When Luther Vandross died Friday afternoon, R&B lost an icon, and the artists he influenced were quick to express their loss and respect.

Vandross had established himself as one of the most soulful and captivating voices in music, up there with the likes of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye. In his heyday, he was the man who had women screaming "Luuvffa!" and had the guys reaching for his album when they were trying to romance their dates. Love songs like "If Only for One Night," "Never Too Much," "Stop to Love" and "A House Is Not a Home" may very well have played a role in the reason some of us are here today.

The man was loved and respected by his peers. Even if you don't count acts like Kanye West, Janet Jackson or the Young Gunz, who have all sampled his music (and occasionally name-checked him; see Kanye's "Slow Jamz"), just ask any R&B singer and they'll tell you Vandross was a major influence on their lives and careers.

"I'm gonna try to give a hand to Luther Vandross one more time," John Legend said onstage Friday night at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, just hours after hearing of Vandross' death (see "R&B Singer Luther Vandross Dead At 54"). "All us people making slow jams now, we was inspired by the slow jams Luther Vandross was making."

Backstage at the festival, the man who has drawn the most comparisons to Vandross over the past few years — Ruben Studdard — echoed Legend's praise.

"Michael Jackson's 9/11 Single Hits Radio One Year Late"). "It was a real pleasure to work with him. It is a very sad loss."

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