Motown is a cultural institution. They've helped launch many careers into the history as well as given us a great soundtrack to everyday life. While we all know or at least have heard of the artists in Motown, there is a group that is just as responsible if not more for the success of the Motown sound.
The Funk Brothers are the collective of musicians who played live instruments for the studio recordings of most of Motown's biggest hits. Their talents and instincts have given us some of the most memorable sounds in pop music and yet we don't know most of their names.
Assembled due to various circumstances such as trying to find a job, family obligations, or opportunity these various musicians sought a different life.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a critically acclaimed documentary that details the rise and fall of these unsung heroes of music. It includes performances featuring current artists like Joan Osborne and Ben Harper, as well as interviews with the surviving Funk Brothers.
What's most refreshing is that these are architects of live music played with real instruments which is more and more vanishing into obscurity in pop music today. This is a great documentary to watch with different generations who love music.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no discriminatory or inflammatory language. I appreciate comments being posted, but in a way that is respectful and positive to the internet community.