Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)

PG 29 Nov 2002 • Documentary, Music • 1h 48m
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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, Ntozake Shange, Alan Slutsky
Writer
Joe Hunter, Jack Ashford, Uriel Jones
Starring

Language: English
Awards: 8 wins & 14 nominations
Country: United States
Metacritic Score: 76
DVD Release Date:
Box Office Total: $1,722,119

7.8

IMDb (3866 votes)
91%
Rotten Tomatoes
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