Standing in the Shadows of Motown

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN focuses on a group of Detroit session musicians known as the Funk Brothers who were the Motown in-house studio band from the late 1950s to early 1970s. Although they backed many soul legends on their big hits, the Funk Brothers and their achievements remained unsung until only recently. Director Paul Justman devoted 14 years to his portrait of the secret alchemists of Motown's golden sounds. Based upon the book of the same name by Allan Slutsky, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN revisits a crucial era in music history.

Keywords

  • Award Winning
  • Art
  • pop culture
  • rock

Actors

  • Jack “Black Jack” Ashford
  • Bob Babbitt
  • Joe Messina
  • Eddie “Chank” Willis

Director

  • Paul Justman

Documentary, Music, Dance, Theater


1h 43min


0 FSK

EN


DE

United States of America
2002
The story of the mythical soul record label that put such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye on the map.

The story of the mythical soul record label that put such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye on the map.


STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN focuses on a group of Detroit session musicians known as the Funk Brothers who were the Motown in-house studio band from the late 1950s to early 1970s. Although they backed many soul legends on their big hits, the Funk Brothers and their achievements remained unsung until only recently.


Director Paul Justman devoted 14 years to his portrait of the secret alchemists of Motown's golden sounds. Based upon the book of the same name by Allan Slutsky, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN revisits a crucial era in music history.

Festivals

Cast & Crew