Eight-time Grammy winner Luther Vandross [ tickets ], known for his smooth, sexy R&B ballads, died Friday (7/1) at a hospital in Edison, NJ. He was 54.

The cause of death was not immediately released. The singer suffered a serious stroke on April 16, 2003, a short time after he completed work on his final studio album, "Dance with My Father."

Vandross stayed out of the spotlight following the stroke, though he did make a videotaped appearance from his wheelchair during the 2004 Grammy Awards ceremony, during which he won two trophies.

One of the most successful R&B singer/songwriter/producers of the '80s, Vandross is best known for his romantic ballads. Among his hits were "Never Too Much," "Here and Now," "A House Is Not a Home," "Any Love" and "Power of Love/Love Power."

The New York native was the son of two singers, and his sister, Patricia, was a member of '50s vocal group The Crests. Vandross began his musical career as a songwriter, back-up singer and advertising-jingle vocalist.

In interviews, Vandross credited Roberta Flack with convincing him to try out a career as a frontman, a trek he began by fronting Change, a group that scored the 1980 hit "The Glow of Love." The success of that track earned Vandross a solo contract.

Vandross suffered from hypertension and diabetes, and his weight fluctuated greatly over the years. At one point, he weighed in at more than 330 pounds. He appeared trim in 2001, when his million-selling self-titled release hit stores, but was said to have put on weight before suffering the stroke.