Quote: "The Funk Brothers were the backbone of Motown's legendary sound, but their
contributions were often overlooked and unacknowledged. The movie 'Standing in the
Shadows of Motown' shed light on the exceptional talent and musical prowess of these
musicians and gave them the recognition they deserved." - Paul Justman
The documentary film, Standing in the Shadows of Motown by Paul Justman, highlights a
group of musicians called the Funk Brothers. This group was composed of over a dozen
session players behind Motown Records’ biggest hits during the 1960s and 1970s. This
in-house line up included a diverse range of multi racial musicians, who Justman argued
performed more number one records than The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys and The
Rolling Stones combined. The Funk Brothers, however, were often overlooked and
unacknowledged despite their crucial role in creating the famous Motown sound. This film
uncovers their efforts and gives them the recognition they deserve. The director of the film,
Paul Justman, believes that the Funk Brothers were the backbone of Motown's legendary
sound. Throughout the film, we are shown interviews with the Funk Brothers’ surviving
members and performances of classic Motown songs by contemporary musicians.
Particularly there was greater attention paid to individuals such as James Jamerson a bassist
and Earl van Dyke a pianist rather than legendary producers and artists such as Norman
Whitfield or Marvin Gaye. In addition artists such as Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder received
millions from royalty checks while the Funk Brothers, who performed on and often
contributed key elements to their iconic tracks, received basic salaries with no writing credits
until later. This film is a tribute to the Funk brothers and their contributions to the musical
world. This quote especially highlights an important issue in the music industry which is the
lack of recognition for behind the scene musicians and contributors. By bringing the Funk
Brothers’ efforts to the forefront we are giving them the appreciation they deserve after years
of being overlooked. This is significant because it highlights the importance of valuing work
from all musicians and not just the ones who are shown in the spotlight. It also brings
awareness to session musicians. This is important because it’s important to view music as a
culmination of different peoples’ ideas and thoughts. Music is collaborative and dynamic. This
quote and the movie overall serve as a reminder that recognition and credit are needed to
preserve the musical heritage and to give credit when credit is due.
Do we give enough recognition to the session musicians and behind the scene contributors
to music production in today’s world? What are some examples? How can we practice giving
this recognition to such musicians instead of praising just the visible artists?
Justman, Paul, director. Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Standing In The Shadows Of
Motown, Black to the Music, 2002, https://vimeo.com/306924495. Accessed 6 Feb. 2023.
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