Despite legendary singer Luther Vandross tragically passing away nearly two decades ago, people who were close to him are still doing their best to keep his legacy alive. Such as his niece, Seveda Williams.
In an interview with People, Williams opened up about her uncle and spoke about the amazing person and artist he was while he was still alive.
Williams told the outlet, “He was really a consummate professional, a man about his business and about making sure his audiences were satisfied and delighted.”
She later added, “I know that he wanted to be known as a premier singer of his time and he accomplished that no question. They don’t make them like him anymore. He was the last, in my opinion, true king of romance. He had a magnificent voice, but he also wrote the lyrics, these heartfelt lyrics.”
As the founder of Fandross, an organization focused on celebrating the musical memory of the brilliant singer, Williams is focused on everything relating to her uncle, not only because she’s family, but also a fan.
On the Fandross website, Williams wrote, “He was fatherly and schooled me on what men thought and wanted, and how to spot game. He helped me set high standards of what qualifications and traits defined a good man, how to carry and take care of myself, and also to be bold and unapologetic regarding my expectations of how I was to be treated. Because of him I know what the warmth and security of trust feels like. One of the hundreds of reasons I love and adore that man to this day.”
Fans of the “Dance with My Father” singer will soon learn more about him in the upcoming documentary, “Never Too Much,” which is set to release in January 2025, nearly 20 years after his passing.
When speaking on the film, Williams said, “It’s not going to be for everybody. I think it is very inclusive of everything and you’ll get to see it and come up with your opinion. It doesn’t hide anything. It hits many layers of who he is or was and how he got there and what happened for or to him.”
The documentary will also give fans a peek into the singer’s love life, which was something he infamously kept extremely private.
“He had his friends in his crew and nobody else needed to be a part of that,” Williams told People. “If you are not my friend, why are we talking about certain things? Everything isn’t everybody’s business all of the time.”
Just this past February, Vandross’ name was in the middle of some controversy. While on tour, Madonna performed an AIDS tribute that included pictures of friends and celebrities who died from complications from the disease. Vandross was added to the performance.
This led to the estate of the singer releasing a statement to Page Six, saying, “Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier. While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus. We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute.”
His name and photo were removed from the presentation soon after.