Luther Vandross’ Niece Reveals Inspirations Behind His Love Songs, Why He Never Spoke of Personal Life: Report
Luther Vandross' niece spilled details about the late r&b soul icon.
Seveda Williams opened up about her Grammy award-winning uncle in an exclusive interview with 'PEOPLE' where she described the soulful vocalist as a "consummate professional" who was focused on "making sure his audiences were satisfied and delighted."
Williams — who is also head of Fandross, honoring the late singer's decorative history — spills the details as a celebration of Black History Month.
"I know that he wanted to be known as a premier singer of his time and he accomplished that no question," Williams said, per the media outlet. "They don't make them like him anymore."
Although the 54-year-old's music was filled with love and sensuality, Williams alleges the music does come from his experiences but not necessarily his love life, which she admits has always been thoroughly under wraps.
"I think his depth of love came from his own situations and when you're young, he was writing before he was even in any type of relationship or anything. So he was not always singing about romantic love," she stated, per the outlet.
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"Most people assume it, but if you look at the lyrics of his songs, everything is not romantic," Williams explained. "So it's about loving yourself, loving your mom, loving a situation that you're in. Everything's not autobiographical."
Williams, who stated she loves her uncle and "all things Luther", also teased the late r&b icon's highly anticipated documentary, 'Never Too Much', set to be released January 2025.
"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," she said of the film. "It hits many layers of who he is or was and how he got there and what happened for or to him."
Vandross' last appearance would be on May 6 of 2004, on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'. The legendary vocalist died July 1 of the following year citing complications of a stroke. His funeral ceremony took place one week later, at Riverside Church in New York City.
