Franklin Leads Candlelight Vigil For Vandross

Aretha Franklin led fans and fellow stars in a candlelight vigil for ailing soul legend Luther Vandross on Monday (19MAY03).

Franklin, a friend of Vandross, organised the event at the LITTLE ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH in Detroit, Michigan, America.

The FOUR TOPS, ORTHEIA BARNS, Franklin's sons KECALF and Eddie, URSULA WALKER and BUDDY BUDSON were among those on the program.

Franklin, who sang AMAZING GRACE for a crowd of 5,000 people, says, "I felt he needed prayer, and he needed it now."

Last month (16APR03), Vandross was discovered in his New York apartment suffering the after-effects of a stroke. He remains in the intensive care unit of the WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE.

Vandross, 52, has written and produced songs for Franklin and designed several dresses for the 61-year-old singer to wear on her upcoming tour.

Music by Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Vandross himself is being played for the singer as he lies unconscious, according to his mother MARY.