The Apollo
The history of New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem is given the full treatment.
Finding the Funk
Finding the Funk is a road trip in search of the past, present and future of Funk music. Starting with Funk's roots in Jazz and the James Brown bands of the '60s we travel to the Bay Area to celebrate Sly & the Family Stone, then to Dayton the birthplace of so many of Funk's originators, then onto Detroit where from the ashes of Motown, P-Funk's Mothership arose, and then to LA where a new crop of musicians are creating their own Funk history. On our journey into Funk, we talk to legends Sly Stone, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Nona Hendryx, Maceo Parker, Bernie Worrell, and Steve Arrington and their descendants Mike D, D'Angelo, Sheila E, Shock G and Sade's Stuart Matthewman. Narrated by Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of the Roots.
Whitney
Chronicles Whitney Houston's rise to fame and turbulent relationship with husband Bobby Brown.
Spinning Gold
A biopic of 1970s record producer Neil Bogart, co-founder of Casablanca Records.
Little Richard: I Am Everything
The story of the black, gay origins of rock n' roll. It explodes the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator – the originator – Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions.
The Five Heartbeats
In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
James Brown changed the face of American music forever. Abandoned by his parents at an early age, James Brown was a self-made man who became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, not just through his music, but also as a social activist. Charting his journey from rhythm and blues to funk, MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN features rare and previously unseen footage, photographs and interviews, chronicling the musical ascension of “the hardest working man in show business,” from his first hit, “Please, Please, Please,” in 1956, to his iconic performances at the Apollo Theater, the T.A.M.I. Show, the Paris Olympia and more.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement.
Chris Brown: A History of Violence
A biographical documentary that delves into the controversial personal life of iconic singer Chris Brown, charting his journey from a troubled childhood to global superstardom. It explores his violent public record, including allegations of domestic violence, assault charges and sexual misconduct, while questioning how a man with such a turbulent history maintains his celebrity status. With expert and cultural commentary layered throughout, the film offers thoughtful reflections on the cycle of abuse and its lasting psychological impact, shedding light on the experiences of survivors and the aftermath of their trauma.
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Roger Ross Williams
Director
Patti LaBelle
as
Herself
Eartha Kitt
as
Herself
Jamie Foxx
as
Himself
Sammy Davis Jr.
as
Self
Nelson George
Director
Nile Rodgers
as
Self
Sheila E.
as
Self
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson
as
Self - Narrator
Angela Bassett
Director
Arlen Escarpeta
as
Bobby Brown
LaNease Adams
as
Club Girl
Mary Alice
as
Effie
Yaya DaCosta
as
Whitney Houston
Jason Isaacs
as
Al Bogatz
Michelle Monaghan
as
Beth Bogart
Jay Pharoah
as
Cecil Holmes
Robert Townsend
Director
Tico Wells
as
Choirboy
Kasi Lemmons
as
Cookie
Anne-Marie Johnson
as
Sydney Todd
Al Sharpton
as
Self
Dinah Shore
as
Self
Ashton Sanders
as
Bobby Brown
Tamara Tunie
as
Cissy Houston
Stanley Tucci
as
Clive Davis
Naheem Garcia
as
New Hope Pastor
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