"Here and Now" is a 1989 song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, written by David L. Elliott and Terry Steele. The single is from the compilation album The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love. "Here and Now" became Vandross' fifth single to peak at No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles, and his first single to chart in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 6.
Critical reception
David Giles from Music Week wrote, "Vandross diehards will happily lap this up â it's already put in a showing in the lower reaches of the chart â but this typically dreamy, sensual ballad hardly represents a quantum leap in style for the romantic soul maestro."
Personnel
- Luther Vandross â lead vocals, producer
- Nat Adderley Jr. â keyboards, synthesizers, string arrangements
- Jason Miles â synthesizer programming
- Paul Jackson Jr., Doc Powell â guitar
- Paulinho da Costa â percussion
- Ivan Hampden Jr. â drum overdubs
- Cissy Houston, Tawatha Agee, Brenda White, Lisa Fischer, Fonzi Thornton, Paulette McWilliams â background vocals
- Joseph Soldo â string contractor
- Marcus Miller â producer
- Ray Bardani â engineer, mixing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Accolades
"Here and Now" also earned Vandross his first Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1991.
Popular culture
- Vandross performed the song on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Vandross also performed the song in the two-part "Do Not Pass Go" (season 5) of 227, where he performed during Rose and Warren's wedding ceremony in early 1990.
Renditions
- American singer Patti LaBelle recorded a version of the song for the 2005 album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross.
- In 1997, saxophonist Richard Elliot covered the song on the soprano saxophone for his album "Jumpin' Off."
References