A new documentary titled Luther: Never Too Much is scheduled to premiere on January 21, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival. The upcoming project will showcase the illustrious life and career of the American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer Luther Vandross.
The singer reportedly sold over 40 million records throughout his career. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named him as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time. Some of his popular songs include Here and Now, Any Love, and I Can Make It Better, among others.
Vandross passed away on July 1, 2005, in Edison, New Jersey, due to a heart attack. At the time of his passing, he was only 54 years old. He reportedly suffered from diabetes and hypertension for a long time. His last public appearance was on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired on May 6, 2004.
According to IMDb, the synopsis of Luther: Never Too Much reads, “A celebration of the life and work of one of the greatest musical vocalists and performers of all time. Exploring his musical talent but also his character, style, humor, relationship with family, friends, fans and the incredible artists he collaborated with. Including Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, David Bowie, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, and more.”
Award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter directed Luther: Never Too Much. She is best known for projects like Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court, Gideon’s Army, and The Way I See It.
Dawn Porter expresses her excitement about directing Luther: Never Too Much
According to NBC News, Porter stated that working on a documentary about Luther Vandross was a dream come true. She said, “Having the opportunity to tell the story about one of our greatest vocalists ever and give him the recognition that he should’ve had in life is surreal. It’s so much more than a music doc, and that means everything to me.”
She continued, “I wanted people who knew him really well. And who could tell you what it was like when he was not performing. I was really focused on his lyrics and who he was as a person, and I couldn’t wait to dive into that. We just took off from there, and it just came together.” She ended her statement by saying, “He was in so many places, and that is so often the story of our people. We’re in so many places but not visible in those spaces. This film is pulling him into the light.”
The news outlet also reported that Ged Doherty, Colin Firth, and Trish D. Chetty have been trying to make a project about the late singer since 2015. Chetty stated, “He brought us so much joy growing up but at the same time, he had many personal struggles. It was important to address those things but not make them central to the story.”
Datari Turner, one of the executive producers, also shared, “His music is timeless and still holds up today. The film is made to remind people how great he is, and you want to give people their flowers.”
Even though Porter is usually known for her politically themed documentaries, the upcoming Vandross documentary will be sentimental and personal. Additionally, it will include interviews with close friends, musicians, collaborators, staff, background vocalists, executives, and family members.
