Standing in the Shadows of Motown poster

Standing in the Shadows of Motown( 2002)

TV-MADocumentaryMusic
69%
User
Score

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.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Richard 'Pistol' Allen

      Himself

    2. cast image

      Jack Ashford

      Himself

    3. cast image

      Bob Babbitt

      Himself

    4. cast image

      Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin

      Himself (archive footage)

    5. cast image

      Eddie 'Bongo' Brown

      Himself (archive footage)

    6. cast image

      Bootsy Collins

      Himself

    7. cast image

      Johnny Griffith

      Himself

    8. cast image

      Ben Harper

      Himself

    9. cast image

      Joe Hunter

      Himself

    10. cast image

      James Jamerson

      Himself (archive footage)

    11. cast image

      Uriel Jones

      Himself

    12. cast image

      Montell Jordan

      Himself

    13. cast image

      Chaka Khan

      Herself

    14. cast image

      Gerald Levert

      Himself

    15. cast image

      Joe Messina

      Himself

    16. cast image

      Meshell Ndegeocello

      Herself

    17. cast image

      Joan Osborne

      Herself

    18. cast image

      Rudy Robinson

      Himself

    19. cast image

      James Jamerson Jr.

      Himself

    20. cast image

      Paul Riser

      Himself

    21. cast image

      Andre Braugher

      Narrator

    22. cast image

      Gary Bosek

      Young Bob Babbitt

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • motown
    • music business
    • rock music
    • pop music