Grammy-winning, silky-voiced quiet storm superstar Luther Vandross is in critical but stable condition in a Manhattan hospital:

Luther Vandross contracted pneumonia after suffering a stroke and had to undergo a tracheotomy to help him breathe, but the procedure didn't damage his vocal chords, his representatives said Monday.

....His business manager, Carmen Romano, released a statement Monday confirming that Vandross suffered pneumonia during his hospitalization and had to have a tracheotomy, a procedure in which a hole is made in the throat and a tube is inserted to assist breathing.

"The tracheotomy was performed in a manner in which his vocal chords were not affected or damaged," Romano said.

Najarian said it was unclear whether the tube had been removed.

Vandross, 52, had a stroke April 16 at his Manhattan home; he was alone for hours before being discovered, Najarian said. He's been hospitalized at Weill-Cornell Medical College.

....Najarian said Vandross hadn't opened his eyes or spoken since his stroke and "he's had to fight off quite a few infections."

"There was a real feeling that he would have regained consciousness by now," she said. [AP]

None of that sounds good at all. I am not a super big fan, but the man is an icon in his field: you knew Ruben had the inside track early in this American Idol competition when both Randy and Simon compared him to Luther - no need to give a last name, everyone knew who they meant.

You can keep up with Luther's condition via his website, where you can also send a "personal message" to Luther (I won't comment on the grim irony of this under the circumstances). We wish him the very best and a full recovery.