Morgan Neville accepts the award for best documentary feature of the year for “20 Feet From Stardom” during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. AP
LOS ANGELES – “20 Feet from Stardom,” a documentary that puts the spotlight on backup singers, has won the Oscar for best documentary feature.
The film, directed by Emmy-award winner Morgan Neville, takes a look at the singers who come of age amid the careers of luminaries like Ray Charles, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder.
Befitting the attention that they normally miss out on, backup singer Darlene Love broke into song before the Dolby Theater crowd, singing “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free.”
Neville acknowledged producer Gil Friesen, who died in December.
“Tonight, I know he’s celebrating with us,” Neville said.