Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Synopsis

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.

Main Cast

Richard 'Pistol' Allen

Himself

Age : 91 | Popularity : 3%

Jack Ashford

Himself

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Bob Babbitt

Himself

Age : 74 | Popularity : 3%

Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin

Himself (archive footage)

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Eddie 'Bongo' Brown

Himself (archive footage)

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Bootsy Collins

Himself

Age : 72 | Popularity : 7%

Johnny Griffith

Himself

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Ben Harper

Himself

Age : 54 | Popularity : 5%

Crew

Department	Role	Name
Directing	Director	Paul Justman
Writing	Novel	Alan Slutsky
	Writer	Walter Dallas Ntozake Shange
Sound	Music	Alan Slutsky
Production	Executive Producer	David Scott
	Associate Producer	Michael Q. Martin
Crew	Post Production Supervisor	Michael Q. Martin
Department	Role	Name

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