ROCK & ROLL: RESPECT {EPISODE 4} (TV)
Summary
Episode four of this ten-part documentary miniseries which traces the origins and history of rock and roll music from the late 1940s to the present. Interviews with artists and record executives, and performance footage are included throughout the program. The fourth episode, "Respect," examines the rise of Motown and soul music. Events covered in this part include: how Ray Charles set the standard for black artists in the 1960s; the creation of Motown by Berry Gordy, Jr.; the Marvelettes as Motown's first artists to record a number one hit record; how Motown's contingent of artists, including Marvin Gaye, Little Stevie Wonder, and Martha and the Vandellas, grew following the success of Marvelettes; the competition within the Motown family of songwriters and producers; the string of hits put together by the Temptations with different writers and producers; how the image of various Motown artists was altered by means of charm school and choreographers; how Motown artists then began playing exclusive nightclubs and Las Vegas, a first for black performers; the emergence of soul music from the South; Stax Records's policy of giving artists the freedom to sing their own brand of music; Booker T. & The MGs' growing reputation as the best backup band in music; Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding as Stax's most successful artists; how Redding's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 for the hippie generation captivated the crowd; the discovery of Aretha Franklin in Alabama; how the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the sudden death of Redding in a plane crash sent shockwaves through the black music industry; and how soul music changed its course when James Brown added a harder edge to the music. Includes interviews with the following individuals, among others: singer Ray Charles talks about his career and the influences on his music; Berry Gordy, Jr., reminisces about creating Motown; singer Otis Williams recalls his days as a member of the Temptations; Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records discusses the discovery of Aretha Franklin; musicians Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, and Booker T. Jones recall working as the backup band for Stax's artists; and singer Wilson Pickett explains how he made his music.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 25, 1995 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:43062
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Arts documentaries; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Rock music; Soul music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Elizabeth Deane … Executive Producer
- David Espar … Senior Producer, Director, Writer
- Hugh Thomson … Producer
- Sharon P. Davis … Associate Producer
- Liev Schreiber … Narrator
- Ray Charles … Performer, Guest
- Brian Holland … Performer, Guest
- Eddie Holland … Performer, Guest
- Wilson Pickett … Performer, Guest
- Davis, Roquel "Billy" … Guest
- Bowles, Thomas "Beans" … Guest
- Berry Gordy … Guest
- Claudette Robinson … Guest
- Martha Reeves … Guest
- Otis Williams … Guest
- Mary Wilson … Guest
- Maxine Powell … Guest
- Cholly Atkins … Guest
- Rufus Thomas … Guest
- Al Bell … Guest
- Jerry Wexler … Guest
- Tom Dowd … Guest
- Steve Cropper … Guest
- Dunn, Donald "Duck" … Guest
- Booker T. Jones … Guest
- Sam Moore … Guest
- Rick Hall … Guest
- David Hood … Guest
- Spooner Oldham … Guest
- Jimmy Johnson … Guest
- Marvin Gaye
- Booker T. and the MGs
- James Brown
- Aretha Franklin
- The Marvelettes
- Martha and the Vandellas
- Otis Redding
- The Temptations
- Stevie Wonder