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Luther Vandross the soulful American singer is still influencing modern music. His catalog of music ranges from upbeat hits to emotion packed ballads which continue to create moments for those that enjoy it. A new documentary was released for people to understand his journey and the impact he has made through the course of his life.
Luther Vandross's music still remains deeply woven into the fabric of black American culture and his songs are often connected with important events such as weddings, birthdays, cook outs, date nights and break ups with many personal memories attached to them. He touched on many areas of life during his journey making his music universal with people all over the world from different backgrounds. His personal stories were brought forward through song that are still used and appreciated even today.
Many songs throughout his catalog have become timeless and are iconic for most generations such as “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” and "Superstar (Until You Come Back to Me). These songs also capture feelings of heartache, love, celebration and more which transcend through time giving a voice for everyone to relate to.
A documentary has captured Vandross’ unique approach in creating music along with his passion and struggles to reach those heights in a new film that debuted on CNN. It offers a look behind his persona through his own archival footage, showing a glimpse into the personality of the artist behind all of the songs.
This documentary includes interviews with legendary artists such as Roberta Flack, Dionne Warwick, and Mariah Carey who share their admiration and unique perspectives about his impact as a person and as a music legend. The film was composed with the goal to highlight some parts of his personality that have not been revealed as openly in his past.
Along with Luther’s many achievements the documentary reveals some personal challenges that were both deeply connected to himself and some experiences outside of his personal control that impacted his ability to achieve what he wanted during his career. The topics highlight his lifelong struggle with weight gain, his challenge in obtaining the mainstream success due to being labeled a black artist, and his struggle as a closeted man at the time his fame rose.
There is an awareness shown to how he was always under a personal struggle and the industry not always knowing how to recognize what he had to offer. The documentary also highlights his fight to get recognition in different markets despite facing discrimination and being boxed into one specific area for many years.
His personal preference of relationships was never openly discussed with anyone but he was often times pushed to talk about his sexuality. Vandross stated to the press many times that he only wanted to share his work. However the film shows those viewpoints in a way which made it part of his story while remaining very respectful and open to how each perspective would see things. This helped give a different perspective on some views about the artists life.
Throughout the film there were many moments where he could showcase who he truly was which was very open and emotional. Vandross’ personal life had him embrace his creative choices that were noted by friends and associates. His deep commitment to showmanship with wardrobe along with specific set choices are detailed in the film creating a unique experience for all viewers.
Luther's home reflected his same meticulous nature he also had for the artists he would perform with. He had designed custom garments and also made sure each room of his home showed his detailed approach in every choice. It is seen that he created a lifestyle that he both admired while also being true to his sense of what should be. His homes would house classic works of art and had color palettes that were his own choosing which would become more prominent through the lens of this film.
The music catalog is rich for interpretations and it gives many people a look into what an iconic artist is able to express both with and without using words. This created a level of importance with what viewers could expect.
He is also an icon for many members of the gay community despite that this is not openly confirmed which shows where people can connect based on his style and message. This exploration would create a space for all those that admire him and provide opportunity for more to feel included in something so great. The film leaves viewers to have new thought processes on how they relate to the late artist and gives opportunities to look through a variety of different perspectives.