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Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Standing in the Shadows of Motown

The soul behind the sound.

6.92 - voted by 47
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.

Cast

Richard 'Pistol' Allen poster

Richard 'Pistol' Allen

Self

Jack Ashford poster

Jack Ashford

Self

Bob Babbitt poster

Bob Babbitt

Self

Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin poster

Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin

Self (archive footage)

Eddie 'Bongo' Brown poster

Eddie 'Bongo' Brown

Self (archive footage)

Bootsy Collins poster

Bootsy Collins

Self

Johnny Griffith poster

Johnny Griffith

Self

Ben Harper poster

Ben Harper

Self

Joe Hunter poster

Joe Hunter

Self

James Jamerson poster

James Jamerson

Self (archive footage)

Uriel Jones poster

Uriel Jones

Self

Montell Jordan poster

Montell Jordan

Self

Chaka Khan poster

Chaka Khan

Self

Gerald Levert poster

Gerald Levert

Self

Joe Messina poster

Joe Messina

Self