Post by Jonel on Aug 6, 2002 9:46:33 GMT -5
Legendary Motown House Band The Funk Brothers Reunite for `Standing In The Shadows of Motown' Performing New Live Versions of Classic Hits Featuring Today's Singers -- Exciting Soundtrack for Artisan's Film "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" Includes Entire Concert Plus Rare Versions of Motown Originals
Story Filed: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 10:00 AM EST
LOS ANGELES, Aug 6, 2002 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- They are Motown's unsung heroes. Known as The Funk Brothers, the studio band put the backbeat into hits for Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, etc. They played on more #1 records than The Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley combined, but no one knew their names. More than 40 years after their first note for Motown, the surviving Funk Brothers reunited in Detroit to tell their story and, one last time, play their music.
"Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" (Hip-O/Motown), released September 24, 2002, is the soundtrack album to the feature documentary of the same name to be released November 15 by Artisan Entertainment, the company that brought to the public the acclaimed "Buena Vista Social Club."
Joining The Funk Brothers at Detroit's Royal Oak Music Theater in 2000 to reprise a dozen classics for the film's concert sequences were contemporary vocalists Ben Harper ("Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"), Joan Osborne ("(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted") and Me'Shell Ndegeocello ("You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "Cloud Nine"), and R&B greats Chaka Khan ("What's Going On" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with Montell Jordan), Gerald Levert ("Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Shotgun" with Tom Scott) and Bootsy Collins ("Do You Love Me," "Cool Jerk"). Also heard on the album are vintage recordings of "The Flick" (by late leader/keyboardist Earl Van Dyke), "You Keep Me Hanging On" by the Supremes and James Jamerson's bass line to the Four Tops' "Bernadette."
The reunited Funk Brothers, many of whom hadn't seen each other in 20-plus years, were Joe Hunter and Johnny Griffith on keyboards, Joe Messina and Eddie Willis on guitar, Bob Babbitt on bass, Jack Ashford on percussion and vibraphone, and Pistol Allen (who has recently passed since the filming) and Uriel Jones on drums. They were joined in spirit by those who had passed away: Van Dyke, Jamerson (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2000), guitarist Robert White, percussionist Eddie "Bogo" Brown and drummer Benny Benjamin. Backed by horn and string sections, and a posse of backing vocalists, The Funk Brothers once more laid down the groove.
The film, which includes new interviews and rare archival footage, was inspired by Allan Slutsky's award-winning 1989 book "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown: The Life And Music Of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson." Motown authority Slutsky co-produced and music supervised, and transcribed and arranged the music. Directing was Paul Justman, whose videos were a staple of early MTV and who has since directed documentaries on The Doors, James Brown, The Neville Brothers and, most recently, the music of New Orleans.
With "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown," The Funk Brothers finally step into the spotlight.
Note: Interviews available.
Full bios/artwork, etc. available on:
publicity.artisanent.com/theatrical/standingintheshadows
CONTACT: Universal
Sujata Murthy, 310/865-7812 (media contact)
Todd Nakamine, 310/865-7797 (media contact)
Elliot Kendall, 310/865-9852 (radio contact)
or
Artisan Entertainment
Sarah Greenberg, 310/255-3856
or
Bumble Ward and Associates
BeBe Lerner, 323/655-8585
URL:
www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
Story Filed: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 10:00 AM EST
LOS ANGELES, Aug 6, 2002 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- They are Motown's unsung heroes. Known as The Funk Brothers, the studio band put the backbeat into hits for Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, etc. They played on more #1 records than The Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley combined, but no one knew their names. More than 40 years after their first note for Motown, the surviving Funk Brothers reunited in Detroit to tell their story and, one last time, play their music.
"Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" (Hip-O/Motown), released September 24, 2002, is the soundtrack album to the feature documentary of the same name to be released November 15 by Artisan Entertainment, the company that brought to the public the acclaimed "Buena Vista Social Club."
Joining The Funk Brothers at Detroit's Royal Oak Music Theater in 2000 to reprise a dozen classics for the film's concert sequences were contemporary vocalists Ben Harper ("Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"), Joan Osborne ("(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted") and Me'Shell Ndegeocello ("You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "Cloud Nine"), and R&B greats Chaka Khan ("What's Going On" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with Montell Jordan), Gerald Levert ("Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Shotgun" with Tom Scott) and Bootsy Collins ("Do You Love Me," "Cool Jerk"). Also heard on the album are vintage recordings of "The Flick" (by late leader/keyboardist Earl Van Dyke), "You Keep Me Hanging On" by the Supremes and James Jamerson's bass line to the Four Tops' "Bernadette."
The reunited Funk Brothers, many of whom hadn't seen each other in 20-plus years, were Joe Hunter and Johnny Griffith on keyboards, Joe Messina and Eddie Willis on guitar, Bob Babbitt on bass, Jack Ashford on percussion and vibraphone, and Pistol Allen (who has recently passed since the filming) and Uriel Jones on drums. They were joined in spirit by those who had passed away: Van Dyke, Jamerson (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2000), guitarist Robert White, percussionist Eddie "Bogo" Brown and drummer Benny Benjamin. Backed by horn and string sections, and a posse of backing vocalists, The Funk Brothers once more laid down the groove.
The film, which includes new interviews and rare archival footage, was inspired by Allan Slutsky's award-winning 1989 book "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown: The Life And Music Of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson." Motown authority Slutsky co-produced and music supervised, and transcribed and arranged the music. Directing was Paul Justman, whose videos were a staple of early MTV and who has since directed documentaries on The Doors, James Brown, The Neville Brothers and, most recently, the music of New Orleans.
With "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown," The Funk Brothers finally step into the spotlight.
Note: Interviews available.
Full bios/artwork, etc. available on:
publicity.artisanent.com/theatrical/standingintheshadows
CONTACT: Universal
Sujata Murthy, 310/865-7812 (media contact)
Todd Nakamine, 310/865-7797 (media contact)
Elliot Kendall, 310/865-9852 (radio contact)
or
Artisan Entertainment
Sarah Greenberg, 310/255-3856
or
Bumble Ward and Associates
BeBe Lerner, 323/655-8585
URL:
www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.