Luther Vandross, who died a week ago at age 54, was laid to rest today with a memorial service at The Riverside Church in Manhattan, followed by a burial at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

On Friday, before the funeral, a procession made its through Harlem as a car carried the eight-time Grammy winner's casket passed the Apollo Theater, where it paused before making its way to The Riverside Church. Vandross had twice finished second at the Harlem theater's famed amateur night as a young entertainer.

At Riverside, thousands filled the church to capacity, with attendees such as Usher, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Ashford & Simpson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick among them. Hundreds were turned away at the door, and many of those people waited outside in the rain until the service was over. Sharon Sledge, 49, of Manhattan and her mother, Gloria, were two of the outside attendees.

"He gave so much to his fans, so how could I not come?" Sledge told MTV. "I don't care if was a snowstorm, I still would have taken off from work and come. He was the greatest singer I've ever heard."

Inside the service took on the tone of a revival, as Aretha Franklin helped Luther home with an searing rendition of "Amazing Grace" that brought folks to their feet. Cissy Houston sang the gospel standard "Deep River," and Wonder offered a breathtaking "I Can't Complain."

"I pray that you will inspire all of us to write and to sing songs, and to give the emotion and spirit to the true, committed people of God," Wonder said towards the direction of Vandross' gold casket.

Dressed in a sunshine-colored dress, longtime friend LaBelle shed light on the proceedings.

"There are no sad faces here today," she said. "It's not a mournful service. I'm celebrating because Luther would want us too."

She also read poem written by the legend's mother, Mary Ida, seated in the front row surrounded by nieces, nephews and their children.

The celebration of Vandross' life continued with the majority of the singers gathering to sing  one of Vandross' signature songs, "Power of Love/ Love Power," towards the end.

In her absence, fellow soul icon Gladys Knight faxed a message which referred to Vandross' final hit song.

"We should be happy for Luther," she wrote. "He made a difference in this world, and now he has the extraordinary chance to dance with his father again."

Following the service, Vandross was interred at a private ceremony at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

 Two days before the funeral, Wednesday and Thurdsday, hundreds gathered at Manhattan's Frank E. Campbell funeral chapel for a  public visitation to pay their last respects. Mourners in attendance included Cicely Tyson, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass and Roberta Flack.

People waited for hours to get one last look at the man with the golden voice, with many singing Luther songs while waiting in lines that stretched a block long. Many fans had made the trek from out of town to file by the closed casket surrounded by flowers and placed near an alcove containing photographs of the singer, plaques commemorating his record sales and eight sequined jackets he had performed in.

As previously reported, Vandross passed away on Friday, July 1, due to complications from a 2003 stroke. He will be missed by many as one of the most dynamic singers of our times.

On-line tributes, which will be presented to the family, can still be posted on the Making Everlasting Memories web site at www.MeM.com.