SINGER RICHIE Stephens is presently in heavy rehearsal for his dream performance with the modern godfather of soul, Luther Vandross, on Saturday, May 12.
He's working out with the Gumption band and plans to use an additional keyboard player, Chris McDonald to bolster the sound, as well as three background singers.
"This performance is very special to me for many reasons. I've done songs in the past which people have thought were Luther's songs. That was one of the best compliments anybody could pay me. It will be a great honour to share the stage with Luther Vandross,' he said.
Richie said the performance will also be special because of its Mother's Day significance. "Everybody knows what I am like when it comes to mothers. Over the years I have done many songs in tribute to my own mother and to mothers in general and I have performed at numerous functions in honour of mothers."
He has shared the stage with other American big names in the past, among them Al Green, James Ingram, Jeffrey Osbourne, the Manhattans, the Chi-Lites and Ray Goodman and Brown.
Richie said promoters, Buzz Productions, made a good choice to bring Luther Vandross here.
"I know that Luther is very expensive, but it was a good decision. When Luther sings he teaches and he's somebody for all singers to see and learn from. You learn accuracy from his style of singing. You learn how to sing out when necessary, when to break it down, and so on," he said.
Richie Stephens would like to record a song with Luther Vandross, but doesn't plan to initiate that while the star is here. "It would be a great thing to do a song with him. He's among the great artistes I'd like to collaborate with. I'll be up front watching his show from start to finish," he said.
