Prayers go out for Vandross By Steve Jones, USA TODAY R&B singer Luther Vandross has been the subject of an outpouring of public support since he suffered a stroke April 16. Vandross remains in intensive care at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Today at noon, the 120-plus radio stations that carry the Tom Joyner Morning Show will participate in a prayer vigil for the beloved crooner, whose hits include the song The Power of Love. Joyner says that each station will use local clergy to lead the on-air prayers. After a similar vigil last Wednesday, family members said that Vandross' condition improved. In an update Monday, business manager Carmen Romano said, "The doctors report that neurologically he is minimally responsive, and we're waiting for him to regain full consciousness. I am told that this may take some time." Last week, the singer underwent a tracheotomy to help him breathe after contracting pneumonia. Experts say that his two weeks of unconsciousness could indicate he suffered a massive stroke. "Unconsciousness is an uncommon occurrence in patients with stroke, perhaps less than 5%," says James Meschia, associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. "This would constitute a more severe type of stroke." Meschia, who is not involved in Vandross' care, adds, "Many stroke patients are either discharged to home or to a rehabilitation center within a week." On Monday, Vandross' mother — evangelist Mary Ida Vandross — was interviewed on Joyner's radio program and related how her son was helped by the earlier vigil. She said she has already lost two other children and her husbands to complications from diabetes. Vandross has said previously that his weight problems through the years led to both diabetes and hypertension. Joyner says he got late-night phone calls from the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Aretha Franklin suggesting the vigil. He says there is no way to measure how many people were involved, but Vandross, 52, is a beloved figure for his show's 8 million weekly listeners. "Luther feels like family," says Joyner. "He is not just an artist who's got a lot of hit records. What African-American do you know who doesn't have some Luther in their collection? Mainstream America doesn't realize how huge Luther is with us." Before being stricken, Vandross was scheduled to be a guest judge on American Idol on May 6. J Records says his newest album, Dance With My Father, is still set for release June 10
