The official Luther Vandross site appears to be unaware of his demise..
www.luthervandross.com/index2.html
( djrich - Live from Houghton Regis too rass, Sat 2 Jul 2005, 15:55, archived)

He faked his own death!
Like Tupac, but it actually happened.
( ArthurTheRat, Sat 2 Jul 2005, 15:57, archived)