0 My Movies: Music Documentaries Worth Your Attention
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- DirectorBert SternAram AvakianStarsLouis ArmstrongMahalia JacksonChuck BerryThe highlights of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.
- DirectorPeter BogdanovichStarsNeil ArmstrongMick AvoryRon Blair"Runnin' Down A Dream," a film directed by cinema legend Peter Bogdanovich, is the story of one of America's great rock and roll bands told as never before.
- DirectorKasper CollinStarsLee MorganHelen MorganWayne ShorterAn exploration of the relationship between jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan and his common-law wife Helen, who was implicated in his murder in 1972.
- DirectorWilliam HechterPeter MillerStarsWilli BurkeMarshall ChapmanShawn ColvinDoc Pomus was the unlikeliest of rock and roll icons. Paralyzed by polio as a child, Jerome Felder reinvented himself first as a blues singer, choosing the blues name Doc Pomus, and then as one of American popular music's greatest songwriters, creating "Save the Last Dance for Me," "This Magic Moment," "A Teenager in Love," "Viva Las Vegas," and a thousand other songs. A.K.A. DOC POMUS brings to life Doc's joyous, heartbreaking, romantic, and extraordinarily eventful journey. Packed with incomparable music and rare archival imagery, its cast includes Dr. John, Ben E. King, Joan Osborne, Shawn Colvin, Dion, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, B.B. King, and Lou Reed, who also reads from Doc's powerful private journals. Doc's was a life of disability and possibility, tragedy and romance, and some of the greatest music ever recorded.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsNeil YoungEmmylou HarrisPegi YoungA film shot over during a two-night performance by Neil Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
- DirectorMorgan NevilleStarsJohnny BraggJohnny CashJack ClementBiography of Sam Phillips, the legendary record producer whose Sun Records label in Memphis, TN, produced records by such rock icons as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
- DirectorPaul JustmanStarsJoe HunterJack AshfordUriel JonesDocumentary about the Funk Brothers, a group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists.
- DirectorMorgan NevilleStarsDarlene LoveMerry ClaytonLisa FischerBackup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.
- DirectorMark MoormannStarsRay CharlesJohn ColtraneAretha FranklinA documentary about Tom Dowd, who was an innovative recording engineer and producer of noted albums with John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers and many others.
- DirectorJonas ElmerStarsSidse Babett KnudsenBjarne HenriksenNicolaj KopernikusThree friends, Steffen, Thomas and Mogens spend a lot of time together in Julies apartment while they talk about soccer and how to get enough money for tickets to the big game next week. At the same time Julie is trying to get in contact with her boyfriend René who she thinks is having an affair. They all talk a lot about whats on their mind during this week.
- DirectorAsif KapadiaStarsAmy WinehouseMitch WinehouseMark RonsonArchival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.
- DirectorDon McGlynnStarsCharles MingusGunther SchullerNine years in the making, CHARLES MINGUS - Triumph of the Underdog is the first comprehensive documentary about jazz bassist, bandleader and composer Charles Mingus. A lucid involving portrait showing the many faces and tortured heart of a music genius, the film also features an abundance of clips of Mingus in performance.
- DirectorCharlotte ZwerinStarsThelonious MonkJohn ColtraneJimmy ClevelandA documentary film about the life of pianist and jazz great Thelonious Sphere Monk. Features live performances by Monk and his band, and interviews with friends and family about the offbeat genius.
- DirectorJean BachStarsDizzy GillespieMilt HintonMarian McPartlandThe documentary compiles interviews of all the top jazz musicians in NYC in the year 1958, for a piece in Esquire magazine.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsDavid ByrneBernie WorrellAlex WeirConsidered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs.
- DirectorGreg 'Freddy' CamalierStarsRick HallAretha FranklinKeith RichardsA documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", and "When a Man Loves a Woman".
- DirectorJohn ScheinfeldStarsDenzel WashingtonReggie WorkmanRavi ColtraneAn exploration of the global power and impact of the music of John Coltrane where the passions, experiences and forces that shaped his life and revolutionary sounds are revealed.
- DirectorLiz GarbusStarsNina SimoneLisa Simone KellyRoger NupieA documentary about the life and legend Nina Simone, an American singer, pianist, and civil rights activist labeled the "High Priestess of Soul."
- DirectorTaylor HackfordStarsChuck BerryKeith RichardsEric ClaptonThis documentary movie covers two concerts at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, to celebrate Chuck Berry's 60th birthday, and also discusses his life and career.
- DirectorRobbie CavolinaIan McCruddenStarsAnita O'DayLouis ArmstrongBuddy BregmanA tribute to jazz diva Anita O'Day, completed just weeks before her death in November 2006.
- DirectorDenny TedescoStarsBrian WilsonDick ClarkCherA celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsCompay SegundoIbrahim FerrerRubén GonzálezAging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro's takeover of Cuba, are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder, who travelled to Havana in order to bring the musicians together, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music, and resurrecting the musicians' careers.
- DirectorFernando TruebaStarsMichel CamiloTito PuenteArturo O'FarrillA film featuring performances of several stars of the Latin Jazz music scene.
- 1985– 3h 28mNot Rated8.4 (12K)TV EpisodeDirectorMartin ScorseseStarsBob DylanB.J. RolfzenDick KangasA chronicle of Bob Dylan's strange evolution between 1961 and 1966 from folk singer to protest singer to "voice of a generation" to rock star.
- DirectorBeth HarringtonStarsChet AtkinsLorrie BennettJohn R. BrinkleyThe Winding Stream is a 90-minute High Definition music history documentary-in-progress that tells the story of the American roots music dynasty, the Carters and the Cashes. Starting with the Original Carter Family (A.P., Sara, Maybelle), the film traces the ebb and flow of their influence, the transformation of that act into the Carter Sisters, the marital alliance with legend Johnny Cash and the efforts of present-day family to keep this legacy alive. No one has yet pulled together all the elements of this family saga in one documentary. The goal of The Winding Stream is to honor this multi-generational family where it stands -- at the headwaters of American roots music.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsDavid ByrneJacqueline AcevedoGustavo Di DalvaSpike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.
- DirectorSara FishkoStarsDavid AmramCarla BleyJohn CohenArt, obsession and anxiety permeate a dilapidated Manhattan loft building in Mid-century: The first movie to use photographer W. Eugene Smith's massive, fly-on-the-wall archive of photos and audio tapes documenting the likes of jazz greats Thelonious Monk, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre, Hall Overton and others at work and play in the Sixth Avenue wreck that was Smith's home and studio from 1957 through the '60s.
- DirectorA.J. EatonStarsDavid CrosbyStephen BarncardJackson BrowneMeet David Crosby in this portrait of a man with everything but an easy retirement on his mind.
- DirectorMalik BendjelloulStarsRodriguezStephen 'Sugar' SegermanDennis CoffeyTwo South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock n roller, Rodriguez.
- DirectorJacob HatleyStarsLarry CampbellJay CollinsElizabeth DankoA documentary on Levon Helm, a founding member of The Band, at home in Woodstock in the midst of creating his first studio album in 25 years.
- DirectorDave GrohlStarsTrent ReznorTom PettyMick FleetwoodA documentary on the fabled recording studio that was located in Van Nuys, California.
- DirectorMichael Lindsay-HoggStarsJohn LennonPaul McCartneyGeorge HarrisonThe filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back-to-basics album, which instead drove them further apart.
- DirectorAlan ElliottSydney PollackStarsAretha FranklinJames ClevelandAlexander HamiltonA documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.
- DirectorDaniel LindsayT.J. MartinStarsTina TurnerCarl ArringtonIke TurnerExclusive access to the Grammy Award-winning artist to celebrate her career.
- DirectorMorgan NevilleStarsKeith RichardsAnthony DeCurtisSteve JordanA portrait of Keith Richards that takes us on a journey to discover the genesis of his sound as a songwriter, guitarist and performer.
- DirectorRobert MuggeStarsGil Scott-HeronEd BradyRobert GordonA portrait of the blues poet Gil Scott-Heron, who gives a personal tour of Washington, D.C. and performs a concert with his Midnight Band.
- DirectorRob EpsteinJeffrey FriedmanStarsLinda RonstadtBonnie RaittDolly PartonWith one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early twenties.
- DirectorD.A. PennebakerStarsOtis ReddingJimi HendrixRavi ShankarA film about the greatest pre-Woodstock rock music festival.
- DirectorMichael WadleighStarsJoan BaezRichie HavensRoger DaltreyOscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobbie RobertsonMuddy WatersNeil YoungA film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.
- DirectorEthan HawkeStarsSeymour BernsteinEthan HawkeSam BachelderMeet Seymour Bernstein: a beloved pianist, teacher and true inspiration who shares eye-opening insights from an amazing life. Ethan Hawke helms this poignant guide to life.
- DirectorThom ZimnyStarsBruce SpringsteenPatti ScialfaThe intimate, final performance of Bruce Springsteen's 236-show run at Jujamcyn's Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway.
- DirectorAiyana ElliottStarsJack ElliottGil GrossArlo GuthrieWith the help of her mother, family, friends, and fellow musicians, Aiyana Elliott reaches for her father, legendary cowboy troubadour, Ramblin' Jack Elliott. She explores who he is and how he got there, working back and forth between archival and contemporary footage. Born in 1932 in Brooklyn, busking through the South and West in the early 50s, a year with Woody Guthrie, six years flatpicking in Europe, a triumphant return to Greenwich Village in the early 60s, mentoring Bob Dylan, then life on the road, from gig to gig, singing and telling stories. A Grammy and the National Medal of Arts await Jack near the end of a long trail. What will Aiyana find for herself?
- DirectorKelly DuaneStarsSam CookeQuincy JonesSmokey RobinsonAn investigation into the circumstances and controversy surrounding Sam Cooke's murder.
- DirectorBruce SpiegelStarsConnie AtkinsonTony BennettBill CharlapBill Evans Time Remembered is a 90-minute documentary film, produced by Bruce Spiegel which tells the story of Bill Evans' turbulent life and his contribution to jazz music.
- StarsPaul McCartneyRick Rubin2021 Six Episode Series on Hulu: Producer Rick Rubin interviews Paul McCartney on his work with the Beatles, Wings, and as a solo artist, including stories about his personal relationships that inspired his songwriting.
- DirectorD.A. PennebakerStarsBob DylanAlbert GrossmanBob NeuwirthDocumentary covering Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of England, which includes appearances by Joan Baez and Donovan.
- DirectorAlex YoungStarsBill BerryJay BobergPeter BuckOn April 5, 1980 four college pals-Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe-took the stage together for the first time to play at a friend's birthday party. The band they started that night stayed together for thirty years and changed the shape of rock music. R.E.M. By MTV tells R.E.M.'s story in their own words, through three decades of performances and interviews R.E.M gave to MTV channels in the USA and around the world. Featuring revealing, never-before-seen footage, R.E.M. By MTV tells the amazing story of a band that did it their own way, and changed how a generation of musicians after them did it, too.
- 20071h 23mNot Rated8.1 (444)TV MovieDirectorMurray LernerStarsBob DylanJoan BaezThe Freedom SingersAn unvarnished chronicle of Bob Dylan's metamorphosis from folk to rock musician via appearances at the Newport Folk Festival between 1963 and 1965.
- DirectorLaura ArchibaldStarsSusan SarandonHappy TraumTom BernadinExplores the music scene in Greenwich Village, New York in the 60's and early 70's. The film highlights some of the finest singer/songwriters of the day.
- DirectorAndrew SlaterStarsLou AdlerFiona AppleThe Beach BoysA look at the roots of the historic music scene in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon featuring the music of iconic groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas.
- DirectorDenis SandersStarsElvis PresleyJames BurtonGlen D. HardinAfter years of making movies, the King made a triumphant return to the stage in 1970. Now, see the backstage footage from rehearsals to relaxing at the hotel and the performances in one of the most intimate looks at Elvis captured on film.
- DirectorSteve BinderStarsThe Beach BoysThe BarbariansChuck BerrySurf pop duo Jan and Dean host this showcase of performances by popular rock and roll and R&B musicians of the era.
- DirectorAlison EllwoodStarsThe Go-Go'sCharlotte CaffeyElissa BelloThe Go-Go's are the most successful female rock band of all time. This documentary chronicles the meteoric rise of a band born of the LA punk scene that not only captured but created a zeitgeist.
- DirectorPrinceDavid HoganAlbert MagnoliStarsPrinceSheila E.Sheena EastonHighlights from Prince's 1987 European concert tour, including selections from the rock star's album of the same title.
- 20211h 58mPG-138.0 (14K)96MetascoreDirectorQuestloveStarsDorinda DrakeBarbara Bland-AcostaDarryl LewisDocumentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.
- DirectorSacha JenkinsStarsLouis ArmstrongSteve AllenErnie AndersonFollow the life and legacy of the master and so-called founding father of jazz, America's first pop star, and cultural ambassador.
- DirectorDaniel RoherStarsThe BandRobbie RobertsonBruce SpringsteenA confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robbie Robertson's young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band.
- In January 1969, The Beatles set out to write and record new songs for their first live show in more than two years, culminating in an impromptu concert atop their Savile Row studio.
- DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsBob MarleyZiggy MarleyRita MarleyA documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley.
- DirectorAlan RaymondSusan RaymondStarsLevon HelmElvis PresleySteve AllenThe story of how Elvis Presley went from being just a somewhat naive rock singer to world-famous--and world-weary--superstar in just the space of one year, 1956.
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsClarence 'Gatemouth' BrownBuddy GuySolomon BurkeAntoine Fuqua's documentary on the blues, shot at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
- DirectorSophie HuberStarsRobert GlasperAmbrose AkinmusireMarcus StricklandA revelatory, thrilling and emotional journey behind the scenes of Blue Note Records, the pioneering label that gave voice to some of the finest jazz artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
- DirectorAlbert MayslesDavid MayslesCharlotte ZwerinStarsMick JaggerKeith RichardsMick TaylorWhen three hundred thousand members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway, the bloody slash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment was immortalized on this film.
- DirectorNick DoobChris HegedusD.A. PennebakerStarsRalph StanleyEmmylou HarrisEvelyn CoxThis is a documentary about the musical artists who performed the songs in the Coen Brothers' film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- DirectorBruce RickerStarsBuddy AndersonCount BasieEddie DurhamDuring Prohibition, Kansas City was wide open, and jazz was its music. Late in the 1970s, musicians of the Pendergast era gather at the union hall to play, sing, and talk. Some were part of Walter Page's Blue Devils, joined Bennie Moten's band, and stayed with Count Basie's Orchestra. Basie is on hand, as are Big Joe Turner, Jay McShann, and some of his big band. Highlights include Turner's vocals, McShann's sly piano playing, a drum clinic from Jo Jones and Baby Lovett, Jimmy Forrest solos, and remembrances of Lester Young and of how Charlie Parker got his nickname. Throughout is the Kansas City sound: cool and relaxed, blues meeting swing, an afterbeat that calls for dancing.
- DirectorStanley NelsonStarsMiles DavisThe life story of the legendary musician Miles Davis.
- DirectorBrent WilsonStarsBrian WilsonJakob DylanJim JamesDocumentary that looks at the career of musician Brian Wilson.
- DirectorLisa CortesStarsLittle RichardRalph HarperNewt CollierThe life and career of Little Richard, the one-of-a-kind rock 'n' roll icon who shaped the world of music.
- DirectorBao NguyenStarsLionel RichieHarriet SternbergWendy ReesOn January 28th 1985, dozens of the era's most popular musicians gathered in Los Angeles to record a charity single for African famine relief. Setting egos aside, they collaborated on a song that would make history.
- DirectorBen NilesStarsPierre-Laurent AimardHarry Connick Jr.Hélène GrimaudA feature-length independent documentary that follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, #L1037- from forest floor to concert hall.