Source: Paul Natkin / Getty

*Updated 9:45 AM, January 2, 2025*

Very few artists can take a song recorded by someone else and make it their own…and there are even fewer that could do it like the late Luther Vandross.

Nearly 20 years after his passing in 2005, the R&B icon is still one of the greatest singers of the 20th century – a vocal stylist who can make any song into a soulful hit.

With the recent television premiere of his documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, fans were reminded of how special Vandross was and how he could make any song seem tailored to his unique style.

Take, for instance, his cover of The Beatles’ 1965 track, “Michelle,” one of four previously unreleased tracks featured on the doc’s accompanying greatest hits album.

Fonzi Thornton, a close friend and collaborator of Vandross, found the tape while looking through the singer’s archives with family following his passing.

He tells The Hollywood Reporter: 

“I found two cassettes labeled ‘Michelle’ in his handwriting — [I had] no idea what it was [and then I] played it! I realized it was a beautiful rendition of the Beatles classic that had been vocally and musically Lutherized. I played Luther’s version for Jeff James, A&R at Sony and Dave Gottlieb, manager of the Vandross Estate, and we agreed it was such a find. We decided to save it until the right time — which is now.”

The Beatles are just the latest in a long list of musicians to have seen their classics remade by one of the greatest vocalists in R&B music. And, to be honest, Luther’s version makes you almost forget that it was a cover to begin with.

Check out some more hits that have been “Lutherized” below!