Standing in the Shadows of Motown
“The soul behind the sound.”
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-05-30
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Richard 'Pistol' Allen
Self
Jack Ashford
Self
Bob Babbitt
Self
Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin
Self (archive footage)
Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
Self (archive footage)
Bootsy Collins
Self
Johnny Griffith
Self
Ben Harper
Self
Joe Hunter
Self
James Jamerson
Self (archive footage)
Uriel Jones
Self
Montell Jordan
Self
Chaka Khan
Self
Gerald Levert
Self
Joe Messina
Self
Meshell Ndegeocello
Self
Joan Osborne
Self
Rudy Robinson
Self
Release History & Theatrical Window
Tribeca Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 15, 2002
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Paul Justman
- Screenplay & Story
- Walter Dallas, Alan Slutsky, Ntozake Shange
- Original Score
- Alan Slutsky
- Original Title
- Standing in the Shadows of Motown
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 56m
- Production Studios
- Elliott Scott Productions, Rimshot
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Paul Justman
Walter Dallas, Alan Slutsky, Ntozake Shange
Alan Slutsky
David Scott
Department Leadership Roster
Paul Justman
Director
Walter Dallas
Writer
Ntozake Shange
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
MUSIC DOCS
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Musicals
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list_Music
Movies categorized under Music
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Frequently Asked Questions About Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Standing in the Shadows of Motown about?
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.
Who directed Standing in the Shadows of Motown?
Standing in the Shadows of Motown was directed by Paul Justman.
Who stars in Standing in the Shadows of Motown?
The principal cast of Standing in the Shadows of Motown includes Richard 'Pistol' Allen, Jack Ashford, Bob Babbitt, Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin, Eddie 'Bongo' Brown.
When was Standing in the Shadows of Motown released and how long is it?
Standing in the Shadows of Motown was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 1h 56m.
Who composed the musical score for Standing in the Shadows of Motown?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Standing in the Shadows of Motown was composed by Alan Slutsky.
Is Standing in the Shadows of Motown based on a book or true story?
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Alan Slutsky".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Standing in the Shadows of Motown?
Standing in the Shadows of Motown holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).