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. –IMDb
Sure, you know the motown hits by Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes but do you know who actually played the instruments on every motown song you can think of? This is what this doc explores and does a mighty fine job of it. These musicians were called The Funk Brothers, and throughout the movie they tell stories about playing music with Motown legends, how they came up songs and just all around great memories of recording in the Hitsville U.S.A studios. wonderful film that should not be overlooked.