Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)

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.

Directing:
  • Paul Justman

Writing:
  • Alan Slutsky
  • Walter Dallas
  • Ntozake Shange

Stars:
Release Date: 2002-11-15
themoviedb icon 6.9/10
  • Country: US
  • Language: English
  • Runtime: 116
Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collin...
Himself
Montell Jordan
Montell Jorda...
Himself
Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford
Himself
Bob Babbitt
Bob Babbitt
Himself
Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin
Benny 'Papa Z...
Himself (archive footage)
Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Himself
James Jamerson
James Jamerso...
Himself (archive footage)
Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones
Himself
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Herself
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert
Himself
Joe Messina
Joe Messina
Himself
Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndege...
Herself
Andre Braugher
Andre Braughe...
Narrator
Gary Bosek
Gary Bosek
Young Bob Babbitt
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