I Know

Performer: Luther Vandross
Artist: Stevie Wonder; Guru; Cassandra Wilson; Bob James; Marcus Miller; Kirk Whalum; Precise
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Luther Vandross, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Guru (rap vocals); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Paul Jackson Jr.(electric guitar); Nick Moroch, Michael Thompson, Ira Siegel, Michael Oakman, Phil Hamilton, Michael Ciro (guitar); Stevie Wonder (harmonica); Kirk Whalum (soprano & tenor saxophones); John Scarpulla (tenor saxophone); Tony Kadleck (trumpet); John Wheeler (trombone); Nat Adderly Jr. (piano, keyboards, bass); Marcus Miller, Byron Miller (keyboards, programming); John "Skip" Anderson (electric piano, keyboards, programming); Rex Rideout, Albert Sterling Menendez (keyboards); Bob James (Fender Rhodes); Gene Perez (bass); Ivan Hampden (drums, percussion, programming); David Isaac (programming). Producers include: Luther Vandross, Tony Moran, Terrence "Tramp Baby" Abney, Marcus Miller, Nat Adderly Jr. Engineers include: Ray Bardani, Dave Saronson, Stan Wallace. I KNOW was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. "I Know" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Personnel: Luther Vandross (background vocals); Karen Bernard (vocals, background vocals); Marcus Miller (guitar, drum programming); Michael Ciro, Michael Oakman, Ira Siegel, Nick Moroch, Phil Hamilton (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Michael Thompson, Paul Jackson, Jr. (electric guitar); Jesse Levy (cello); Stevie Wonder (harmonica); Kirk Whalum (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Scarpulla, John Scarpula (tenor saxophone); Tony Kadleck (trumpet); John Wheeler (trombone); Nat Adderley, Jr. (piano, keyboards); Hilary James , Bob James (Fender Rhodes piano); Reed Vertelney (keyboards, drums); Tony Coluccio (keyboards, programming); Terence "Tramp Baby" Abney, John Anderson , Terence, Byron Miller (keyboards, drum programming); Rex Rideout, Albert Sterling Menendez (keyboards); Ivan Hampden (drums, percussion, percussion programming); David Isaac (drum programming); Cindy Mizelle, Brenda White-King, Darlene Love, Tamira C. Sanders, Diva Gray, Ronnie Robinson, Jr., Sheniqua Fontaine, Fonzi Thornton, Joshie Armstead, Katreese Barnes, Lisa Fischer, Paulette McWilliams, Tawatha Agee, Vaneese Thomas, Robin Clark, Vivian Cherry (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Dave Darlington; Ray Bardani. Recording information: Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY; Hit Factory, New York, NY; REcord Plant, L.A., CA; Sony Scoring Stage; Sound Barriers. Unknown Contributor Roles: Precise; Stevie Wonder; Cassandra Wilson. Arrangers: Terence "Tramp Baby" Abney; John Anderson ; Fonzi Thornton; Jeremy Lubbock; Luther Vandross; Marcus Miller; Nat Adderley, Jr.; Rex Rideout; Richard Marx; Terence; Byron Miller. For his first album on Virgin, R&B icon Vandross decided it was time to reinvent his music. That's just what he does on I KNOW, his 14th release. Over the course of this recording, everything from rap to funk to house to jazz turns up in the musical mix, but whatever the flavor of the cut, every track here is 100 percent Luther, as the singer delivers the kind of full-bodied, emotive performances that are his trademark. "Nights in Harlem" is laced with rap and funk, as Vandross engages in a bit of nostalgia, recalling his boyhood. Joined by Cassandra Wilson, Vandross indulges his jazz jones on one of the album's highlights "I'm Only Human." With the help of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzales, our man even dips his toe into the waters of house music on the propulsive dance-floor thumper "Are You Using Me?" Long-time Luther fans needn't fear, though; there are still plenty of straight-up R&B tunes around which Vandross can wrap his celebrated tonsils.

Vibe (9/98, p.284) - "...Luther Vandross adds a little hip hop and house flavor to his delectable R&B brew..."

The multi-talented Luther Vandross first earned recognition when a song he wrote was included in the musical THE WIZ in the early '70s, but it was his golden voice that made him one of the most sought-after session vocalists in the business. His significant contributions to David Bowie's Philly Soul-inspired YOUNG AMERICANS led to his first solo work in 1976, and subsequently, he has dwelt in the rarefied land of the platinum record as an R&B singing star with armloads of Grammys. Vandross has also been an in-demand record producer, and has sung duets with icons of soul ranging from Aretha Franklin to Mariah Carey. In 2003, Vandross went into a coma following a stroke, but learned to sing again after extensive rehabilitation. His death in 2005 robbed the world of one of its most soulful voices.

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