A documentary in regards to the life and profession of legendary R&B singer Luther Vandross is within the works, with Jamie Foxx and Colin Firth serving as producers.
Sony Music Leisure’s (SME) Premium Content material Division, Sony Music Publishing, Foxx’s Foxxhole Productions and Firth’s Raindog Movies have joined forces to provide the first-ever doc on the eight-time Grammy winner, who died in 2005 at age 54. Award-winning filmmaker Daybreak Porter is directing, and manufacturing is underway.
Vandross started his profession as a backup singer for Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross and David Bowie. He launched his profitable, double platinum debut album, By no means Too A lot, in 1981 and has bought 40 million albums worldwide. Most of his albums achieved platinum or double platinum standing, and he scored 5 High 10 hits on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart, together with “Right here and Now,” “Countless Love” and “Energy of Love/Love Energy.” He earned 27 High 10 hits on the R&B chart, together with seven No.1s, and earned 33 Grammy nominations.
Vandross suffered a stroke in 2003 and famously missed the 2004 Grammy Awards, the place he received 4 honors together with track of the 12 months for the touching ballad, “Dance With My Father.”
“Luther is certainly one of our GOATs,” Foxx stated in a press release. “He’s one of many biggest singers within the historical past of music. It’s actually an honor to be part of the group to assist deliver this unbelievable story to the plenty.”
Joe Maher/Getty Photographs; Theo Wargo/Getty Photographs; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Photographs
The documentary “will observe the long-lasting artist as he charted his personal course changing into one of the vital embellished and influential pop artists of all time” and “seize the intensely personal Grammy-winning artist’s ardour for music, world rise and private struggles.” The movie will embody “entry to his never-before-seen private archive” and is being supported by his closest family and friends. Producers have partnered with Trilogy Movies, the Property of Luther Vandross and property associate Major Wave Music to create the doc.
“Like so many, I’ve all the time beloved Luther’s music, however I had no concept of the breadth and scope of his artistry. I feel folks shall be shocked at how a lot he completed in his tragically quick life. It’s a pleasure to have the ability to share his true story,” stated Porter, whose credit embody The Ladybird Diaries, John Lewis: Good Bother, The Method I See It, Bobby Kennedy for President and Trapped.
The documentary announcement comes a month after award-winning filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk instructed The Hollywood Reporter that he’s engaged on a Vandross biopic, based mostly on Craig Seymour’s ebook, Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross.
Sony Music Leisure’s Premium Content material group is distributing the upcoming documentary. The thought for the venture was originated by Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty, and alongside Firth, they function producers for Raindog Movies. Foxx and Datari Turner function producers for Foxxhole Productions. Leah Smith serves as producer for Trilogy Movies. Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman are govt producers for Sony Non-Fiction Tv. Tom Mackay and Richard Story be a part of as govt producers for Sony Music Leisure. Jon Platt and Brian Monaco function govt producers for Sony Music Publishing. Phil Thornton serves as an govt producer. Larry Mestel and Natalia Nastaskin function govt producers on behalf of property associate Major Wave Music.
Krista Wegener of Sony Music Leisure’s Premium Content material group will lead world gross sales for the movie.
