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Airdate: 20 Feet from Stardom

Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger & Sting all praise the talents of studio backing singers.

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It’s an art to be an effective back-up singer: knowing how to let others enjoy the spotlight, working fast and being reliable.

The doco 20 Feet From Stardom celebrates ‘unsung’ vocalists, airing Sunday night on ABC.

Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names.

In his compelling new film, award-winning director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century.

Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, the film is both a tribute to the unsung voices who brought shape and style to popular music, and a reflection on the conflicts, sacrifices and rewards of a career spent harmonizing with others.

These gifted artists span a range of styles, genres and eras of popular music, but each has a uniquely fascinating and personal story to share of life spent in the shadows of superstardom.

Along with rare archival footage and a peerless soundtrack, Twenty Feet from Stardom boasts intimate interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting, to name just a few. However, these world-famous figures take a backseat to the diverse array of backup singers whose lives and stories take centre stage in the film.

10pm Sunday January 10 on ABC.

4 Responses

  1. This is a great doco. It’s worth watching just for Merry Clayton’s story about how she was dragged out of bed at midnight in 1969 to shout “Rape! Murder!” for an English band she’d never heard of.

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