TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.Byline: Elizabeth Snead BRING IN 'DA FUNK BROTHERS: Folks were actually doing the cool jerk, the mashed potato and the electric slide late Tuesday night at Hollywood's Knitting Factory The Knitting Factory is a New York City and Hollywood music club, originally specializing in jazz and experimental music. It was opened in 1987 by Michael Dorf and Bob Appel, both from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. as the Motown group with more hits than the Beatles, the Beatles, The, English rock music group formed in the late 1950s and disbanded in 1970. The members were John Lennon, 1940–80, guitar and harmonica; (James) Paul McCartney, 1942–, guitar and piano; George Harrison, Beach Boys, Elvis and the Rolling Stones Rolling Stones, English rock music group that rose to prominence in the mid-1960s and continues to exert great influence. Members have included singer Mick Jagger (Michael Phillip Jagger), 1943–; guitarists Brian Jones combined rocked the house. And who, you're wondering, would that be? Not the Temptations, Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr.) (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter, musician and performer who gained international fame as an artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s. , Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson. Nope, the legendary Funk Brothers, the studio musicians who created all the classic '60s Motown hits in a garage studio in Detroit. The Funk Brothers' hourlong show was a rare treat after the premiere at the nearby Egyptian Theatre of ``Standing in the Shadows of Motown,'' a new film (Think ``Buena Vista Social Club'') about the unsung men who put the funk in the Motown sound The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a "call and response" singing style originating in gospel music. . A visibly moved Sinbad took the stage to introduce the surviving Funks: Uriel Jones Uriel Jones (born 13 June 1934 in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American musician. Jones was a recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. , Eddie Willis Eddie "Chank" Willis (born 3 June 1936 in Grenada, Mississippi) is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. , Bob Babbitt, Joe Messina, Joe Hunter, Jack Ashford and Johnny Griffith. ``After seeing this movie, I feel like I did when I saw 'Roots' back in college,'' Sinbad said. ``I've gotten a real education about life and music. These songs made some of you all dance. But it also changed lives and made this boy from Michigan walk with pride.'' Former Supremes singer Mary Wilson was proud to sing a few of her old favorites with the Funks. ``These guys helped me become what I am,'' said Wilson, before launching into ``You Can't Hurry Love "You Can't Hurry Love" is a number-one single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label, released during the summer of 1966 (see 1966 in music). Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland, "You Can't Hurry Love" is one of the signature .'' ``These songs have lasted for 43 years and it's because of these men who made the music.'' The film hits theaters Nov. 15, and the soundtrack comes out Sept 24. The best news for Motown fans is that the Funk Brothers may tour the U.S. this fall. Best dust off those dancing shoes! HOW TO DRESS AN 'IDOL': Forget Kelly Clarkson. There's another American idol on the scene. Designer Charlie Lapson. Lapson, who outfitted runner-up Justin Guarini and finalists Jim Verraros and RJ Helton for the show's final episodes this week, was brought in at the last minute over Labor Day weekend. Even one of the show's hosts commented on Guarini's velour top with black textured pants, which he wore to perform ``Get Here'' on Tuesday night. At one point, co-host Brian Dunkleman grabbed Guarini's shirt and asked ``Is this velvet?'' Guarini smiled that adorable smile and said ``It's Charlie Lapson!'' but viewers missed the comment as the show cut to commercial. The native New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of designer studied at the New York School New York school Painters who participated in the development of contemporary art, particularly Abstract Expressionism, in or around New York City in the 1940s and '50s. of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology and has been making men's and women's clothing for lines such as Bugle Boy, Permit and Positano. Lapson says the ``American Idol'' challenge was ``the speed at which we had to get their wardrobes together and to make everyone look unique.'' But he's used to it, having dressed 'N Sync, O-Town and the Goo Goo Dolls. For more info on Lapson's upcoming clothing and jewelry lines, check out http://www.charlielapson.com. Lapson says Guarini heard about him ``through the grapevine'' and called him. But could Guarini have heard about Lapson from mutual pal Paula Abdul, who has modeled Lapson's clothing for various AIDS charity events in L.A.? At the start of Wednesday night's show, Guarini wore Lapson's sheer blue water print shirt; for his solo, he sported Lapson's military-style black knit top trimmed with leather on shoulders and sleeves over tan leather pants. Justin is already planning to wear Lapson's clothes off stage. ``He has about 20 outfits for all the interviews he will have to do.'' And Lapson has been asked to make the clothes for the upcoming American Idol U.S. tour. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) THE FUNK BROTHERS: Motown's studio wizards get their moment in the spotlight. Eric Charbonneau/BEImages.net (2) LAPSON, left, and GUARINI: ``Idol'' threads. |
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