ADORING fans of Luther Vandross flocked to the “Love Doctor’s” final public appearance at a funeral chapel yesterday on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Postal workers and housewives, pop stars and television celebrities, filed past his closed coffin to pay their last respects to the soul singer who died last Friday, aged 54, of complications after a stroke.

Among the thousands of mourners were Oprah Winfrey, the actress Cicely Tyson, and the singers Roberta Flack, Teddy Pendergrass and Patti LaBelle. Women made up the overwhelming majority of the crowd, won over by Vandross’s silky, seductive voice and his reputation as the “King of Romance”. Some sang his hit, Power of Love, while waiting to get inside.

Susan Thompson, a court officer who got up at 2am to drive three hours from Massachusetts so she could be first in the queue, said: “He is responsible for how my two kids got here — his music that is.” Nancy Marble, her friend, said: “When I first heard him, I was about 14 or 15. It sucked me right in. That was it for me. I have been to at least 20 of his concerts. I touched him — or should I say, he touched me. I put my hand up and he was touching all the women, and he touched me. Talk about melting.”

An eight-time Grammy winner, Vandross won Best Male R&B Performer four times — in 1990 for the single Here and Now, in 1991 for his album Power of Love, in 1996 for the track Your Secret Love and last year for his bittersweet Dance with My Father.

He also wrote and produced music for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick.

Vandross had not performed since suffering a stroke in April 2003, although he videotaped a “thank you” from his wheelchair for the 2004 Grammy ceremony. “We have not seen our audience for 2½ years,” Max Szebek, his personal assistant, said as he surveyed the mourners on Wednesday.

“We were really overwhelmed by the heartfelt prayers and blessings that fans gave us when Luther had his initial stroke. It was really important to include them in his life and his legacy, because they are such an important part of carrying on his music.”

Vandross’s music serenaded fans as they viewed his coffin in a flower-filled funeral chapel on East 81st Street. A collection of his sequined stage costumes was also on display.

Natalie Lashly, who queued for hours to get inside, said: “You know what threw me? Hearing his voice, and then to see the costumes. That tells me: ‘Boom. He’s not coming back.’ ”

Fans will get one last chance to pay tribute to Vandross at a memorial service at the Riverside Church in Manhattan today where Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder are expected to perform.

A LIFE IN MUSIC

1951 Born April 20

1975 Sings on David Bowie’s Young Americans

1981 First solo album, Never Too Much

1989 Top Ten single Here and Now earns him first of eight Grammys

2003 Suffers stroke just before release of multiple Grammy-winning Dance with my Father

April 2003 Stops public appearances

July 1 Dies aged 54 in Edison, New Jersey

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