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In the Shadows of Motown

It was all about the music for the 13 men known as the Funk Brothers. With interviews intertwined among the live music from the band and current artists, the excitement is still there.

Many people have never heard of the Funk Brothers, but everyone has heard their music, including such songs as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Heard It Through the Grapevine." They have had more number-one hits than The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Elvis and The Beatles combined. The Funk Brothers played all of the music on the Motown record label from 1959 until the eventual moving of the label from Detroit to Los Angeles.

The documentary has interviews with the remaining members of the group, who tell the stories of the "brothers" they have lost throughout the years.

The excitement of the "brothers" when they played in Studio A, where they wrote and recorded all of their music, is prevalent and electrifying to watch. Robert White, a Funk Brothers guitarist who wrote the opening of "My Girl", played his prize song by himself with the camera zoomed in on the movement of his fingers on the guitar. At that point, you realize that without the Funk Brothers, music would have been completely different today.

Gerald Levert, Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, Meshell Ndegeocello and many others performed with the Funk Brothers in front of a live audience. The excitement and energy of the crowd and of the singers was apparent, but it was most obvious in the Funk Brothers’ performance.

While being a member of the group, many of these men made history with their music. However, most of them were never recognized. Marvin Gaye's album, "What's Going On," marked the first time that the Funk Brothers received recognition on any of the Motown albums.

They were the "unsung musical heroes" of the time period. While Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and many other singing acts got the credit for a hit song, nobody realized that there was a band behind the words.

This documentary recognizes and acknowledges the great and wonderful work of these talented men. Because of this film, these 13 men finally get the credit they deserve for the great music they provided behind the singing of their amazing songs.

Written by: Alixandra Liner

Reviewers Rating: 7
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