Vandross served as a producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968, and sang backup on the Quincy Jones album, Best, in 1969. Vandross appeared on the very first episode of the children's television show Sesame Street as a member of a theater workshop group in October of 1969.

 

His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. Vandross wrote "Everybody Rejoice," for the 1972 show The Wiz. However, Vandross had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing background vocals on the David Bowie album Young Americans. He ended up singing on Bowie's tour and appearing as the opening act

The 1972 Broadway musical The Wiz, included Vandross' song, "Everbody Rejoice," but his first big break in entertainment came when he left New York as a background singer on David Bowie's hit album, Young Americans. He toured with Bowie as a backup singer and also served as the tour's opening act. Bowie was at the height of his fame in the early 1970s, and Vandross' association with him and his touring band brought him invaluable publicity and exposure.

 

 

Vandross also sang backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Chic, and Barbra Streisand. During the beginning of his career, Vandross was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists. Roberta Flack decided to push Vandross into starting his own career because she believed that he was an incredible talent who deserved to be heard for his singing in addition to his songwriting and production.

 

Before his breakthrough, he released two albums on Cotillion Records, the self-titled "Luther" in 1976 and "This Close to You" in 1977. He also wrote and sang commercials jingles during the late 1970s & early '80s. Well known advertising campaigns he wrote and/or sang jingles for include Kentucky Fried Chicken's "We Do Chicken Right", NBC's "Proud As A Peacock" & The US Army's "Be All You Can Be."

His time as a big star was still some time away however, and to make a living, he continued to perform as a background singer for singers such as Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, and Barbra Streisand. He also sang and wrote commercial jingles for television advertising, such as the U.S. Army's "Be All That You Can Be," and Kentucky Fried Chicken's "We Do Chicken Right."

 

He eventually made his breakthrough as a guest singer with the group Change. Their 1980 hits, "The Glow of Love" and "Searching" led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the LP "Never Too Much." The album, which contained the track "A House is Not a Home" went double platinum, with the song "Never Too Much" reaching #1 on the R&B charts.