R&B singer Luther Vandross [ tickets ] reportedly is talking and singing again, six months after he suffered a stroke.

According to the Oct. 20 issue of People magazine, Vandross' friends and family report that he is undergoing five hours of therapy nearly every day.

"His voice is the same as it ever was," singer Patti LaBelle [ tickets ] told the magazine. "He's back."

LaBelle added that she sang a duet with Vandross during a recent visit with the singer, and that he was sharp enough to correct her when she flubbed the lyrics.

In a recent interview with MTV News, Vandross' assistant Max Szadek reportedly said that Vandross is "a long way from where he was, but he is taking it slowly and making strides every day." He reportedly is unable to get out of bed and walk without help, and will remain in a New York-area rehabilitation facility indefinitely.

Vandross suffered a serious stroke on April 16, and doctors termed him "minimally responsive" for several weeks. By June, he was breathing on his own and undergoing light physical therapy.

Despite his condition, J Records went ahead with the release of Vandross' new album, "Dance with My Father," in June. The album debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart, and has sold more than 1.3 million copies to date in the U.S., according to J Records.

Vandross has been nominated for two American Music Awards in the soul and R&B categories Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album. According to Vandross' label, Luther's mother, Mary Vandross, will attend the awards ceremony on Nov. 16.

On Oct. 28, J Records will release "Luther Vandross Live at Radio City Music Hall 2003," which was recorded on Feb. 14.

One of the most successful R&B singer-songwriter-producers of the '80s, Vandross is best known for his romantic ballads. Among his hits are "Never Too Much," "Here and Now," "A House Is Not a Home," "Any Love," and "Power of Love/Love Power."