“Everyone was on their feet, and the theater radiated love and gratitude. That’s the effect of Luther. It will deepen your appreciation for a sensational performer and remind you of the extraordinary, and everlasting, power of love.”
— Kui Mwai,
“Essential viewing...an overdue portrait of one of music’s best.”
— Lovia Gyarkye,
“Through a wealth of rare archival material and rich interviews, Porter’s documentary lovingly chronicles an American treasure’s legacy.”
— Tomris Laffly,
“Porter constructs a portrait that strikes a delicate, graceful balance. With interviews and artist narration, Porter steps back and gives the Grammy winner autonomy in recounting his career.”
— Valerie Complex,
“Director Dawn Porter received a standing ovation in front of a Sundance crowd during the premiere of her latest film, Luther: Never Too Much, which sheds light on the prolific R&B singer who has made an indelible mark on music history. And the praise was well-deserved...This documentary is compelling, provides beautiful commentary, and gives the kind of grace that Luther deserves.”
— Jamie Broadnax,
ABOUT THE FILM
LOGLINE
LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH the documentary film, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack. The film relives the many stunning moments of Vandross’ Grammy® award-winning musical career, while exploring his personal life, health struggles, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.
LONG SYNOPSIS
Luther Vandross always thought he would be a star. The film LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH explores the formative years of Luther’s musical career, back to the epicenter of black culture, Harlem’s very own Apollo Theater. Luther was inspired by female iconic vocalists such as Dionne Warwick. Of her concert at the Brooklyn Fox Theater, he said “She came on stage and just killed me; the music was more serious, the song value was more serious.” His big break comes during a studio session with David Bowie, where he would go on to sing background vocals and arrange Bowie’s iconic Young Americans album. Love is joyous for Luther as in Never Too Much; it is pure, as in the duet with Mariah Carey in Endless Love and Dionne Warwick. For Luther love is harmony, and perhaps most exquisitely and painfully (for what is the dark side of love but pain?) If only for one night—who hasn’t made this Faustian bargain? Willing to live a life of loneliness for one perfect night with one true love.
We explore his process of creation, an exacting style that culminated in the most exquisite compositions. A portrait of a master emerges. He would control what he could as best he could. His weight, his craft, his love of family and close friends. If romantic love eluded Luther, he made up for it in other ways. Luther is a man of passion, a man who delighted in beauty and luxury.
The film explores the incredible investment the artist put into his musical presentation, only to be met with frustration from being pigeonholed as an “R&B” artist, struggles to crossover, and battles with the record industry. Vandross suffered a sudden stroke and passed away at the age of 51. The final chapters of Luther’s life are celebrated by the memories of his cherished friends, family, collaborators.
Director Dawn Porter
Producers Trish D Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith
Executive Producers Dawn Porter, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Tom Mackay, Richard Story, Jon Platt, Brian Monaco, Colin Firth, David Gottlieb, Phil Thornton
Co-Executive Producer Summer Damon
Supervising Producer Amanda Goscinski Potvin
Associate Producer Gabrielle Barlatier
Line Producer Adam Goldberg
Editor Mark Fason
Director of Photography Bryan Gentry
Music Robert Glasper
FESTIVALS
2024: Sundance (World Premiere), Full Frame, SFFILM, Hot Docs, Tribeca, DC/DOX
AWARDS
2024 Hot Docs Top Ten Audience Favourite
AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World
EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download
PRESS KIT
Download Press Kit
AVAILABLE PRESS IMAGES (click to preview)
