Vandross has won four Grammys

The mother of singer Luther Vandross has blamed her son's hectic schedule for him suffering a stroke.

Mary Vandross, 80, said: "He just worked himself to where he is right now."

Vandross, 52, who has a history of heart and weight problems, had a stroke in April at his home in Manhattan and has since battled pneumonia.

His mother said he had been overeating shortly before being struck with the illness.

"He had regained his weight back, and that of course really bothered me tremendously, because I knew how hard he was struggling not to gain the weight," she said.

Aretha Franklin's vigil

Vandross had been finishing an album, Dance With My Father, when he took ill. The album is being released next week.

As he recovers in hospital, Vandross is being played music by his favourite singers, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick.

Franklin held a candlelight vigil and concert for her friend last month.

Vandross has sold more than 20 million records during his career and won four Grammy awards in the 1990s.