Standing in the Shadows of Motown

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.

Trailer

Top Cast

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Richard 'Pistol' Allen

Himself

Jack Ashford

Himself

Bob Babbitt

Himself

Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin

Himself (archive footage)

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Eddie 'Bongo' Brown

Himself (archive footage)

Bootsy Collins

Himself

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Johnny Griffith

Himself

Ben Harper

Himself