Dawn Porter to direct Luther Vandross doc with Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith producing
THR reports that award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter is directing a documentary about the life and career of legendary R&B singer Luther Vandross is in the works, with Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith and Colin Firth serving as producers. Production is underway on the first-ever doc on the eight-time Grammy winner, who died in 2005 at age 54.
Vandross began his career as a backup singer for Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross and David Bowie. He released his successful, double platinum debut album, Never Too Much, in 1981 and has sold 40 million albums worldwide. Most of his albums achieved platinum or double platinum status, and he scored five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including “Here and Now,” “Endless Love” and “Power of Love/Love Power.” He earned 27 Top 10 hits on the R&B chart, including seven No.1s, and earned 33 Grammy nominations.
The documentary “will follow the iconic artist as he charted his own course becoming one of the most decorated and influential pop artists of all time” and “capture the intensely private Grammy-winning artist’s passion for music, global rise and personal struggles.” The film will include “access to his never-before-seen personal archive” and is being supported by his closest friends and family. Producers have partnered with Trilogy Films, the Estate of Luther Vandross and estate partner Primary Wave Music to create the doc.
Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content group is distributing the upcoming documentary. The idea for the project was originated by Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty, and alongside Firth, they serve as producers for Raindog Films. Foxx and Datari Turner serve as producers for Foxxhole Productions. Leah Smith serves as producer for Trilogy Films.
Porter's docs have included The Ladybird Diaries, John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Way I See It, Bobby Kennedy for President and Trapped.