ROCK & ROLL: MAKE IT FUNKY {EPISODE 8} (TV)
Summary
Episode eight 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. Episode eight, "Make It Funky," examines the growth of funk music which was a mix of soul and Motown. Events covered in this part include: how James Brown led the funk revolution with his brand of soul music; Brown's unique musical approach in using the instruments as the main focus; how Brown kept his band members steady and top-notch; how a California disc jockey named Sly Stone created a new form of soul with a motley group of second-rate musicians; how Stone's unique blend of soul music and the psychadelic sound captured a huge white audience, unlike Brown's music; the rising political consciousness of artists such as Marvin Gaye, who now wanted to make statements through their music; how George Clinton took funk music to a new level with his band Funkadelic; how, after Clinton met bassist Bootsy Collins, their vision became the standard for every funk band; the discovery of songwriters/producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff by record company executives looking to break the color barrier in radio airplay; how funk music began to gain popularity in disco clubs; and how Clinton and P-Funk broke all the rules on stage and in the studio, and how they formed the new standard for every funk band. Includes interviews with the following individuals, among others: bassist Larry Graham describes the slap-style bass playing he created; Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., discusses how his artists began writing protest songs; Clinton and Collins talk about how they met and their shared vision of funk; and musician Greg Phillinganes explains how the direction of music turned when Clinton took the stage.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 27, 1995 Wednesday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:43084
- GENRE: Arts documentaries; Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Arts documentaries; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Rock music; African-American Collection - Music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Elizabeth Deane … Executive Producer
- David Espar … Senior Producer
- Hugh Thomson … Producer
- Yvonne Smith … Producer, Director, Writer
- Betty Ciccarelli … Co-Producer
- Sharon P. Davis … Associate Producer
- Liev Schreiber … Narrator
- Family Stone, The … Performers, Guests
- Larry Graham … Performer, Guest
- Frankie Crocker … Guest
- Fred Wesley … Guest
- Nelson George … Guest
- Khalis Bayaan … Guest
- Maceo Parker … Guest
- Starks, John "Jabo" … Guest
- Alan Leeds … Guest
- Cynthia Robinson … Guest
- Bootsy Collins … Guest
- Bernie Worrell … Guest
- Logan Westbrooks … Guest
- Berry Gordy … Guest
- George Clinton … Guest
- Greg Phillinganes … Guest
- Larkin Arnold … Guest
- Kenneth Gamble … Guest
- Leon Huff … Guest
- Joe Tarsia … Guest
- James Brown
- Marvin Gaye
- Funkadelic (band)
- P-Funk
- Sly Stone