “I loved his performance — Ruben is just fantastic!”

Lastly, we chat with Leslie from Englewood who tells us, “I was skeptical if anyone could pull off doing Luther, but Ruben definitely can,” before concluding with a smile, “Ruben Studdard is just phenomenal!”

For more information about Ruben Studdard please visit rubenstuddard.com. For information on future performances at Englewood’s BergenPAC — including Bret Michaels on December 27, Celia Cruz All Stars on January 18, and Brian Wilson: Greatest Hits Live on January 20 — please go to bergenpac.org.