Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)

  • PG
  • 05/11/2002 (US)
  • Documentary, Music
  • 1h 56m

The soul behind the sound.

Overview

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit's thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They called themselves the Funk Brothers. Forty-one years after they played their first note on a Motown record and three decades since they were all together, the Funk Brothers reunited back in Detroit to play their music and tell their unforgettable story, with the help of archival footage, still photos, narration, interviews, re-creation scenes, 20 Motown master tracks, and twelve new live performances of Motown classics with the Brothers backing up contemporary performers.

Paul Justman

Director

Walter Dallas

Writer

Alan Slutsky

Novel

Ntozake Shange

Writer

Cast

Richard 'Pistol' Allen's headshot

Richard 'Pistol' Allen

Himself
Jack Ashford's headshot

Jack Ashford

Himself
Bob Babbitt's headshot

Bob Babbitt

Himself
Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin's headshot

Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin

Himself (archive footage)
Eddie 'Bongo' Brown's headshot

Eddie 'Bongo' Brown

Himself (archive footage)
Bootsy Collins's headshot

Bootsy Collins

Himself
Johnny Griffith's headshot

Johnny Griffith

Himself
Ben Harper's headshot

Ben Harper

Himself

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